Description
Slow Cooker Spare Ribs are tender, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs coated in a sweet and smoky apple barbecue sauce, delivering deep flavor with minimal effort using a slow cooker.
Ingredients
1–2 racks spare pork ribs
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup store-bought BBQ sauce
1/3 cup no-sugar-added applesauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup water
Instructions
- Mix brown sugar, chili powder, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to make the dry rub.
- In a separate bowl, combine BBQ sauce, applesauce, and cinnamon; refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat the broiler or grill to high heat.
- Pat ribs dry and remove the membrane from the bone side.
- Generously rub the ribs with the dry rub.
- Broil or grill ribs for 5–10 minutes per side until nicely browned.
- Place browned ribs into the slow cooker, fitting them comfortably.
- Brush ribs generously with apple barbecue sauce and pour any remaining sauce over them.
- Add water to the bottom of the slow cooker, avoiding pouring directly over the ribs.
- Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours until ribs are very tender.
- Carefully remove and serve.
Notes
Removing the membrane helps achieve more tender ribs.
Finish on the grill after slow cooking for added char.
Add sliced onions to the bottom of the slow cooker for extra flavor.
Brush with extra sauce before reheating to keep ribs moist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
