Bourbon Baby Back Ribs | Slow Cooker
These bourbon baby back ribs are slow-cooked in a bold, tangy bourbon barbecue sauce until they’re irresistibly tender. The slow cooker handles everything, allowing the ribs to soak up deep, rich flavor while staying perfectly juicy and delicious.
One of the things I love most about this recipe is that you can make incredibly tender, flavorful bourbon baby back ribs without owning a grill. I haven’t had one in years, and I never feel like I’m missing out.
I make these ribs whenever I can. They’re juicy and succulent, but what truly sets them apart is the sauce. It has that smoky bourbon flavor with just the right touch of sweetness, enough to enhance the meat without overpowering it.
And honestly, the sauce is so good you may find yourself spooning the extra over baked potatoes, drizzling it on vegetables, or dunking a piece of bread right into it.
We are a participant in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites. #CommisionsEarned. You can read my disclosure here.
How to make bourbon baby back ribs
what you will need
Get out your slow cooker and large glass bowl and whisk.
The ingredients: bourbon, maple syrup, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic paste (or garlic cloves), onion powder, and black pepper.
Mix the sauce
Add all the above ingredients to the mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
Would you like to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Don't worry, I promise not to spam you.
Meat prep
Take the baby back pork ribs out of its wrapping and trim off some of the fat. Also, remove the membrane (see notes to see how to do so).
I also cut the rack in half so it will fit better in the slow cooker.
Place the ribs in the cooker, pour in the sauce, and make sure they are completely covered.
Place the cover on the slow cooker, set the temperature to high, and cook for four hours. After two hours, open the cover, flip the ribs from top to bottom, and then flip them back.
Transfer the ribs to a serving plate or platter and pour the bourbon sauce in a bowl. Cut into individual ribs and plate them.
Ladle more bourbon sauce over the meat and plate with a baked potato and any veggie.
Mmmmm.
The meat falls off the bone! And boy, is it TASTY!!
I hope you enjoyed this bourbon baby back ribs recipe!
Other popular bourbon recipes
And as always, may all your dishes be delish.
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Slow Cooker Bourbon Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
Bar-bie sauce
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup bourbon (or to taste)
- 1/8 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste (or two cloves, crushed)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper (or a few shakes)
Meat
- 3 pounds baby back ribs (trimmed, membrane removed, and cut in half)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add ketchup, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic, onion powder, and pepper.3/4 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup bourbon, 1/8 cup maple syrup, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons garlic paste, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Mix with a whisk until incorporated.
- To fit the ribs in my slow cooker, I divide them in two large slabs. I trime the fat off, and remove the membrane (see notes).Place ribs in the slow cooker.3 pounds baby back ribs
- Pour bourbon sauce on top of ribs and make sure you cover both sides. The ribs will overlap, so make sure there is sauce where the ribs touch.
- Cover slow cooker and set to high and cook for 4 hours.
- After 2 hours, open the lid, switch the bottom ribs to the top and visa versa. Baste the ribs by ladling more the sauce over them again.
- Transfer ribs to a serving platter and pour the bourbon sauce from the crock pot to a serving bowl.
- Eat, smile, and enjoy.
Equipment
Would you like to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Don't worry, I promise not to spam you.
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!Notes
Helpful tips
- Baby back ribs are sometimes labeled as loin ribs, and either works perfectly for this recipe.
- These ribs can be cooked in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Both methods produce equally tender results, but the shorter cook time gets them on the table faster.
- Cut the rack of ribs in half so they fit comfortably in the slow cooker.
- Coat both sides of the ribs generously with the bourbon sauce. Because the ribs will overlap slightly, thorough coverage ensures even flavor.
- Some people like to briefly broil the ribs after slow-cooking to caramelize the sauce. While that step adds a charred finish, these ribs are delicious straight from the slow cooker and don’t require it.
- Removing the membrane from the back of the ribs helps the seasoning and sauce penetrate the meat, resulting in more tender ribs. To remove it, slide a butter knife under the silverskin, lift until you can grip it, then pull it off using a paper towel for traction.
- If you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand, apple juice makes a good substitute in the bourbon sauce.
- There’s no need to add extra salt to the sauce, as the soy sauce provides all the seasoning needed.
Nutrition
Originally published July of 2017.
Golly! These ribs are so tempting it’s hard to look at the pictures, I’m drooling, I love how they fall of the bone! Please Elaine, feed me! 🙂
Lol Patty! I wish I lived closer to you!
OH MY! I think I could lick that whole slow cooker clean! That sauce! WOW! And the ribs were wonderful!
Lol Shashi!! Thank you!
Had them again this week! Yay! Really DELISH.
Soo good! Thanks Chris
I am such a sucker for perfectly cooked ribs – I love how you’ve made them in the slow cooker. Definitely going to be giving these a try!
Thank you Christine!
Yum! I love fall-off-the-bone ribs, and these were perfect. And what a sauce! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jamie! These ribs are so tasty!
Around here we use bourbon like some people use vanilla – many recipes benefit from a splash! So, this recipe was just divine and cooking the ribs in the slow cooker makes them tender as can be.
I love your way of thinking Pam, with a splash of bourbon! These ribs are super tender!
YESSS!! The sauce is incredible and the ribs were cooked perfect.
Thanks Christina!
So tender and the bourbon really sets it off. You can’t find a better rib recipe.
Thanks so much Diana! I appreciate it.
My hubs is a huge bourbon fan and we loved this recipe for bourbon baby back ribs. Will make again! great sauce!
Thanks Jen! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
What an incredible recipe! A restaurant worthy dish! Looking forward to having the leftovers tonight!
Thanks Beth! I hope you enjoy it!
Your shots are mouthwatering! The ribs are fall-off-the-bone delicious and super tender.
Hehe. Thanks Tammy! I actually had some for lunch. Just took them out of the freezer and heated them up. Yum.
These were so tasty – that sauce is so flavorful. I agree using the slow cooker is great for ribs.
Thanks so much Caroline!
These Baby Back Ribs are so delicious! I love that they are made in a Slow Cooker and that Bourbon Sauce is amazing!
Thanks Shanika! These are a family favorite!
It’s amazing how easy recipes have become with the invention of a slow cooker! Love these tasty ribs. The bourbon sauce was excellent too.
Thanks Danielle! I hope you enjoy the ribs when you make them!
You caught my attention with bourbon 😉 These ribs were fall off the bone good! I love that the slow cooker does all the work for me while I am at work.
They have to be my favorite rib recipe. The bourbon goes so well in the sauce and complement the ribs! Thanks Jacquelyn!
Oh my gosh Elaine, you are speaking to my heart with this ribs! They were so delicious and easy to make!
Thanks so much Carrie! 🙂 So easy and delicious and . . . well . . . bourbon.
It has been a long time since I’ve had baby back ribs! We loved it and now I’ll make it for our summer party!!
Yay! Thanks Kathryn! I hope you enjoy it when you make them!
What a delicious recipe! The slow cooker makes these ribs so tender, and I love the flavor the bourbon adds. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Amanda!! I appreciate it!
This was the tastiest ribs I’ve had in a long time. We loved it.
Hehe. Thanks Analida! I appreciate it!
Bourbon and back ribs! We love this recipe! Hubby even ate them with a side of bourbon. 😉
It’s so good Veronika! I hope hubby enjoys them!
Yum! I love this homemade bbq sauce and that I can use a crockpot!! It was so delicious and I look forward to the leftover ribs.
Thanks so much Amanda!! They are so easy!
Those ribs looks perfect, the flavours are so amazing. Absolutely droolocious
Thanks so much Jo!! 🙂 I appreciate it!