🥩 Slow Cooker Barbecued Beef Ribs
Tender, fall-apart ribs with rich BBQ flavor—easy and hands-off.
🛒 Ingredients
- 3–4 lbs beef ribs (short ribs or back ribs)
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce (your favorite)
- ½ cup beef broth (or water)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Dry Rub (recommended):
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked if possible)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Ribs
- Pat ribs dry.
- Mix dry rub ingredients and coat ribs well.
- (Optional but recommended) Sear ribs in a hot pan 2–3 minutes per side for extra flavor.
2️⃣ Load the Slow Cooker
- Place sliced onions on the bottom.
- Add ribs on top.
- Mix BBQ sauce, beef broth, and garlic. Pour over ribs.
3️⃣ Cook
- Low: 7–8 hours (best for tenderness)
- High: 4–5 hours
Ribs are done when tender and meat easily pulls from the bone.
🔥 Optional Finish (Highly Recommended)
For sticky, caramelized ribs:
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Place ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Brush with extra BBQ sauce.
- Broil 3–5 minutes until slightly charred and bubbly.
🍽 Serving Ideas
- Coleslaw
- Cornbread
- Baked beans
- Roasted vegetables
📝 Tips
- Don’t add too much liquid—ribs release juices as they cook.
- For spicier ribs, add cayenne or hot sauce to the BBQ mix.
- Let ribs rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
If you’d like, I can also share:
- A no-sugar keto BBQ rib version
- A homemade BBQ sauce recipe
- Or an oven-only method if you don’t have a slow cooker** 🍖
