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Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

You can't beat ribs straight off the barbecue. These Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are slow cooked in a spice rub and then finished off on the barbecue with a Homemade Barbecue Sauce. These can be prepared in advance and put in the slow cooker for easy barbecuing later on. Serve them with your favourite summer sides and you're all set.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time8 hours 20 minutes
Marinade time1 hour
Total Time9 hours 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: North American
Keyword: barbecue, barbecue ribs, ribs
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 511kcal
Author: Julia Pinney

Ingredients

  • 2 racks baby back pork ribs

For The Spice Rub

  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon paprika
  • 1 Teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons salt
  • 1 Teaspoon black pepper

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 1 Cup ketchup
  • 1/4 Cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Garlic cloves crushed
  • 1/2 Onion finely chopped
  • 1 Small dried chili finely chopped
  • Salt
  • Pepper
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make Spice Rub

  • Make the dry rub by combining the brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Give a good stir and set aside.

Prepare and Slow Cook Ribs

  • Lay the ribs out on a clean surface with the bone side up. Remove the membrane off the back of the ribs. Using a sharp knife, get just under the membrane and start lifting it off and pull until you pull it all off. You may need to pull it off it sections.
  • Cut the two racks on ribs in half and rub them with the spice rub on two sides. Wrap in foil and leave for 30 minutes.
  • Place the ribs in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours. They will release a lot of juice while cooking. Check on the ribs through cooking a few times and spoon juices over the meat.

Make Barbecue Sauce

  • Make the sauce by putting all the ingredients in a small sauce pan over a medium to low heat. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer. Leave to simmer on low for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.

Barbecue Ribs

  • Spoon the barbecue sauce over the ribs on both sides. Cook over a medium heat barbecue (gas or charcoal) for about 10 minutes per side.
  • Remove from barbecue and cut up the ribs. Serve with your favourite summer sides.

*A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

Notes

  1. Ribs can be marinated up to 24 hours before cooking.
  2. After the ribs are slow cooked, they can be tightly wrapped in foil and refrigerated up to 24 hours before finishing on the barbecue.
  3. This recipe uses a homemade Barbecue Sauce, but you can substitute your favourite store bought sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 511 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 130mg43%
Sodium 1169mg51%
Potassium 674mg19%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 827IU17%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 83mg8%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.