Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs
In short: Pork ribs rubbed with smoky spices, slow cooked until tender, then brushed with barbecue sauce and finished under the grill until sticky. It takes about 7 h 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 7 h
- Total
- 7 h 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 600 kcal
Ribs usually need a smoker or a long afternoon at the barbecue, but the slow cooker gets them tender with almost no effort. The meat cooks gently in a spice rub, then a short stint under the grill sets a sticky layer of sauce on the surface. They are tender enough to pull off the bone with your teeth, yet still hold together when lifted. Serve with corn, slaw and plenty of napkins.
Instructions
- Turn each rack bone side up and peel off the thin membrane, gripping a corner with a paper towel. Cut each rack into 3 or 4 sections that fit your slow cooker.
- Mix the sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the ribs, pressing it in.
- Pour the apple juice and vinegar into the slow cooker. Stand the rib sections on their edges around the wall of the pot, meaty side facing out.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the meat is tender but still clings to the bone.
- Heat the broiler to high. Lift the ribs carefully onto a foil-lined tray, bone side down, and brush the tops with half the barbecue sauce.
- Grill for 4 to 5 minutes until bubbling and lightly charred at the edges. Brush with the remaining sauce, rest for 5 minutes and cut between the bones.
Tips
- Handle the ribs gently after cooking. They are so tender they can fall apart when lifted, so use a wide spatula and tongs together.
- An air fryer at 200°C (400°F) for 5 minutes also caramelizes the sauce well.
Questions and answers
Should I boil ribs before slow cooking?
No. Boiling washes out flavor. The slow cooker cooks them gently in their own juices and the rub.
Can I cook spare ribs the same way?
Yes. Spare ribs are larger and fattier, so allow about an hour more on low and trim excess fat before cooking.
Why remove the membrane?
The thin silvery layer on the bone side stays tough and keeps the rub out of the meat. Removing it gives more tender ribs.
How long does it take to make Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs?
About 7 h 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 7 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs?
About 600 kcal per serving, with 38 g of protein, 34 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 600 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 38 g |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
