Slow-cooked spare ribs brushed with a homemade honey-bourbon BBQ sauce will satisfy every rib lover.
I do most of the cooking at home, but my husband Marc has a few specialties: smoked pulled pork, smoked brisket, and smoked ribs. He loves smoking meat and, since getting an electric smoker, has spent a lot of time refining his techniques.
Because Marc usually handles the ribs, I’ve only made them myself a few times. Smoking requires hands-on attention: monitoring temperature, adding wood chips, wrapping the ribs at the right moment—things he manages that I often don’t notice. That’s why I decided to try a slow-cooker method. I wanted to see if I could make ribs nearly as good without the constant attention a smoker needs.
The result was a success: these Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Spare Ribs came out incredibly tender, with meat that fell right off the bone and bright, balanced flavor from the sauce. For this recipe I used spare ribs, which are meatier and wider than baby back ribs, though either cut will work. I was impressed with the amount of meat and the tenderness of the spare ribs in the slow cooker.
For convenience I used a favorite store-bought rib rub and applied it the night before so the flavors could penetrate the meat. The real highlight is the homemade honey-bourbon BBQ sauce—simple to make, and the sauce is what makes these ribs memorable. You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it, which simplifies cooking day prep.
I brushed about half the sauce on the ribs before cooking and added more after. One common critique of slow-cooker ribs is the lack of a crispy exterior. To achieve a little caramelized crispiness, I finish the ribs in a 400°F oven for 10–15 minutes, which gives the edges a pleasant texture.
This method works well for entertaining, a comforting weeknight dinner, or any occasion where rib lovers want great flavor without fuss. The recipe produces reliably tender, saucy ribs that won’t disappoint.
Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Ribs
Ingredients
For the ribs:
- 4 lbs pork spare ribs (baby back ribs work too)
- ¼ cup your favorite store-bought rib rub
For the honey bourbon BBQ sauce:
- ½ white onion sliced into strips
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup bourbon
- ½ cup honey
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
To prep the ribs:
- Spread the rub evenly over the ribs and massage it into the meat.
- Wrap the ribs in foil or plastic wrap, place on a baking sheet, and refrigerate overnight to let the rub penetrate.
To make the honey bourbon BBQ sauce:
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces by about one-quarter, about 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth and well combined.
To cook the spare ribs:
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker and brush with about half of the BBQ sauce.
- Cook on low for 8–9 hours or on high for 4–5 hours, until the meat is very tender.
- Carefully remove the ribs and transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Brush the ribs with more sauce and bake 10–15 minutes until the edges are slightly crispy and caramelized.
- Serve immediately with the remaining BBQ sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 38 g |
Protein: 48 g |
Fat: 71 g
