These sweet and smoky slow cooker ribs are fabulous served up as a comforting main course or as a delightful finger licking treat for your next celebration. We imbued these ribs with a smoky mustard rub and topped them off with a molasses and orange juice barbecue sauce.
The Super Bowl game is a classic American event so why not celebrate the occasion with a classic American feast of slow cooker ribs.
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For fans of Kansas City and Kansas City BBQ this dish is made for you. However, we could not leave out Tampa Bay fans so we have gave our BBQ sauce a Florida orange juice kick!
Whoever you and your guests are cheering for, you are going to love these sweet and tangy ribs.
What We Love About These Ribs
Simple Ingredients. The ingredients for both the sauce and the dry rub are common pantry items.
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Tender. Slow cooking baby back ribs infuses them with flavor and makes them deliciously tender.
Easy Variations. Use your favorite ready-made barbecue sauce and seasonings and just skip making everything from scratch. We have variations of barbecue rib rubs you may want to try for these slow cooker ribs.
Big Game Ready. Serve these ribs on a football themed serving board. Fix up some tasty side dishes such as these Roasted Baby Potatoes or Air Fryer Tater Tots.
Caramelized. While the slow cooker makes these ribs tender, putting them under the broiler for a few minutes with the rich barbecue sauce gives them a caramelized finish.
How To Make Fan-Friendly Baby Back Ribs
- Make the rib rub and season your slow cooker ribs.
- Add ribs to the slow cooker with the ribs coiled inside the cooker with the bones vertical.
- Slow cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours.
- Transfer ribs to a sheet pan and slather with sauce.
- Broil ribs 3 minutes or until nicely caramelized.
- Cut ribs into 1 to 3-rib sections for easier handling. For appetizers or finger foods, slice the ribs into 1 rib sections for easier handling.
- Serve ribs on themed platter with barbecue sauce on the side.
Variations
- Montreal Steak Seasoning. Use ¼ cup of this Grill Mates seasoning in place of the BBQ Rub included in the slow cooker ribs recipe. You will also want to season the slow cooker ribs with the 2 tablespoons kosher salt. You can find this seasoning is most grocery stores.
- Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning. Use ¼ cup of this homemade version along with the kosher salt. This seasoning is almost like the original. The seasoning stores well up to 1 year, so feel free to make a larger batch.
- Kansas City Rib Rub. This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite Kansas City BBQ Joints. Again, use ¼ cup of this rub and the 2 tablespoons of kosher salt.
- Store Bought Barbecue Sauce. Use your favorite brand in place of the BBQ Sauce in the recipe. In keeping with the Kansas City barbecue theme, you may want to try Heinz Kansas City Style Sweet and Smoky BBQ Sauce, Jack Stack Barbecue Original Sauce, or a sampler pack of famous Kansas City Barbecue Sauces. Just don't forget to include the Florida orange juice!
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
More Recipes For Ribs
- Amazing BBQ Ribs in the Oven - Fast and Fuss-Free
- Tender Meaty Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
- Homemade Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce
Get yourself ready for a gameday sized feast of Slow Cooker Ribs. You and your guests are ready for a real treat!
Sweet Smoky Slow Cooker Ribs
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
Rib Rub
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon hot smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Ribs
- 2 slabs baby back ribs (about 5 pounds total)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 sweet onion, cut into thick slices such as Vidalia
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 clove garlic, minced about 1 teaspoon minced
Instructions
Rib Rub
- In a medium bowl, combine salt, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, mustard powder, garlic powder and onion powder.
Ribs
- Pat ribs dry. Turn the ribs over to remove the membrane that goes down the back of the ribs. Season ribs front and back with salt. Sprinkle the rib rub on the front and back of the ribs and lightly pat rub all over.
- Lightly spray 6 to 8-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add the water to the cooker. With the bones vertical, coil the ribs into a circle and arrange inside the pot. Scatter onions and garlic over the ribs.
- Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4-¼ hours or until fork tender.
BBQ Sauce
- Meanwhile, in medium saucepan add the barbecue sauce, molasses, orange juice, red pepper flakes and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, 3 minutes or until bubbling. Set aside.
- Preheat broiler with the top rack 6 inches from the top of the oven.
- Line a sheet pan with foil. Transfer ribs to the sheet pan. Brush about half of the BBQ sauce over the ribs.
- Broil the ribs, 3 minutes or until caramelized and sizzling. Halfway through the broiling time, rotate the sheet pan to evenly darken all over. Check ribs frequently to make sure they aren't burning.
- Carve ribs into 2 to 3-rib sections. Transfer the ribs to a serving platter. Serve with the remaining sauce alongside.
Notes
- Montreal Steak Seasoning. Use ¼ cup of this Grill Mates seasoning in place of the BBQ Rub included in the recipe. You will to season with the 2 tablespoons kosher salt.
- Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning. Use ¼ cup of this homemade version along with the kosher salt. This seasoning is almost like the original. The seasoning stores well up to 1 year, so feel free to make a larger batch.
- Kansas City Rib Rub. This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite Kansas City BBQ Joints. Again, use ¼ cup of this rub and the 2 tablespoons of kosher salt.
- Store Bought Barbecue Sauce. Use your favorite brand in place of the BBQ Sauce in the recipe. In keeping with the Kansas City barbecue theme, you may want to try Heinz Kansas City Style Sweet and Smoky BBQ Sauce, Jack Stack Barbecue Original Sauce, or a sampler pack of famous Kansas City Barbecue Sauces. Just don't forget to include the Florida orange juice!
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