5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Barbecued Pork Spareribs

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 06/25/19
Slow cooker barbecued pork spareribs

The Spruce
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 7 hrs
Total: 7 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
856 Calories
41g Fat
33g Carbs
83g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 856
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 53%
Saturated Fat 14g 72%
Cholesterol 262mg 87%
Sodium 1007mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 83g
Calcium 93mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Enjoy a meal of succulent spareribs drenched in barbecue sauce for dinner tonight. This simple slow cooker recipe has only five ingredients and tasty ribs could not be easier to make

For the barbecue sauce, the easiest option is to select your favorite from the store. Choose a spicy sauce to give the ribs a kick or keep it nice and mild with a more subtle sauce. This is also an excellent opportunity to make your own barbecue sauce. It's surprisingly easy.

Serve these pork spareribs with a potato or pasta salad alongside coleslaw and beans to complete the meal.

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds pork spareribs (cut into serving-size pieces)
  • Salt (to taste) 
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 (16-ounce) bottle barbecue sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Slow cooker barbecued pork spareribs
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  2. Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper; place on rack in a broiler pan or roasting pan.

    Salt and pepper
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  3. Broil ribs for 20 to 25 minutes.

    Broil ribs
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  4. Meanwhile, peel the onions and slice thinly.

    Chop onions
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  5. Place the ribs in a slow cooker along with sliced onion and barbecue sauce.

    Place the ribs on slow cooker
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  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.​

    Cook and cover
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  7. Serve with your favorite sides like mac n' cheese, coleslaw, and fried okra.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

​​It's All About the Sauce

Customize your spareribs with a special homemade barbecue sauce. Most barbecue sauce recipes have a ketchup, vinegar, and molasses base. Many include brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce as well. Essentially, if you have a well-stocked kitchen, you can make barbecue sauce. Whiskey also makes a great barbecue sauce.