When the kitchen already feels warm enough in the middle of summer, this 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Summer Sizzle is the kind of dinner that saves the day. It turns raw pork rib tips into rich, sticky, hearty bites with almost no hands-on work, and that is exactly why I keep it in rotation during heatwaves. Everything cooks low and slow in the crock, giving you tender, deeply glazed pork without heating up the house or asking much from you after a long workday.
Serve these saucy rib tips with cold creamy coleslaw, potato salad, sweet corn, baked beans, or simple white rice to soak up the extra glaze. If you want to keep the meal really easy, add soft sandwich rolls for sliders or pile the pork next to a crisp cucumber salad for a nice cool contrast on especially hot days.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Summer Sizzle
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds raw pork rib tips
1 cup barbecue sauce
12 ounces cola
Directions
1. Place the raw pork rib tips in the slow cooker in an even layer.
2. Pour the barbecue sauce and cola over the pork, making sure the pieces are well coated.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the pork is tender and fully cooked.
4. Remove the lid and, if you would like a thicker sauce, cook uncovered on high for 20 to 30 minutes until the glaze reduces slightly. Toss the pork in the sauce before serving.
Variations & Tips
Sweeter glaze: If you like a sweeter, stickier finish, use a honey-style barbecue sauce. It gives the rib tips more of that glossy cookout flavor without adding extra ingredients.
Make it a little smoky: A hickory or mesquite barbecue sauce adds a deeper flavor and makes the finished dish taste like it spent more time on the grill than it really did.
Easy meal prep: You can add the pork, sauce, and cola to the slow cooker insert the night before, cover, and refrigerate if your insert is refrigerator-safe. In the morning, set it in the cooker and start cooking, which is especially helpful on busy weekdays.
Serving tip: These rib tips are rich, so I like serving them with something cool and crunchy. Coleslaw, pickles, or a simple salad balance the hearty glaze really well and make the whole plate feel more summery.
Storage tip: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a spoonful of the extra sauce to keep the pork moist.