If you saw my last two posts, you might have guessed something with barbecue flair was upcoming. The Sweet Heat Rub and the Honey Chipotle Barbecue Sauce were a dead giveaway. So at last, here’s my Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs.
Honey Chipotle Barbecue Sauce – adding to some leftover chicken I shredded
I know these aren’t the most beautiful. They might even look a little gnarly, but they’re good down-home cooking. Better pictures could have helped – next time I make this, I promise!
About Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs:
Country Style Ribs aren’t ribs at all. Originally, they were cut from the blade end of the pork loin and usually had a bone; now they can come from the shoulder end and are often boneless.
If you haven’t had Country Style Ribs before, think of them as a cross between a pork chop and a rib. If you can find the bone in (which is part of the shoulder blade), the flavor is always better, and the bone helps keep them moist.
Whether bone-in or boneless, look for meat that’s well marbled with visible fat running through; they’re not necessarily “pretty” looking, but leaner ones will tend to be dry.
About Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs:
Country Style Ribs are a great slow-cooker choice. The meat tends towards fattiness, but the long, slow cook renders it beautifully, and they cook up so tender and moist.
When you open that slow cooker, you’ll find the top layer of ribs will be a little more caramelized, the ones on the bottom softer and paler, but saturated in flavorful juices. It’s a dilemma deciding on which is best!
Some consider variations like this a downfall of crockpot recipes; it can be a bonus, instead. Having a range of chops to choose from can be a lifesaver, especially if you have children or elders who will appreciate the softer, fall-of-the-bone chops from the bottom.
Sweet Heat Rub for Chicken or Pork
Making Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs:
The ribs are easy-peasy! Sprinkle with a little (or a lot) of rib rub or seasoning of your choice and give them a little massage. Of course, I’ve used my “Sweet Heat Rub for Chicken or Pork.” It’s an easy toss-together rub made from items you probably already have.
Layer the ribs, crisscrossing them in the slow cooker, and top with a cup or two of your favorite (or maybe my Honey Chipotle) barbecue sauce. That’s it, folks. It’s all over but the waiting.
Optional but recommended: When the ribs are finished, slather them with more sauce and broil until the sauce is molten and bubbly. I didn’t do this for the batch in these photos. I just drizzled with a bit more sauce and served them as is.
Leftover Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs:
Store in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for three to four days. This works best if cooled before covering.
- For best results, reheat servings, lightly covered, in the microwave, sprinkled with a little water first.
- Larger amounts may do better in the oven. Reheat in a preheated oven (350 degrees F.), covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. If it appears dry, drizzle with just a little water, recover and heat for a few more minutes until absorbed.
Consider, instead, repurposing any leftover ribs. Check out my post on Leftover Pork for inspiration and recipes. It only takes a rib or two to make this Pork & Mushroom Ragu.
Pork & Mushroom Ragu
Serve With:
These are going to be perfect with mashed potatoes in cool weather and some kind of fry, like my Bomb Baked Potato Wedges in the summer.
Corn, Cole Slaw, and/or Baked Beans are fitting sides with anything that has barbecue flavors.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes You Might Like:
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – pictured below, a large pork roast, cooked and shredded, perfect for a crowd.
- Slow Cooker Baby Back or Spare Ribs – a favorite low-effort way to cook ribs; pull out when done, slather with sauce, and broil.
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork or Brisket – another easy one; toss in the oven or make in your slow cooker; perfect every time.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Saving Money on Groceries:
What you pay for groceries depends on not just WHERE you shop, but WHEN. Be strategic and stock up at rock-bottom prices.
- The best sales are before holidays; check out Win at the Grocers. Think beyond the occasion & use the opportunity to stock up at a low for the coming weeks to months.
- If available, take advantage of discount stores like Aldi or Lidl. The pricing at Buyer’s clubs is not always the lowest, but can trump in quality. Be selective when shopping there.
Country Style Ribs:
- Depending on where you live and the time of year, you may have country-style ribs available at the store any time; more likely, they’ll turn up sporadically, and seem to be more plentiful in the fall (when most piggies go to market) and a few weeks prior to Easter. Any holiday where ham is often served is going to generate great sales prices on the offcuts a few weeks before.
- Look for them on sale; ideally, they shouldn’t be more than pork shoulder on sale, and are often less. For an adult, you will probably want to count on more than one per person. They do cook down a lot.
Rib Rubs & Seasonings:
- Making your own spice mixes like Rib Rub, especially if you’ve picked up your spices and herbs at a low price to start with, will always save money.
- The main ingredients in most of these blends are often the cheapest, most common items: brown sugar, salt, and common spices.
- There are hints on how to save on the spices and herbs in the recipe for Sweet Heat Rib Rub, linked above.
Barbecue Sauce:
- Most condiments are best bought for the year during the summer, and are almost always at a low price before the Summer Holidays.
- If you miss out on the opportunity, stock up before the Super Bowl; if the prices are right, buy enough to last until the Memorial Day sales start.
- Many barbecue sauces are a mix of condiments and spices, and are usually cheaper (and customized to your taste) when mixed up at home.
Hello Frugal Foodies! Talk about bank for your buck. Slow Coooker Country Style Ribs have so much flavor for such little effort and so little money. Hope you enjoy!
Mollie
Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs
Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs
The easiest meal you could ever hope to make with all the great barbecue flavor you could want.
- Prep Time: 10 min + rest
- Cook Time: 6 to 10 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours
- Yield: 6 - 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 pounds Country Style Ribs
- 1/3 cup or so of Rib Rub
- 1 generous cup of barbecue sauce, plus more for serving
Instructions
Season ribs with rub, a little or lot according to taste, and rub the seasoning into the meat. Set aside for an hour and up to overnight (if time allows) well wrapped in the refrigerator. Add ribs to the slow cooker in a single layer, then add another layer crosswise to the first. Continue until all ribs are in the slow cooker. Drizzle with a cup (or more if desired) of barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on high for about six hours (or until tender) or on low for 10.
Serve with additional barbecue sauce.
If desired, ribs may be removed from the slow cooker, placed on a rack over a sheet tray lined with foil (for easy clean up) and placed about four to five inches under a broiler till the barbecue sauce is caramelized and bubbly.
Notes
- The ribs will have a range of tenderness. Those on the bottom will be softer while those on the top will be a little more caramelized. This can be a bonus if part of the family is children or elderly.
- If that isn’t an outcome you’d like, place the ribs standing on edge.
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I’m posting Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs to Fiesta Friday, hosted by Quinn @ Dad What’s 4 Dinner and Monika @ Everyday Healthy Recipes.
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