Description
Smoky BBQ glazed baby back ribs promise a mouthwatering journey through classic American barbecue traditions. Succulent meat with tangy sauce invites diners to savor each tender, caramelized bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 racks baby back ribs
- ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) smoked paprika
- 1 cup (240 ml) BBQ sauce (your favorite variety)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
- 1 tsp (5 ml) onion powder
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) black pepper
- ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Membrane Removal: Detach the protective membrane from the posterior side of the ribs by sliding a knife underneath and peeling it away completely.
- Seasoning Preparation: Blend brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into a comprehensive spice mixture.
- Rib Seasoning: Massage the spice blend thoroughly across the entire rib surface, ensuring complete and uniform coverage that penetrates every surface.
- Slow Cooker Preparation: Lightly coat the slow cooker interior with olive oil to prevent adhesion and facilitate easy removal of the cooked ribs.
- Cooking Process: Segment the ribs to fit comfortably in the slow cooker, douse generously with barbecue sauce, and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until meat becomes exceptionally tender.
- Finishing Touch: Transfer the cooked ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush with additional barbecue sauce, and caramelize under a 425°F oven or high-intensity broiler for 5-7 minutes to create a glistening exterior.
- Serving: Slice the ribs into individual portions and serve immediately, providing extra barbecue sauce for dipping and enhancing the culinary experience.
Notes
- Membrane Removal Technique: Completely remove the tough silver skin from ribs to ensure tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture and better sauce absorption.
- Spice Blend Mastery: Create a balanced seasoning mix by evenly combining dry ingredients, ensuring no clumping and consistent flavor distribution across the entire rack of ribs.
- Slow Cooking Precision: Use low and slow cooking method to break down tough connective tissues, resulting in fall-off-the-bone tender meat that’s incredibly juicy and flavorful.
- Finishing Glaze Secret: Caramelize the barbecue sauce during the final broiling stage to develop a rich, sticky exterior with deep, complex flavor notes that elevate the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg