Description
Tender, flavorful pork ribs cooked with minimal hands-on time in a slow cooker, perfect for game days and family dinners.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 lbs ribs (pork spareribs or baby back ribs)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder (or smoked paprika + a pinch of cayenne for heat)
- 2 teaspoons paprika (use smoked paprika for a deeper smoke note)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Pat ribs dry with paper towels and peel off the silver membrane if present.
- Mix brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl. Rub evenly over both sides of the ribs.
- Coil or cut the rack into sections that fit your slow cooker.
- Pour a splash of water, apple juice, beer, or cola into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 360–480 minutes (6–8 hours) or on HIGH for 180–240 minutes (3–4 hours).
- Preheat your oven broiler while the ribs finish cooking.
- Brush both sides of the ribs generously with barbecue sauce.
- Broil for 3–6 minutes until sauce bubbles and caramelizes.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice between bones and serve.
Notes
To reduce sugar, cut brown sugar to 1½ tablespoons and choose a low-sugar barbecue sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 360 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American