Content Summary
Prepare pork ribs to perfection! You don't have to fire up an outdoor grill to cook ribs to enjoy their tender, juicy delicacy. With a toaster oven and some creativity, you can cook your favorite rib recipes.
In this post, we'll walk you through how to cook ribs in a toaster oven using 4 different settings: roast, bake, broil, and grill.
You will also find 3 of our favorite rib recipes: classic baby back ribs, spicy Miami ribs, and tangy BBQ ribs. Get ready to revolutionize your rib game!
Different Types Of Ribs
Before you start cooking, you need to select the right ribs. The popular types of pork ribs are baby back, spare ribs, St. Louis style ribs, country-style ribs.
1. Baby Back Ribs
Baby back ribs are the most common and work well in a toaster oven. These are cut from the top of the rib cage, closer to the spine with less fat than spareribs, making them leaner, more tender, and perfect for baking and grilling.
2. Spareribs
Pork spare ribs come from the belly side of the rib cage near the breastbone. These ribs have more fat, richer flavor, and are ideal for slow-cooking methods such as roasting and braising.
3. St. Louis-style Ribs
These are spareribs that have been trimmed of the breastbone and cartilage to make them more rectangular in shape.
4. Country-style Ribs
These aren’t really ribs at all but come from the shoulder blade area near the loin and contain little fat, making them ideal for braising or roasting.
Prepare The Ribs
Before cooking your ribs in a toaster oven, you will need to prep them properly.
- Start by removing the membrane (the thin layer of connective tissue) from the underside of the ribs. This allows for more even cooking and marinade absorption.
- Once the membrane is removed, rinse off your ribs with cold water and pat-dry.
- Now the ribs are ready to seasoned.
- Add your favorite seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, BBQ sauce, or oregano, salt and pepper to give the ribs extra flavor.
- Now you are ready to start cooking!
4 Ways Of Cooking Ribs
#1. Roast
This setting is best for cooking ribs low and slow to achieve tender meat.
- To roast ribs in a toaster oven, preheat it to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil and brush them with your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Cover the ribs with foil and roast for about 2 hours.
- Flip the ribs halfway through cooking and baste them with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
#2. Bake
If you're short on time, the bake setting is a great option.
- Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil and brush with olive oil.
- Season the ribs with your favorite dry rub or spices.
- Bake the ribs for about 45-60 minutes or until they're cooked through and tender.
#3. Broil
The broil setting is perfect for giving your ribs a crispy and charred exterior.
- Preheat your toaster oven to broil setting at highest temperature.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil and brush them with olive oil.
- Season the ribs with your favorite seasoning or dry rub.
- Place the baking sheet with the ribs in the toaster oven about 4 inches away from the heating element.
- Broil for 15 minutes per side until they turn golden brown.
#4. Grill
If you're after that smoky BBQ flavor, you can even use the grill setting on your toaster oven.
- Preheat the toaster oven to the grill setting, at the highest temperature setting.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet or cast iron pan lined with foil.
- Grill the ribs for 15 minutes per side, or until they're tender and have grill marks.
Rib Recipes
#1. Spicy Miami Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back ribs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Preheat the toaster oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Remove the silver membrane from the underside of the ribs.
- Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic and onion powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Rub olive oil and dry rub the seasoning all over the ribs.
- Marinate the ribs in the mixture for at least half an hour.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet, bone side down.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt over them and top with hot sauce.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, flip the ribs after 20 minutes.
- Once the ribs are done, broil them for another 10 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let the ribs rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
#2. Classic Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back ribs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons of BBQ sauce
- 4-6 tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Preheat the toaster oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Remove the silver membrane from the underside of the ribs.
- Rub olive oil and dry rub the seasoning all over the ribs.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet, bone side down.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt over them.
- Place the baking sheet in the toaster oven and roast for about 2 hours.
- Turning the ribs after 1 hour, add tomatoes.
- Once the ribs are done, coat them with BBQ sauce and broil for another 10 minutes, until the sauce caramelizes.
- Remove from the oven and let the ribs rest for a few minutes.
- Cut and serve hot.
#3. Tangy BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 racks baby back ribs
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Preheat the toaster oven to 420°F (215°C).
- Choose the Grill setting.
- Season the ribs with dry rub seasoning.
- Mix BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl.
- Brush the mixture over the ribs and wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
- Place the foil-wrapped ribs on a baking sheet.
- Grill in the toaster oven for 30 minutes, flip the ribs after 15 minutes.
- Once done, remove the ribs from the foil and brush more BBQ sauce over them.
- Place them in broil mode for another 10 minutes until they are caramelized.
