Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Growing up, we never had pork ribs, my grandfather was not a fan of pork so we always had beef ribs. Which looking back is absolutely ridiculous, they are like circus freak show large and we would tear into them like savages. I know here in Texas, they are sort of a delicacy, some BBQ joints sell them and people take pictures showing the largeness of it. Now that I make my own stuff, beef ribs are too big and since I don’t have a smoker, nearly impossible. We also eat pork products too so I devour ribs like its my job, I wanted a way to make them at home because eating in restaurants with kids is not the most enjoyable thing…
As I mentioned, we do not have a smoker (we know it’s like a crime against Texas), but it isn’t really my husband’s (or my) thing to stand outside for periods of time, fidgeting with chips and fire. Enter my trusty slow cooker. I love making ribs this way, if you have a good rub and sauce, it tastes so so good. There is no smoke ring but let me tell you, it is FALL OFF THE BONE tender. And off the bone is essential here, one of my daughters lives for the caveman love of eating off the bone and the other is legitimately terrified of bones. She has this semi-recent phobia of insides, crying and screaming if there is a show about the body. We just slip the bone out and it is eaten in seconds.
These are great for parties because it takes a couple of minutes to prepare and get into the slow cooker and they come out beautiful, you can do a couple racks at a time too. The sauce is super easy to get together if you are looking to have a Whole30 option for your cookout. I actually didn’t have a jar of applesauce and stole a couple of my kids apple pouches, so I bet you will have most of the ingredients in your pantry!
Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
3 lb rack of pork back ribs
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
3/4 cup Simple BBQ Sauce, below, divided
- Pat the ribs dry with a paper towel. Mix the spices together in a small bowl and then sprinkle over both sides of the ribs.
- Spread 1/4 cup of the BBQ sauce on each side of the rack.
- Curve the ribs and place in the slow cooker with the meatier side to the wall of the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hrs.
- Once done, carefully transfer to a baking sheet and spread the last 1/4 cup sauce on the rack. Broil for 3-5 minutes until it browns slightly. Serve with additional sauce.
Simple BBQ Sauce
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons coconut aminos
3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons BBQ Rub (I like Perry’s Plate version in The Big Book of Paleo Slow Cooking)
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 2 kids apple pouches)
- In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil on medium-high heat. Lower the temp and let simmer until it thickens. Cool completely and store in a jar in the refrigerator.
This is what your rib rack should look like, pat it dry and then make the spice mix.
Get the spices on both sides and rub in.
Spread 1/4 cup of the sauce on the back side of the ribs and then flip over
I like to use a brush to get the sauce on, it helps it stick to the ribs a little better
Take the rack and curve it enough to fit into the slow cooker. Then just get it cooking!
This is what it looks like out of the slow cooker, pretty delicious already but lets add some lipstick to this pig! Slather on the last 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and pop it under the broiler.
And that’s it! I served mine with some of the BBQ Slaw and it was a total hit!
