Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Spare Ribs Recipe

Well, I finally bit the bullet and tried something I’ve been wanting to make for a long time.  Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Spare Ribs!

I’ve always had my husband fire up the smoker and cook these babies all day.  He goes through quite a bit a prep to make these and has to constantly monitor the heat, make sure the fire doesn’t burn out, etc., etc.  Don’t get me wrong…we LOVE them cooked this way, but he has to have time to do this process.  So, we don’t have these when he’s busy.

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What A Deal!

My local grocery store, HEB, has them on sale a for a cheap $1.47 /lb.!  That’s a fantastic price because, as you’ve probably notice, beef and other cuts of meat have gone out of sight!

Spare ribs are a great bargain at this price, because one rack can easily feed 3-4 people.  What’s even better is that you can cut them in half or thirds and easily fit them in the slow cooker and it’ll do all the work for you!

Let’s Make Them!

Make your own tasty rib rub with just a few ingredients that you probably have on hand.  (See recipe below).  The recipe I’m going to give you makes enough to put into an empty shaker jar and get several uses.

Slice the onion and put it on the bottom of the slow cooker.  Cut the ribs in half and put them on top of the onions.

Sprinkle the dry ingredients liberally on both sides and rub it in, covering the whole rack.  Put 2 Tbsp. of minced garlic on the top of each rib section and pour a cup of water in the cooker, then add a cup of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce over each section, as well.

Let Them Cook!

I saved a few onion rings to put on top, but that’s totally optional.  Set the slow cooker on Low and cook for about 6-7 hours or High for 4 hours, as they will be very tender and will come off the bone easily.  If you cook them much more than that, they’ll just completely fall apart.

Tip:  If you want to caramelize the BBQ sauce, take ribs out of slow cooker when they’re done and place them on a cookie sheet.  Then add a little more BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, just until the sauce starts to bubble.  I didn’t do it this time and it’s not necessary…totally optional.  They’re great both ways!

As you can see, these turned out perfect AND they were delicious!  The best part was that this is a super frugal, easy meal that the whole family will love!

You can experiment with different BBQ sauces for a different flavor and if you like a little more of a kick, opt for a spicier sauce.  You can also add Liquid Smoke (1 Tbsp) if you enjoy a smokier flavor.

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Spare Ribs

These ribs are super easy and so tasty. Just a few ingredients is all it takes for a yummy meal! NOTE: My Slow Cooker is a 5 qt. and one rack fit just fine.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:6 hours hrs

Total Time:6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 2-2.5 lbs St. Louis style spare ribs
• 1 Tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. minced garlic or 2 fresh cloves, minced
• 1/2 onion sliced
• 1 cup BBQ sauce I used Sweet Baby Ray's Original. You can experiment with different sauces.
• 1 cup water

Instructions

• Slice onion and place it on the bottom of slow cooker. Save a few onion rings for the top of ribs, if desired.
• Cut ribs in half (or thirds) and lay on top of onions.
• Mix spices together and sprinkle liberally on both sides. (These measurements will make more than enough for a rack. Save the rest to use next time.)
• Pour the water in and then add the BBQ sauce on top of both sections.
• Cook on Low for 6-7 hours or High for 4 hours. Don't over cook.
• Remove ribs from the slow cooker with tongs.
• This step is optional: If you want to caramelize the BBQ sauce, take ribs out of slow cooker and place them on a cookie sheet. Add a little more BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, just until the sauce starts to bubble.
• Enjoy!!

Servings: 3 -4

Author: Kimberly @Love To Frugal

If you like this Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Spare Ribs Recipe, be sure to check out 10 Cheap and Easy Slow Cooker Meals and Crockpot Zuppa Toscana.

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