Take BBQ rib season all the way into fall with theses slow cooked oven BBQ bourbon ribs slathered in a sweet and savory honey sauce.

The challenge with using a smoker for ribs is that it’s a pretty hands-on process. A smoker isn’t a “set it and forget it” tool like a slow cooker. You have to monitor the temperature, add more smoke chips if you’re using an electric smoker, wrap the ribs in foil after a certain number of hours, and manage other tasks that can make it a bit of a hassle. That’s where the slow cooker comes in. It delivers incredible results, with fall-off-the-bone meat and delicious flavors, without needing constant attention during the cooking process.

For this recipe, I opted for spare ribs instead of baby back ribs. Spare ribs are a bit meatier and wider than baby back ribs, but either option works well. While I’m usually a fan of smoked baby back ribs, I was pleasantly surprised by the spare ribs—they were packed with meat and turned out incredibly tender.

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To prepare the ribs, I used a homemade spice rub that I applied the night before to allow the flavors to really penetrate the meat. Although a store-bought rub works fine, I highly recommend trying the homemade version—it’s simple to make and brings a unique flavor to the dish. But the real showstopper here is the honey bourbon BBQ sauce. This sauce is what makes these ribs truly unforgettable! The best part? The sauce is quite easy to make, and you can even prepare it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, making the prep for these ribs even simpler.

I slathered the ribs with about half of the BBQ sauce before cooking them in the slow cooker, and then added more after they were done. One common complaint about slow cooker ribs is that they don’t get that crispy exterior you’d get from a smoker. To solve that, I finished these ribs in the oven at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, which gave them just the right amount of crispiness. Problem solved!

How to Make Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon BBQ Ribs

1. Prepare the Ribs:

• Spread the BBQ rub (store-bought or homemade) generously over the ribs. Massage it in with your hands, ensuring even coverage on all sides.
• Wrap the ribs in foil or plastic wrap, place them on a baking sheet, and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to penetrate.

2. Make the BBQ Rub (if using homemade):

• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper (if using). Mix thoroughly until well combined.

3. Make the Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce:

• Place the sliced onion, minced garlic, ketchup, bourbon, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and salt into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Cook the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by about ¼, which should take around 30 minutes.
• Let the sauce cool slightly, then transfer it to a high-powered blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth and well combined.

4. Cook the Spare Ribs:

• Place the prepared spare ribs in the slow cooker, ensuring they fit comfortably.
• Pour about half of the honey bourbon BBQ sauce over the ribs, spreading it evenly.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the ribs are tender and cooked through.

5. Finish the Ribs in the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Carefully remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup.
• Slather the ribs with more of the BBQ sauce and place them in the preheated oven.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the ribs develop a slightly crispy texture on the edges.

6. Serve:

• Serve the ribs immediately with the remaining BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.

Recipe Notes

• Choosing Ribs: Baby back ribs are a great alternative if you prefer a leaner cut, but spare ribs will offer a meatier experience.
• Bourbon: The bourbon adds a rich, smoky flavor to the sauce. If you prefer to avoid alcohol, you can substitute it with apple juice or an additional ½ cup of apple cider vinegar for a tangier taste.
• Homemade BBQ Rub: Making your own BBQ rub allows you to control the level of sweetness, smokiness, and heat, but store-bought versions are convenient and work well too.
• Slow Cooking: For fall-off-the-bone ribs, the slow cooker is key. However, finishing them in the oven helps create a delicious caramelized crust.

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon BBQ Ribs

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4.4 from 5 reviews

• Author: Taylor Kadlec
• Total Time: 16 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x

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Description

Take BBQ rib season all the way into fall with theses slow cooked oven BBQ bourbon ribs slathered in a sweet and savory honey sauce.

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Ingredients

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For the Ribs:

• 4 pounds pork spare ribs (baby back ribs can be substituted)
• 1/4 cup BBQ rub (store-bought or homemade – see below)

For the Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce:

• 1/2 white onion, sliced into strips
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Homemade BBQ Rub (optional):

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the Ribs:

• Spread the BBQ rub (store-bought or homemade) generously over the ribs. Massage it in with your hands, ensuring even coverage on all sides.
• Wrap the ribs in foil or plastic wrap, place them on a baking sheet, and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to penetrate.

2. Make the BBQ Rub (if using homemade):

• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper (if using). Mix thoroughly until well combined.

3. Make the Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce:

• Place the sliced onion, minced garlic, ketchup, bourbon, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and salt into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Cook the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by about ¼, which should take around 30 minutes.
• Let the sauce cool slightly, then transfer it to a high-powered blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth and well combined.

4. Cook the Spare Ribs:

• Place the prepared spare ribs in the slow cooker, ensuring they fit comfortably.
• Pour about half of the honey bourbon BBQ sauce over the ribs, spreading it evenly.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the ribs are tender and cooked through.

5. Finish the Ribs in the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Carefully remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup.
• Slather the ribs with more of the BBQ sauce and place them in the preheated oven.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the ribs develop a slightly crispy texture on the edges.

6. Serve:

• Serve the ribs immediately with the remaining BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

• Choosing Ribs: Baby back ribs are a great alternative if you prefer a leaner cut, but spare ribs will offer a meatier experience.
• Bourbon: The bourbon adds a rich, smoky flavor to the sauce. If you prefer to avoid alcohol, you can substitute it with apple juice or an additional ½ cup of apple cider vinegar for a tangier taste.
• Homemade BBQ Rub: Making your own BBQ rub allows you to control the level of sweetness, smokiness, and heat, but store-bought versions are convenient and work well too.
• Slow Cooking: For fall-off-the-bone ribs, the slow cooker is key. However, finishing them in the oven helps create a delicious caramelized crust.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Marinating Time: 8 hours
• Cook Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
• Category: Main
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 300g
• Calories: 520
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 820mg
• Fat: 35g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 110mg