How to Slow Cook Country-Style Ribs

Create a signature dry rub mixture with various spices to lend flavor to your ribs.

Inexpensive country-style pork ribs transform into a succulent meal when slow-cooked in a spicy dry rub and coated with a flavorful sauce. Set up the slow cooker in the morning in about 15 minutes. By suppertime, your family will arrive home to the aroma of home-cooked barbecue, with minimal effort on your part. The tender, flavorful ribs will be coated with a smoky and spicy sauce.

Things You'll Need

• Slow cooker or Crock-Pot
• Large skillet or frying pan
• 2 to 3 lbs. country-style pork ribs
• 1/2 cup barbecue dry rub mix
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 onions
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 14 oz. diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. liquid smoke
• Bay leaf, dried or fresh
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Instructions

1. Plug in the slow cooker and set it on its low setting.

2. Season the ribs with salt, pepper and the barbecue dry rub.

3. Heat the skillet to medium. Coat the pan with the olive oil. Brown the ribs well on both sides, about two to three minutes per side.

4. Cut one onion into rings. Break up the rings and layer them in the bottom of the slow cooker. Chop the second onion. Mince the garlic.

5. Place the ribs on the layer of onions in the slow cooker.

6. Add the chopped onions and garlic into the skillet. Saute on medium, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen the flavorful bits of meat. When the onions have softened, add the tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, liquid smoke and bay leaf. Add salt and pepper.

7. Heat the sauce on medium until it is bubbling gently. Pour the sauce over the ribs in the slow cooker. Add water, if necessary, to ensure the ribs are almost, but not quite, covered. Cover the cooker. Set it to low or medium heat. Cook for six to eight hours.

8. Lift the ribs from the pot gently. The ribs will be falling apart at this point. Spoon the sauce over the ribs.

Tips & Warnings

• Scale recipe to fit your slow cooker. If necessary, use two cans of tomatoes

• If desired, deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup wine (white or red) after sauteing the onions.

• For a smoother sauce, remove the meat and the bay leaf. Blend the sauce in a blender, with an immersion blender or in a food processor for the desired consistency.

References

• Allrecipes: Slow Cooker Maple Country Style Ribs
• The BBQ Institute: "How to BBQ Ribs"