Slow Cooker Spare Ribs (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Slow Cooker Ribs
01 -
4 to 5 pounds pork side ribs
02 -
½ cup brown sugar
03 -
½ teaspoon salt
04 -
½ teaspoon pepper
05 -
1 teaspoon onion powder
06 -
½ cup Italian dressing
07 -
¼ cup barbecue sauce
→ Barbecue Glaze
08 -
¾ cup barbecue sauce
09 -
1 tablespoon minced garlic
# Instructions:
01 -
Line the slow cooker with a slow cooker liner if desired.
02 -
In a medium mixing bowl combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Mix well. Add Italian dressing and ¼ cup barbecue sauce, and mix again.
03 -
Add one layer of ribs to the slow cooker at a time. If needed, trim ribs to fit. Apply a generous portion of sauce over each layer, alternating ribs and sauce until all ribs are in the slow cooker.
04 -
Cover the slow cooker and cook for 7 to 8 hours on low heat. Begin checking for tenderness at the 6-hour mark as cooking times may vary between slow cookers.
05 -
Remove ribs from the slow cooker and drain excess liquid. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
06 -
In a medium bowl, combine ¾ cup barbecue sauce and minced garlic. Mix well. Reserve ¼ cup of this mixture for serving later.
07 -
Place ribs on a baking sheet. Brush the remaining ½ cup of glaze generously over the tops and sides of the ribs.
08 -
Bake on the middle rack of preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until the sauce begins to bubble and edges brown slightly.
09 -
Remove from oven and immediately pour the reserved ¼ cup of sauce over the hot ribs.
10 -
Transfer to a serving platter either whole or cut into smaller portions as desired.
# Notes:
01 -
You can cut the ribs into smaller pieces to fit your slow cooker without sacrificing tenderness.
02 -
The slow cooking process ensures fall-off-the-bone tenderness, while the final oven step creates a caramelized glaze.