Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Fact: My non-chicken repertoire continues to grow. Can we talk about how expensive groceries are in Silicon Valley? I mean seriously, I'm only shopping for three! And yet my bill seems colossal. In an attempt to cut costs, I've been more vigilant about checking the discount meat when I shop. And if I find a good deal, I tend to buy it, despite having no recipe in mind.

Thus was the case when I bought a half rack of baby back ribs. I think ribs are delicious; they're my go-to meat when I'm at a steak place and want to conceal the fact that I don't know much about picking steak (always medium-rare, but I don't really know how to pick the cut.)

I was a little skeptical that we could possibly make yummy ribs without a grill. However, I found a few recipes online suggesting that I could make moist and tender ribs in a slow cooker.

Oh. My. Goodness. So delicious. So simple. It's a keeper.

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

1.5 lbs baby back ribs
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper
Barbecue sauce (Sweet Baby Rays, anyone?)

Step one: Put the water in the crock pot.

Step two: Salt and pepper the ribs to taste.

Step three: Put the ribs in the crock pot. I thought they might not fit, but they did!

Step four: Cover and cook. I cook on high for 4 hours. I'm sure low for 8 will work as well.

Step four: Preheat your oven broiler. Take the ribs out of the slow cooker. Appreciate how tender, fall-off-the-bone they are! I put them on an aluminum lined baking sheet (which is good for cleaning, not-so-good for the earth...)

Step five: Brush the ribs with your favorite barbecue sauce. My college roommate McCall introduced me to Sweet Baby Rays. I'm a big fan.

Step six: Broil until the sauce caramelizes and gets bubbly, about 3 minutes.

Step seven: Enjoy! Sooooo good.

So I realized I have no finished product picture. It makes me sad inside. It makes Jeff happy inside; apparently we need to have these again, and soon!