This is what I have done to satisfy my craving for Texas style BBQ ribs, because I live over a thousand miles away in California and I have neither the equipment or time for a 12-hour smoke. I use a slow cooker to achieve the low slow heat that ribs love. What is different from other recipes I have seen is I use only a dry rub in the slow cooker and no liquid, so the ribs come out more tender and moist than other slow cooker or instant pot recipes you find online.

Step 1: Ready Your Ribs

This is a rack of baby back ribs from Trader Joe's. Pat dry with paper towels

Step 2: Mix Your Dry Rub

I use a simple dry rub recipe below from the Food Network:

1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp granulated garlic
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp white pepper

Step 3: Apply Dry Rub to Ribs and Place in Slow Cooker

Apply your dry rub to your ribs and place in slow cooker. And that is it! You may ask if I add any liquid to the slow cooker? The answer is a strong NO! I am trying to replicate a smoked Texas style rib which is dry, so I do not want to braise them in a liquid. After that I set the slow cooker on low for the desired period:

At around 3 hours the ribs are fully cooked
At 5 hours the ribs start to fall off the bone, like a pulled pork

I like four hours so the ribs are soft and tender and moist but still have some toothy texture.

Step 4: Mix Your Sauce

You can purchase sauce from the grocery but those are all too sweet for me and I am trying to recreate my memories of Rudi's BBQ in Houston. You can always purchase your sauce online, or you can follow this Rudi's BBQ sauce clone.

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice (2 lemons)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp coarse black pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

I am usually generous with the vinegar. And I prefer the acidity of cheap white vinegar to more expensive white wine or apple cider vinegar, because I find them too sweet. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer until slightly reduced.

In the meantime, about 10 minutes before the ribs are ready, preheat your broiler to high.

Step 5: Remove From Slow Cooker

This is after four hours in the slow cooker. The ribs are fully cooked and starting to pull away from the bone. Place the ribs in a roasting pan and insert into the broiler for five minutes.