Here’s an affordable and totally delicious cut of meat that may not be on your radar: Country-style ribs. This boneless cut of meat isn’t actually ribs, but they turn out fork tender and deliciously flavored so you’ll barely know the difference. This BBQ country style ribs recipe is one you’ll make again and again.

Awhile ago I spotted an unusually cheap cut of meat at my local grocery store’s meat counter: Country-style ribs.

I did a quick Google search and learned that country-style ribs aren’t ribs at all, but rather are cheaper cut of pork shoulder that resembles traditional ribs in shape, taste and texture.

So… fake ribs? I decided to give them a try.

About This Recipe: BBQ Country Style Ribs

If you like oven-baked BBQ pork ribs, then you’ll like this recipe for boneless country-style pork ribs.

Why? Because they taste so much alike when you follow this simple cooking method. 

The meat turns out well seasoned and tender. I served it to dinner guests and they said they liked it just as much as traditional pork ribs. 

But there’s more to love about country pork ribs… 

A Cheaper Alternative To Pork Ribs?

Pork ribs are so delicious – but they’re also on the spendy side when it comes to meat.

Conversely, country style ribs are much more affordable. I’ve found them as cheap as $3.49/lb.

Country style ribs are boneless, so that also keeps the cost lower because you’re not paying for bones. It’s all meat. So if you find baby back ribs for $5.99/lb, part of that weight (and cost) is bones.

If you’re looking to spend less on food – while still eating really tasty food – then you have to give these ribs a try! This is one more affordable recipe that you can add to your dinner rotation.

Country-Style Ribs vs. Regular Ribs

The meat often labeled as “country style ribs” in the grocery store isn’t actually ribs at all. Instead, it is pieces of pork meat roughly shaped like ribs, sliced from the pork shoulder or Boston butt. These pieces are usually boneless, lacking the shoulder bone.

Did you know? Country style ribs are the same meat as what is used to make pulled pork. So if you like pulled pork, you’ll like country-style ribs!

Country-style ribs come from a leaner part of the pig so they’re not quite as fatty and moist as ribs. But with proper cooking and a generous coating of BBQ sauce, there’s nothing not to love about this cheaper rib substitute.

How Much To Buy

When shopping for country-style ribs, plan for about 2 to 3 “ribs” per person.

Shopping tip: Look for country-style ribs with a lot of marbling. More fat = more flavor.

How Are Country Ribs Cooked?

Country style ribs can be cooked just like regular ribs – grilled, smoked, braised, oven baked/roasted, etc.

But the easiest method of all – which results in really tasty, flavorful ribs – is oven-baked, BBQ style. This recipe is very simple and involves the following steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300F. Prepare baking dish by lining it with aluminum foil. Pat meat dry with a paper towel.
• Season the meat: Use salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic powder and/or your favorite dry rub. Massage it into the meat to ensure every bit of the surface is covered.

• Place meat in a baking dish, cover, and bake for 1.5 hours in the oven. These are cooked low and slow, ensuring meat that is fork tender.
• Remove baking dish from oven, uncover, and top with BBQ sauce. Continue baking for 30 more minutes. Serve with additional barbecue sauce, if desired.

Scroll down for detailed recipe.

Homemade BBQ Sauce

While you can certainly use your favorite BBQ sauce from the store to top these BBQ country style ribs, you can also make your own homemade BBQ sauce with just a few simple ingredients.

This 5-minute BBQ sauce recipe can be made in a few minutes (yes, really) and is somewhat adaptable in terms of what seasonings and spices are added. If you don’t have a particular spice, you can probably leave it out and save a trip to the grocery store. You’ll need:

• Ketchup
• Brown sugar and/or honey
• Red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• Worcestershire sauce
• Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, chipotle powder (or cayenne or chili powder), black pepper
• Optional: Soy sauce and/or liquid smoke

What To Serve With Country-Style Ribs

Serve prepared country ribs with your favorite sides, similar to what you’d serve with traditional BBQ:

• Baked sweet potatoes
• Corn on the cob
• Mac & cheese
• Green beans
• Grilled vegetables
• Potato salad
• Baked beans
• Roasted carrots
• Buttered cabbage
• Cornbread
• Cornbread salad
• Sweet corn spoon bread

When grocery prices seem to keep rising, it’s good to have a bunch of cheap meal ideas up your sleeve. Add this delicious country-style pork ribs recipe to your dinner rotation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do you cook country style ribs in the oven?

A: At 300°F, cook country style ribs covered for 1.5 hours, then uncover, add BBQ sauce, and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Total cook time is 2 hours. The low and slow method at 300°F is what makes these ribs fork tender.

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Q: What temperature do you cook country style ribs in the oven?

A: 300°F is the ideal oven temperature for country style ribs. Cooking low and slow breaks down the connective tissue in the pork shoulder meat, resulting in tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Higher temperatures will cook them faster but the texture won’t be as tender.

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Q: Are country style ribs actually ribs?

A: No. Despite the name, country style ribs are not ribs at all. They are cuts of pork shoulder or Boston butt that are shaped similarly to ribs. They are almost always boneless, which is part of what makes them significantly cheaper than traditional baby back or spare ribs.

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Q: What is the difference between country style ribs and regular ribs?

A: Regular pork ribs come from the rib section of the pig and contain bones. Country style ribs come from the pork shoulder and are typically boneless. Because you’re not paying for bones, country style ribs are considerably cheaper per pound, often found for $3 to $4 per pound compared to $6 or more for baby back ribs. The flavor and texture are very similar when cooked low and slow with BBQ sauce.

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Q: What are butt country style ribs?

A: Butt country style ribs are cut from the Boston butt, which is the upper part of the pork shoulder. They tend to have more fat marbling than loin-cut country style ribs, which makes them more flavorful and forgiving to cook. If you see both options at the grocery store, butt country style ribs are generally the better choice for this recipe.

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Q: Do you cover country style ribs when baking?

A: Yes. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil for the first 1.5 hours of cooking. This traps steam and keeps the meat moist. Remove the foil for the final 30 minutes after adding the BBQ sauce, which allows the sauce to caramelize on the surface of the meat.

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Q: Can I use store-bought BBQ sauce?

A: Yes. Any store-bought BBQ sauce works well in this recipe. If you want to make your own, a simple homemade BBQ sauce comes together in about 5 minutes with ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and spices.