Emilie Meyer
Country pork ribs are a delicious, hearty meal that can be easily prepared in a crock pot. With just a few simple ingredients and a slow cooker, you can create tender, juicy, and flavorful ribs that will impress your family and friends. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner, game-day snack, or holiday meal, and it goes well with your favorite barbecue sides. Boneless country-style ribs are affordable and easy to work with, making them a great option for feeding a crowd. By slow-cooking the ribs and adding a few key ingredients, you can achieve mouthwatering results that will have your loved ones asking for more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of ribs | Country-style pork ribs |
| Cooking method | Slow cooker/Crock Pot |
| Temperature | Low |
| Time | 6-8 hours |
| Ingredients | Onions, barbecue sauce, maple syrup, brown mustard, salt, pepper, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder, potatoes |
| Preparation | Sear ribs before putting them in the Crock Pot, add a rub or spice blend, let sit for 15-30 minutes, place on a bed of onions |
| Serving suggestions | Mashed potatoes, coleslaw, roasted vegetables, mac and cheese |
| Leftovers | Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, reheat in the oven, microwave, air fryer or slow cooker |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping the ribs
To prep your country pork ribs for the crock pot, start by gathering all your ingredients and setting them up. This will speed up the cooking process and ensure you have everything you need.
If your ribs didn't come pre-cut, cut them into sections. You can choose to sear the ribs before placing them in the crock pot. If you do, add a little liquid to the pan when you're done and transfer all the juices to the crock pot.
Next, make your rub. In a small bowl, mix together your chosen spices. A simple rub could include brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, onion powder, ground mustard, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne. You can also add chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, and kosher salt. Once combined, rub the spice blend into the ribs and let them marinate for 15-30 minutes or even an hour to let the flavours develop.
After the ribs have marinated, spray the bottom of the crock pot with cooking spray or use a cooking bag. Place chopped onions at the bottom of the crock pot. You can also add garlic. Then, place the ribs on top of the bed of onions in a single layer.
If you want to add liquid to your crock pot, a mixture of chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of liquid smoke will help keep the ribs tender and flavourful.
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Choosing the right temperature
When cooking country pork ribs in a crock pot, it is important to choose the right temperature to ensure the meat is cooked thoroughly and remains tender. While specific temperatures are not always provided, most sources recommend cooking the ribs on a low setting.
The recommended cooking time for country pork ribs in a crock pot is generally between six and eight hours. This extended cooking time at a low temperature allows the meat to become tender and easily fall off the bone. Cooking the ribs on a low setting for this duration ensures that the meat is slow-cooked, resulting in a tender and juicy outcome.
It is worth noting that some recipes suggest cooking the ribs on a "high" setting for a shorter duration of three to four hours. However, it is generally advised to cook country pork ribs slowly at a lower temperature to achieve the desired tenderness.
To check if the ribs are cooked properly, you can use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the meat has reached at least 145°F (63°C). This temperature reading ensures that the meat is safe to consume. However, allowing the ribs to reach an internal temperature of 190°F to 200°F (87°C to 93°C) will result in more tender meat that falls off the bone.
By adjusting the cooking temperature and time, you can ensure that your country pork ribs are cooked to your desired level of doneness, whether you prefer them slightly firmer or meltingly tender.
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Adding flavour
Country-style pork ribs are a boneless cut of pork and the meatiest rib option. They are easy to prepare and perfect for a weeknight meal, game-day snack, or holiday feast.
The key to adding flavour to country pork ribs in a crock pot is to use a combination of spices, herbs, and liquids. Here are some tips to enhance the flavour of your crock pot country pork ribs:
Use Aromatics and Spices
Aromatics such as onions add flavour to the pork as it slowly cooks, releasing their sweetness and blending into the sauce. You can use white, yellow, or sweet onions, chopping or slicing them to cover the bottom of the crock pot.
A variety of spices can be used to create a rub for the ribs. This can include kosher salt, black pepper, cumin, chilli powder, dried oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, smoked paprika, coarse salt, ground mustard, and cayenne. Mix your chosen spices and rub them onto the ribs. Let the ribs marinate for at least 15 minutes to let the flavours develop.
Choose a Barbecue Sauce
You can use a store-bought barbecue sauce or make your own. If using a store-bought option, choose a thick, sticky, and bold-flavoured sauce. You can also add other ingredients to your sauce, such as maple syrup, brown sugar, or molasses, to add sweetness and thicken the sauce.
Include Liquids
Liquids are essential when slow-cooking pork ribs in a crock pot. You can use chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, beer (a darker variety like amber or stout), or even leftover juices from searing the ribs. These liquids help to braise the meat, making it tender and juicy.
Enhance with Extras
For an extra kick of flavour, you can include mustard in your sauce, which also acts as a thickening agent. You can also top the ribs with raw bacon or serve them with sliced potatoes.
By combining these flavour-enhancing techniques and choosing your preferred ingredients, you can create delicious and tender country pork ribs in your crock pot.
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Reheating leftovers
When storing leftover country pork ribs, it is recommended to place them in an airtight container and put them in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. To maintain freshness and minimize moisture loss, it is best to store them as soon as possible.
There are several ways to reheat leftover country pork ribs, each with its own advantages:
Oven
Place the ribs in a shallow baking dish with a little leftover cooking liquid and cover with foil. Heat in the oven at 300°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through. The oven method helps keep the ribs from drying out.
Microwave
Reheating in the microwave is convenient and can be done in a few ways. One way is to place the ribs on a bed of lettuce leaves and cover them with another lettuce leaf before microwaving. This helps retain moisture. Use the microwave's medium settings, around 50% power, and heat for about 3 to 4 minutes. Alternatively, reheat the ribs directly in their sauce until bubbling and warmed through.
Air Fryer
The air fryer is a quick and effective way to reheat ribs, ensuring they don't dry out. Check the ribs every 5 minutes to ensure they don't overcook.
Stovetop
Reheat the ribs in their sauce on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through.
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Serving suggestions
Country-style pork ribs cooked in a crock pot can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions:
Sides
Country-style pork ribs go well with traditional barbecue sides. Some specific suggestions include mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, cornbread, and coleslaw. You can also serve them with roasted vegetables.
Sauces
You can serve the ribs with the juices from the crock pot. Alternatively, you can add barbecue sauce or make your own sauce by combining barbecue sauce, maple syrup, and mustard. You can also add a rub to the ribs before cooking them. A simple rub can be made by combining brown sugar, smoked paprika, coarse salt, onion powder, ground mustard, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne.
Leftovers
Leftover country-style pork ribs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. To reheat, place the ribs in a shallow baking dish with some of the leftover cooking liquid, cover with foil, and heat in the oven at 300°F for about 15-20 minutes. You can also reheat them in the microwave, but using the oven will help keep them from drying out. Leftovers can also be used to make pulled pork sandwiches.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you cook the ribs for 6 to 8 hours on low heat.
You will need country-style pork ribs, onions, barbecue sauce, maple syrup, brown mustard, salt, pepper, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, ground mustard, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne.
It is recommended that you rub the ribs with a spice blend and let them sit for 15-30 minutes to marinate before placing them in the crock pot.
You can reheat leftover ribs in the oven at 300°F for about 15-20 minutes or until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the microwave, but using the oven keeps them from drying out.
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