These easy make-ahead camping ribs are cooked at home in your oven, then finished on the grill or over the campfire once you're at camp. Slathered with your favorite bbq sauce, these fall-off-the-bone ribs are a satisfying camping dinner to enjoy after a busy day exploring.
For as long as I can remember, these camping ribs have been our go-to first meal for most camping trips. They're so simple to prepare in advance and warm up quickly on the grill or campfire once you're at camp. When you've got a million other things to do to get your camp set up, and everyone is hungry, they're a lifesaver!
Why This Recipe is Great for Camping
- You can make them in advance and finish them at camp on your grill or over that campfire.
- They require only four ingredients and minimal hands-on time.
- You can easily scale the recipe depending on how many people you're feeding.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Baby back ribs--This will give you the most tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Be sure to remove the membrane from the ribs before cooking or ask your butcher to do it.
- Barbecue sauce--Use your favorite barbecue sauce here. These are fantastic with peach bourbon BBQ sauce, but good-quality store-bought sauce will be great here, too.
Important Steps
- Preheat the oven to 275°F. Arrange the ribs meaty side up in a roasting pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cover with foil and cook until the meat is very tender, about 4 hours.
- Let the ribs cool completely, then cut into sections, 3 to 4 ribs each. Stash in a large resealable plastic bag in your cooler or fridge until you're ready to serve.
- Grill the ribs over medium heat, turning occasionally and brushing with BBQ sauce, until heated through.
FAQs
The membrane is a thin layer that covers the back of the ribs. To remove it, use the tip of a sharp knife to lift the corner of the membrane. Using a paper towel for grip, grab the edge of the membrane and pull it away from the ribs. It should come off in one piece, but if it breaks, just start from another corner to remove the rest.
You can bake the ribs up to 3 days before grilling and serving.
We usually enjoy these grilled ribs with campfire corn or campfire garlic bread and a make-ahead salad, like this overnight marinated vegetable salad. With some campfire chocolate fondue for dessert, of course!
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Want to boost the flavor? Feel free to replace the salt and pepper with a store-bought or homemade pork bbq rub.
- Avoid overlapping the ribs while they are baking so that they cook evenly.
- Save any leftover ribs and mix the meat into your loaded hash browns for a hearty breakfast.
- This recipe is suitable for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
More Make-Ahead Camping Recipes You'll Love
Tried This Recipe?
If you've tried this recipe, please leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest for more great camping and grilling recipes.
Recipe
Make-Ahead Camping Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back ribs (about 3 pounds total)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup store-bought or homemade bbq sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275°F.
- Arrange the ribs, meaty-side up in a baking dish or roasting pan and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper.
- Cook until the ribs are very tender, about 4 hours.
- Let the ribs cool completely, then slice into 3 to 4 rib pieces. Store the ribs in a resealable plastic bag or large covered container in the fridge or cooler until you're ready to finish them.
- Preheat the grill for medium-low heat, or prepare a campfire with hot coals.
- Slather the ribs with bbq sauce and arrange the pieces on the grill or campfire grate. Cook, turning occasionally, and basting with more sauce, if desired, until the ribs are heated through, about 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately with plenty of napkins.
Notes
- Give them space--Avoid overlapping the ribs while they are baking so that they cook evenly.
- Using leftovers--Save any leftover ribs and mix the meat into your loaded hash browns for a hearty breakfast.
- Dietary--This recipe is suitable for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
Leave a Reply