Tear into these bison ribs with juicy, tender meat smothered in barbecue sauce. Brown sugar adds a little sweetness to the spicy dry rub and earthy oregano. Serve these ribs after a long week of work, if you’re having guests over for dinner or whenever you’re in the mood for hearty BBQ flavors.

Bison meat is a gourmet alternative to regular beef ribs. Combining the braising method with BBQ flavors results in a rich, smoky, delicious main dish. The BBQ sauce caramelizes during cooking and enhances the meat's natural flavors.
They taste amazing with this kimchi potato salad, hemp seed salad or burrata salad.
Jump to:
🍖 Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients plus pantry items to make this delicious rib dinner.
- bison short ribs - Bone in. Bison short ribs are a cut of meat taken from the rib section. They are meaty and contain a good amount of connective tissue, which makes them great for this slow-cooking method.
- olive oil - Not pictured.
- BBQ dry rub - I use a pre-made mix from the grocery store. It usually contains smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt and other spices.
- brown sugar - The brown sugar gives a nice, rich color and caramelization on the ribs plus a sweet flavor that complements the natural flavor of the meat.
- BBQ sauce - Choose your favorite.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
🔪 How to Make Bison Ribs
- Rinse the bison ribs in cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Combine the BBQ rub, brown sugar, dried oregano and sea salt in a small bowl.
- Brush the ribs with olive oil. Rub the dry seasoning mixture into the ribs.
- Transfer the seasoned ribs to a resealable plastic bag. Marinate for 2 hours in the fridge or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 275°F. Place the seasoned ribs in a foil-lined baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with another piece of foil and seal the foil together so that the meat will steam.
- Bake the ribs in the preheated oven for 3 ½ to 4 hours, until they've reached an internal temperature of 205°F. The meat should be very tender and fall off the bone.
- Brush the ribs generously with barbecue sauce. Set the oven to a low broil. Broil the ribs for about 3 minutes, until the BBQ sauce just starts to bubble and caramelize.
- Serve the bison ribs!
💭 Top Tip
Make sure the dish is covered tightly with foil or the ribs will take longer to cook and become dry. Also make sure there aren't any tears in the foil from covering the ribs. I made this mistake once without noticing and needless to say, my rib dinner was not ready on time! It needs to be a tight seal to keep the moisture and heat in.
🥗 Side Dish Ideas
Pair your bison ribs with cold side dishes, such as kimchi slaw and creamy caprese pasta salad, to offset the hot, filling entrée. Offer rolls or electric skillet cornbread that diners can use to mop up the sauce.
For warm side dishes, try baked beans, roasted turnip fries, macaroni and cheese, grilled pickles, hush puppies or green bean casserole.
🌡️ Bison Ribs Storage
- You can store leftover bison ribs in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat them up in the oven and add more barbecue sauce for best results.
- For longer use, you can freeze ribs in an airtight container for three months or in a vacuum-sealed bag for up to 2 to 3 years.
🥩 More Mouthwatering Bison Recipes
If you tried this Bison Ribs Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Bison Short Ribs
Ingredients
- 5 pounds bone-in bison short ribs
- 3 tablespoons BBQ dry rub
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Rinse the bison short ribs in cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.5 pounds bone-in bison short ribs
- Combine the BBQ rub, brown sugar, dried oregano and sea salt in a small bowl.3 tablespoons BBQ dry rub, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- Brush the ribs with olive oil. Rub the dry seasoning mixture into the ribs.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Transfer the seasoned ribs to a resealable plastic bag. Marinate for 2 hours in the fridge or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 275°F. Place the seasoned ribs in a foil-lined baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with another piece of foil and seal the foil together so that the meat will steam.
- Bake the ribs in the preheated oven for 3 ½ to 4 hours, until they've reached an internal temperature of 205°F. The meat should be very tender and fall off the bone.
- Brush the ribs generously with barbecue sauce. Set the oven to a low broil. Broil the ribs for about 3 minutes, until the BBQ sauce just starts to bubble and caramelize.½ cup BBQ sauce
- Serve!
Notes
- You can store leftover bison ribs in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them up in the oven and add more barbecue sauce for best results.
- For longer use, you can freeze ribs in an airtight container for three months or in a vacuum-sealed bag for up to 2 to 3 years.
- Make sure the dish is covered tightly with the foil or the ribs will take longer to cook and become dry.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Leave a Reply