- Remove from the oven, cut, and serve hot.
Cooking Ribs In A Toaster Oven FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about cooking ribs in a toaster oven.
Can you cook ribs in a toaster oven?
You can cook ribs in a toaster oven! Toaster ovens are equipped with multiple settings such as Roast, Bake, Broil and Grill – each of which can be used to cook your favorite types of ribs.
The key is to find the right temperature and cooking time for each setting to ensure that your ribs turn out tender with a delicious flavor.
What temperature do you cook ribs in a toaster oven?
The ideal temperature for cooking ribs in a toaster oven depends on the setting you choose to use.
- If you want to roast your ribs, preheat the toaster oven to 375°F (190°C).
- For baking, preheat the oven at 400°F (200°C).
- When using the broil setting, set it to highest temperature and for grilling, set the toaster oven to the grill setting at highest temperature.
What's the best way to cook ribs in a toaster oven?
The best way to cook ribs in a toaster oven depends on your time availability and desired flavor. Read our guide to get a better idea on how to use a toaster oven for different settings.
- If you're short on time, the bake setting is a great option – preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for 45-60 minutes.
- If you're after a smoky BBQ flavor, use the grill setting.
- For crispier ribs, use the broil setting and cook them for 15 minutes per side until they turn golden brown.
- For tender ribs with a touch of sweetness, marinate them in a mixture of Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, BBQ sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and brown sugar before wrapping them in foil and grilling for 30 minutes.
How to broil ribs in a toaster oven?
To broil ribs in a toaster oven, preheat the oven to the highest temperature.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Brush the ribs with olive oil and season them with your favorite dry rub.
- Place in the toaster oven about 4 inches away from heating element.
- Broil for 15 minutes per side until they turn golden brown.
How to grill ribs in a toaster oven?
To grill ribs in a toaster oven, preheat the oven to the highest temperature setting using the grill setting.
- Place the ribs on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Brush with olive oil and season with your favorite dry rub.
- Place in the toaster oven and grill for 15 minutes per side until they are tender and have nice grill marks.
What is the difference between grill and broil in a toaster oven?
The difference between grill and broil in a toaster oven is that grilling uses indirect heat while broiling uses direct heat.
- Grilling creates an even cooking temperature throughout the food, giving it a smoky flavor and nice texture without drying out.
- Broiling cooks food quickly, but can dry it out if done for too long. It's best used for dishes that benefit from a crisp, browned exterior.
What is the difference between baking and roasting in a toaster oven?
Baking and roasting are two different cooking methods used in a toaster oven. Baking is done with dry heat, usually at lower temperatures than roasting. Roasting involves higher temperatures which cook food faster.
What to do with leftover ribs?
- Raw ribs: freeze or cook them as soon as possible.
- Cooked ribs: I'd say, reheat ribs within 3 days.
Tips & Tricks
- Preheat the oven before you start cooking for an even cooking and better result.
- When using a baking pan other than the one that comes with your toaster oven (like a cast iron pan) make sure the oven door can close properly. In other words, the pan must fit.
- Marinate your ribs before baking or grilling at least an hour - better overnight for extra flavor.
- Basting with liquid such as olive oil or butter can help keep the ribs moist and flavorful during cooking.
- For extra crispy ribs, brush with a little honey or brown sugar before grilling.
- Add fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme to the dry rub for a subtle herbal aroma.
- Add wood chips to your toaster oven during grilling to impart a smokey flavor in the ribs. Make sure that the chips don't touch any heating elements.
- Use a meat thermometer to check your ribs for doneness and the internal temperature of your ribs regularly. It should be at least 145°F (63°C).
- Let your ribs rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking to let the juices redistribute before cutting and serving.
- Serve with your favorite sides such as coleslaw, simple garden salad, mashed potatoes or roasted/ air fried potatoes for a completed meal. Enjoy!
Cooking ribs in a toaster oven is easy, time-saving, and produces delicious flavors. The toaster oven allows you to regulate the oven's temperature, cooking from roast to broil to grill options, making the cooking process more versatile.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Need a top quality toaster oven? Check out our top picks in the best toaster oven buying guide today!
8 BEST AIR FRYER TOASTER OVENS
Jane Vo
With the right toaster oven, you can create tasty ribs with just a few simple steps. And by using different settings and incorporating unique recipes, you can tailor your ribs to your preferences.
When you are craving some mouthwatering ribs, don't hesitate to try out these quick recipes using your toaster oven.
Happy cooking!
Catchy Finds
Jane Vo
Jane Vo
Jane Vo
Jane Vo
Jane Vo
