Jen's Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs with Favorite Mac and Cheese

I found some bone-in country style pork loin ribs on sale the other day for a song. Seriously, two packages of ribs were $3 total. I love a bargain, so I could not resist! I decided to adapt my mom's BBQ rib recipe to the slow cooker, and see what happens.
Typically, my mom starts her recipe by boiling her ribs in a seasoned beer mixture first. After the ribs are partially cooked, she takes them out of their beer bath, slathers them with BBQ sauce, then grills 'em up. They are sooooo fall-off-the-bone tender and delicious...yum! I haven't had her ribs in quite awhile, and they sound so good. I decided to go a less traditional route and try the same idea in the slow cooker. It is about a billion and a half degrees here today in Phoenix (not really...but it is darn hot), and I did not want to heat up my kitchen. Also, we have "family swimming fun" planned after my son's nap, so I certainly don't want to babysit dinner. I would rather goof around in the pool.

I think I will serve my ribs with a side salad, some Favorite Mac and Cheese, and a veggie of some sort. Dinner cannot come soon enough!!!

Here is the link to my mac and cheese recipe:

Favorite Mac and Cheese

Now on to the ribs...

Jen's Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs

Ingredients:
cooking spray
6-8 bone in pork loin ribs
1 bottle of your favorite beer
4 smashed cloves of garlic, peeled
1 Tablespoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of BBQ sauce, your choice

Directions:
Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Place ribs in slow cooker and season with salt, pepper, minced onion, garlic powder. Add smashed garlic cloves on top of ribs. Cover ribs with beer. Cook on high for 2-4 hours (my slow cooker runs hot so I am cooking for 2 hours on high). When time is up, remove pork ribs to a clean platter. Pour most of the beer out of the slow cooker, leaving 1/2 cup behind in the slow cooker. Discard the rest of the beer. Add ribs back into slow cooker. Cover meat with BBQ sauce. Cook on high for an additional hour or until ribs are thoroughly cooked.

The Result:
I forgot to take a photo...oops!!! This turned out really good. I am pleased with the effort, for sure. It did not have that "grilled" flavor, but overall it was satisfying. The meat was still tender and juicy; plus, it soaked up the flavors of the spices and beer nicely. I will definitely make this version again.