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Bourbon Baby Back Ribs | Slow Cooker

Last updated on . Originally posted on By 64 Comments

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This slow cooker bourbon baby back ribs recipe is so good.  The slow cooker does all the work for you so it’s super easy.  You just throw the ribs into the cooker, whip up the sauce, pour it over the ribs, set the timer and you’ll end up with ribs that fall off the bone.

A hand holding one of the bourbon baby back ribs

Slow Cooker Equals Love

It’s fun that you can make delicious bourbon baby back ribs, even if you don’t own a grill (I haven’t owned one in years).

I make these ribs as often as I can.  They are succulent for sure, but what makes them really stand out is the sauce. It’s boozy and has just the right amount of sweetness to complement the meat without overpowering it or making you want to check your blood sugar after consuming it.

The sauce is also so delicious that you might even want to ladle it over baked potatoes or veggies or, dare I say, dip your bread into it.

Table Of Contents

Helpful Tips

  • Sometimes baby back ribs are also known as loin ribs.  You can use either.
  • You can cook these ribs in your slow cooker either on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.  I find they come out exactly the same.  I prefer getting the ribs done quicker so I can eat them sooner.
  • Cut the ribs in half so they fit in the slow cooker better.
  • Make sure to cover both sides of the ribs with the bourbon sauce, especially since they will have to overlap a little.

How to make Bourbon Baby Back Ribs

Pre-step

Get out your slow cooker and large glass bowl and whisk.

Step one

Gather the ingredients: bourbon, maple syrup, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic paste, onion powder and pepper.

The ingredients for the bourbon sauce for the bourbon baby back ribs

Barbecue sauce

Step two

Add all the above ingredients into the bowl.

All the ingredients in the bowl for the sauce for the bourbon baby back ribs

Step three

Whisk until combined.

Bourbon sauce whisked together for the bourbon baby back ribs

Perfect.  (Christopher loves this sauce and eats it by the spoonful when he thinks I’m not looking.)

Meat Prep

Step four

Take the pork out of its wrapping and trim off some of the fat.  I also cut the rack in half so it will fit better in the slow cooker.

Step five

Place the ribs in the cooker.

Uncooked ribs in the slow cooker for the bourbon baby back ribs

Step six

Pour the bourbon sauce over the ribs and take a spatula and scrape all the sauce out of the bowl.  You don’t want to miss any drops of this delicious sauce.

Make sure the sauce coats the ribs, especially where the ribs touch.

Bourbon sauce over the ribs for the bourbon baby back ribs

Step seven

Cover the slow cooker. Set the temperature to high and the timer for four hours.  After two hours, open the cover and ladle some of the sauce over the ribs.  Replace the lid.

Step eight

Transfer the bourbon baby back ribs to a serving plate.  Pour the bourbon sauce in a bowl and place a ladle in it.  Cut as many ribs as you want and plate them.

Ladle more bourbon sauce over the ribs and plate with a baked potato and a veggie.

Plated bourbon baby back ribs with a potato and bok choy

Mmmmm.

Let’s get closer.

Close up of the plated bourbon baby back ribs
The meat literally falls off the bone cooking it this way!  And boy, are they TASTY!!

I hope you enjoyed this bourbon baby back ribs recipe!

Please feel free to leave me a comment.  What’s your favorite bar-b-que sauce?  I’d love to know.

Other popular Bourbon recipes on Dishes Delish:

And as always, may all your dishes be delish.

If you’ve tried this Bourbon Baby Back Ribs 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!

5 from 26 votes
bourbon baby back ribs on a plate with potato and veggie
Print
Slow Cooker Bourbon Baby Back Ribs
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 5 mins
 

This bourbon baby back rib recipe is so good, the meat just falls off the bone. The beauty of this recipe is your slow cooker does all the work for you, but you can enjoy the fruits of its labor.

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baby back ribs, bourbon baby back ribs, slow cooker ribs
Servings: 14 ribs
Calories: 220 kcal
Author: Elaine Benoit
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, and cut in half)
Tools
Instructions
In a Mixing Bowl
  1. Add ketchup, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion powder, soy and pepper
  2. Mix with a whisk until incorporated

  3. In a slow cooker, add the ribs

  4. Pour bar-b-que sauce on top of ribs and make sure you cover both sides. The ribs will overlap, so make sure there is sauce where they touch

  5. Cover slow cooker and set to high and cook for 4 hours

  6. After 2 hours, open the lid and ladle the sauce over the ribs, basting them.

  7. Plate ribs with a potato and salad
  8. Pour whatever bar-b-que sauce is left in the slow cooker in a serving bowl
  9. Pour some sauce on ribs
  10. Eat
  11. Smile
  12. Enjoy
Recipe Notes

This recipe gives you a good amount of sauce!

Helpful Tips:

  • Sometimes baby back ribs are also known as loin ribs.  You can use either.
  • You can cook these ribs in your slow cooker either on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.  I find they come out exactly the same.  I prefer getting the ribs done quicker so I can eat them sooner.
  • Cut the ribs in half so they fit in the slow cooker better.
  • Make sure to cover both sides of the ribs with the bourbon sauce, especially since they will have to overlap a little.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Bourbon Baby Back Ribs
Amount Per Serving (4 ribs)
Calories 220 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 216mg9%
Potassium 64mg2%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 71IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Originally published July of 2017.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

    I know what you mean, all the time that takes to cook, and take pictures, and assemble, and write… I like your new style, plus you get to have some extra time to enjoy doing other things you love. As for this recipe, I am vegetarian, but my husband is a baby back rib lover and appreciates cooking with a slow cooker. He’d love this recipe 🙂 .

    Reply

    • Elaine

      Thank you for commenting Nicoletta, especially since you are a vegetarian! 🙂 I’m glad you agree about the time it takes photographing, cooking etc. 🙂

      Reply

  5. Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos

    You had my attention at the mere mention of Bourbon 🙂 I hear ya on the multi photos – I wrestle with that question myself but totally understand. I think the way this is laid out is perfect and am absolutely loving your blog!

    Reply

  8. Michele

    I think your idea of no process shots is great! More time to create more recipes…. and I know you have us covered it its something a little tricks!

    Reply

  11. Gloria

    Although I do not like drinking bourbon….I LOVE cooking with bourbon. These sound fantastic. I love my slow cooker…and pork. I just know these would be finger licking good.

    Reply

  13. Pam

    Around here we use bourbon like some people use vanilla – many recipes benefit from a splash! So, this sounds just divine and cooking the ribs in the slow cooker no doubt makes them tender as can be.

    Reply

  16. Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

    Yes, bourbon, just like bacon makes everything delicious. These ribs sound finger licking good. I actually have used this brand as well. You can never go wrong adding bourbon to recipes.

    Reply

  22. Michelle

    Oh gosh, that sauce!! I’m veggie but that sauce has me drooling, I can just imagine it with a baked potato! Going to send this on to my meat-loving friends, they will love this!

    Reply

  24. Danielle

    It’s amazing how easy recipes have become with the invention of a slow cooker! Love the way the ribs look – so inviting. I am definitely trying this recipe over the weekend – can’t wait to get my hands dirty!

    Reply

  25. Jacquelyn Hastert

    You caught my attention with bourbon 😉 These ribs look fall off the bone good! I love that the slow cooker does all the work for me while I am at work.

    Reply

  29. Analida Braeger

    My stomach is growling currently and I’m drooling while reading this. Ive never tried slow cooker ribs but you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference! I definitely will try these 🙂

    Reply

  31. Amanda Mason

    Yum! I love this homemade bbq sauce and that you made these in the crockpot!! What a convenient way to make these ribs!

    Reply

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