If you don’t have a smoker, but want to create that smoky flavor, you can make that happen in your slow cooker with soaked mesquite wood chips and a little liquid smoke!
This Smoky Mesquite BBQ Slow Cooker Beer Ribs Recipe is the perfect Father’s Day recipe- smoky mesquite BBQ flavor, beer and baby back ribs… what more could Dad possibly want?! And you don’t have to heat up your house or grill anything- the slow cooker does all the work for you!
Slow Cooker BBQ ribs
Obviously there is no actual smoke involved in these slow cooker BBQ ribs, so they’re not going to taste exactly the same as making ribs in a smoker, but it’s a close second! Is there anything a slow cooker can’t do?! You’ve heard me say it before…. it’s my fave small appliance, along with my Bread Machine, of course. What’s not to love about a small appliance that does the work for you while you go about your day?
Slow cooker beer ribs
The beer adds a really nice depth of flavor that melds beautifully with the smoky mesquite flavors of these slow cooker ribs. Like salt, alcohol brings out the flavor in food. Whether you’re cooking with wine, beer, or liquor, the alcohol in these beverages improves flavor perception in at least two important ways: by evaporation and by molecular bonding. You can read more about that HERE. And slow cooking with alcohol is the ultimate method when it comes to making those flavors shine! These slow cooker beer ribs are true testimony to that.
But why cook with beer?
Beer adds a more complex depth of flavor to a finished creation. It lends itself to the rich flavors of meat, soups and stews. The spicy, fragrant flavors in many beer varieties compliment pork, beef, curries, chicken or even fish. If a recipe calls for a liquid, such as wine, stock, milk, water; you can easily substitute with beer. You can read more HERE.
And if you love cooking with beer, you’ll love my Beer can Chicken Recipe !
Slow Cooker Pork Ribs Recipe
I’ve had a lot of slow cooker pork rib recipes in my life and none even come close to this one in terms of taste and flavor depth! Soaking the wood chips, then placing them in the slow cooker, with the addition of beer, BBQ sauce and smoke flavor, creates a rich and scrumptious pork rib that dad is sure to love!
And if you’re looking for a delicious side to go with these ribs, try my Perogy Potato Salad.
Need an easy dessert? Dad is sure to love this No Bake Skor Bar Dessert!
So if your Dad (or whichever Dad you’re making dinner for) loves ribs, beer and BBQ then treat him to these Smoky Mesquite BBQ Slow Cooker Beer Ribs!
Happy Father’s Day!
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Smoky Mesquite BBQ Slow Cooker Beer Ribs
Ingredients
- 5 lbs -of pork back ribs (baby back ribs) *approximately - about 2 racks
- 1/2 cup beer any kind (I used Coors light)
- 1 cup fave BBQ sauce *I use President's Choice gourmet
- 1 tbsp liquid smoke * mesquite flavor
Spice Rub
- 3 tbsp seasoning salt I use Hy's
- 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
Mesquite Wood Chips Packet
- 2 cups mesquite or hickory wood chips
- water to cover wood chips
Garnish/Topping
- additional BBQ sauce (to your liking) * I used about another 2/3 cup
Instructions
Mesquite Wood Chips Packet
- Soak your wood chips in a bowl with water for at least 30 minutes. Then drain the water.
- Spread out a good-sized length of parchment paper (15x20 inches approx) on the counter.
- Put the wood chips in the middle of the parchment paper.
- Fold over the edges of the parchment paper (long way)
- Fold over the other side- similar to the way you'd make a foil packet for your BBQ.
- Staple the ends, ensuring it will fit inside your slow cooker.
- With scissors, cut teeny tiny holes here and there in the top level of the parchment paper to let smoky steam escape.
- Place packet in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Spice Rub
- Mix seasoning salt and cajun seasoning together.
- Rub all sides of your meat with spice rub. Put it in the crockpot, directly on top of the parchment paper packet
- Cover with beer and add liquid smoke.
- Add your 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce and put the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on low for approximately 8-9 hours. ** I added the additional 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce towards the end of the cooking process - about 6.5 hrs, but you could add it at the beginning or earlier.
- The meat is done when it is cooked through and has reached desired tenderness.
Garnish/Topping
- Add additional BBQ sauce to your liking.
Notes
Nutrition
And be sure to check out my other Slow Cooker Recipes!
This recipe is part of The Country Cook Weekend Potluck!
Oh my gosh, you sure know what Dad likes! Every single word in this recipe title is going to get all of the dads excited to eat! Delicious.
Interesting technique…it’s almost like they’re mesquite steamed ribs. We have a smoker, so we use that in the summer but I will definitely try this out in the winter!
Perfect for those in apartments wothout access to a grill! Thanks for this. These ribs are incredible.
Love this simple recipe! Love that i can do this without a grill or bbq!
What a genius idea to use wood chips in the slow cooker! Will have to try this.
Thanks – it gives it a really nice flavor!