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Tender Bourbon Maple Glazed Pork Ribs Slow Cooker Recipe Easy and Perfect for Fall

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This slow cooker recipe delivers tender, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs glazed with a sticky bourbon maple sauce, perfect for cozy fall gatherings and easy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks (about 4 pounds / 1.8 kg) baby back ribs or St. Louis style ribs, trimmed of excess fat
  • ½ cup (120 ml) bourbon (e.g., Maker’s Mark)
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) pure maple syrup
  • ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Remove the thin membrane on the back of the ribs by loosening a corner with a sharp knife, then pulling it off with a paper towel.
  2. Trim any large fat pockets from the ribs to prevent greasy glaze.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper if using.
  4. Place ribs in the slow cooker and pour the glaze over them, turning to coat well.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until ribs are tender but not falling apart.
  6. About 20 minutes before ribs finish, preheat your oven’s broiler to high.
  7. Carefully transfer ribs to a baking sheet lined with foil. Brush extra glaze from the slow cooker over ribs and broil for 3-5 minutes until caramelized and sticky, watching closely to avoid burning.
  8. Let ribs rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute, then slice between bones and serve.

Notes

Remove the membrane for better tenderness. Watch the glaze carefully under the broiler to prevent burning. Save leftover glaze and reduce on stovetop for a thicker sauce. Can substitute country-style ribs or use apple juice and vanilla extract instead of bourbon for alcohol-free version. Rest ribs before slicing to keep juices locked in.

Nutrition

Keywords: pork ribs, bourbon ribs, maple glazed ribs, slow cooker ribs, fall recipe, barbecue ribs, easy ribs, tender ribs

Find it online: https://spoonette.com/tender-bourbon-maple-glazed-pork-ribs-slow-cooker-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-fall/