How to Make Great No-Mess Barbecue Ribs Without a Grill

My husband loves barbecue ribs. I have always hated the mess that goes along with boiling, grilling or broiling the ribs and they never seem to come out just right. Well, after years of experimenting, I have found that making barbecue ribs does not need to be messy, can be done indoors without a grill and you don't need to mess up your oven's
broiler. Here is my fool proof secret: Use a slow cooker or crock pot!

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Cook Time: 8
hours

Ingredients:

1. Pick your favorite cut of ribs (baby back, country style, western ribs, spare ribs, rib tips, etc)
2. Pick your favorite barbecue sauce (pick a high quality or good home made sauce for the best results)
3. Pick your favorite dry rub barbecue seasoning (I use one that is sweet and tangy like a southern style barbecue seasoning)
4. Water

Tools:

1.Next, get out your slow cooker or crock pot - that's right - these ribs are made in a crock pot! (You can make as much as you can fit into your crock pot or slow cooker, or make a little as you need)
2.Crock pot liners if you have them (saves on clean up time)
3. Kitchen tongs for removing the ribs
4. A nice big heat proof serving platter

Directions:

PART 1

 1. Cut the ribs into pieces that will easily fit into your slow cooker or crock pot. You can stack them up if needed,
this will not affect the final outcome.
 2. Liberally rub each side of the ribs with your favorite dry rub spice.
 3. Stack ribs in the slow cooker or crock pot.
 4. Add enough water to cover the bottom about a half an inch.
 5. Set the slow cooker to LOW and walk away for 6 hours. (Now go catch up on your TV programs, reading, crafts,etc)

PART 2
 1. Remove all ribs from the slow cooker with kitchen tongs and place on a heat proof platter
 2. Empty all water and fat from the slow cooker. (this is a good move for those of us who want to lower our fat intake but have great flavor!)
 3. Replace the ribs in the slow cooker
 4. Generouslycover with your favorite barbecue sauce. And I mean GENEROUSLY. (you can also use your own homemade sauce if you prefer)
 5. At this point you can also add any fully cooked sausage like smoked sausage or Andouille sausage, hot dogs or other favorite in case you need   extra meat for entertaining or for child portions. (do not use uncooked pork sausage because they will not have enough time to fully cook at this point)
 6. Turn the slow cooker
to HIGH and allow to cook for one and a half to 2 hours longer. (your house or apartment will smell wonderful at this point)

PART 3
1. Carefully remove the ribs from the slow cooker with kitchen tongs and arrange on a heat proof serving platter. Tent with foil if not serving immediately to keep warm.

These ribs will fall off the bone, be juicy and delicious and your husband, friends, family and kids will ask for them over and over.