These 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Mid-Summer Ribs are the kind of easy supper that feels like a little gift at the end of a busy day. Using raw bone-in pork short ribs, a handful of pantry staples, and the slow cooker, you get tender, richly flavored meat with hardly any fuss. It is a wonderful warm-weather dinner when you want hearty barbecue-style comfort without heating up the kitchen, and it is especially nice for weekends, potlucks, or family dinners where everyone is ready for something satisfying.
Serve these ribs with classic summer sides like coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, potato salad, or a simple platter of sliced watermelon. For a lighter plate, I like to add a crisp green salad or some quick cucumber slices, and if you want to stretch the meal for a crowd, soft rolls or cornbread are perfect for soaking up the extra sauce.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Mid-Summer Ribs
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds raw bone-in pork short ribs
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Directions
1. Pat the pork short ribs dry with paper towels, then arrange them in a single snug layer in the bottom of your slow cooker insert.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
3. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the ribs, making sure all the pieces are well coated.
4. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the ribs are very tender and the meat is easily pulling away from the bone.
5. Carefully transfer the ribs to a serving platter and spoon some of the sauce from the slow cooker over the top before serving.
Variations & Tips
For a sweeter sauce: If your family likes a sweeter rib sauce, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar with the other sauce ingredients. It helps the sauce turn a little richer and stickier as the ribs cook.
For picky eaters: If anyone at your table prefers less sauce, serve the ribs with extra sauce on the side instead of spooning it all over the platter. That way everyone can add as much or as little as they like.
To finish under the broiler: For a more classic barbecue look, place the cooked ribs on a foil-lined sheet pan, spoon a little extra sauce over them, and broil for 2 to 4 minutes just until the edges caramelize. Keep a close eye on them so the sauce does not burn.
Make-ahead tip: You can mix the sauce a day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. When it is time to cook, just add the ribs to the slow cooker, pour over the sauce, and let dinner take care of itself.