Slow Cooker Root Beer BBQ Pork Ribs

Prep Time	15 minutes
Cook Time	7–8 hours on LOW or 3½–4 hours on HIGH
Servings	4

Ingredients

3 to 4 pounds pork baby back ribs
1 cup root beer (not diet)
1 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Pat the baby back ribs dry with paper towels. If the thin membrane is still attached to the back of the racks, slide a knife underneath it, grip with a paper towel, and pull to remove. Cut the ribs into 3–4 rib sections so they fit easily into your slow cooker.
In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the root beer, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper until the sugar is dissolved and the spices are evenly distributed. This is your single BBQ mixture.
Arrange the raw rib sections in the slow cooker, standing them up along the sides and layering as needed so there is space for the sauce to flow around them.
Pour the entire root beer BBQ mixture evenly over the raw pork ribs in the slow cooker, making sure all the meat is coated. Use a spoon to nudge the ribs so some of the sauce gets between the pieces if needed.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the ribs are very tender and the meat is starting to pull away from the bones.
Carefully transfer the cooked ribs to a baking sheet or platter; they will be very tender, so use tongs and a spatula to keep them from falling apart. Skim excess fat from the surface of the cooking liquid in the slow cooker.
If you’d like a thicker, stickier sauce, pour some or all of the cooking liquid into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with a pinch more salt if needed.
Brush or spoon the reduced sauce over the ribs. For a caramelized finish, place the sauced ribs under a preheated broiler for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely, until the edges char slightly and the sauce bubbles. Serve hot with extra sauce on the side.