These incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Country Style Pork Ribs bring comfort food to a new level. Cook them in a slow cooker or an Instant Pot for reliably delicious, fork-tender results any time of year.
If you love ribs coated in smoky, sweet BBQ sauce but want a more budget-friendly option, these boneless country style pork ribs are an excellent choice. They are meaty, well-seasoned, and become wonderfully tender when cooked low and slow in a slow cooker or pressure-cooked in an Instant Pot. Both methods produce juicy ribs that pair perfectly with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, or your favorite sides.
While grilled country style ribs are fantastic in warm months, this recipe lets you enjoy the same satisfying flavors year-round using kitchen appliances that are easy to rely on.
Table of contents
- Ingredient Notes
- What are Country Style Ribs?
- How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Country Style Pork Ribs
- Instant Pot BBQ Country Style Ribs
- Make it a Freezer Meal
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless pork country style ribs: An economical, meaty cut often sold in larger packages—great value and widely available.
- Onion: Use a large yellow onion, cut into chunks to lift the ribs off the bottom of the cooker and add flavor.
- BBQ sauce: Use your favorite brand; some goes into the cooking liquid and more is brushed on for broiling.
- Soy sauce: Reduced sodium soy sauce balances the sweetness and adds depth.
- Liquid smoke: A small amount adds authentic smoky flavor—optional but recommended.
- Smoky pork spice rub: A blend of smoked paprika, granulated garlic (or garlic powder), onion powder, brown sugar, cumin, salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne for heat.
What are Country Style Ribs?
Boneless country style ribs come from or near the pork shoulder, not the rib cage. They are richly marbled, very meaty, and flavorful. Because of the fat content and connective tissue, they respond beautifully to low-and-slow cooking in a Crock-Pot or to pressure cooking in an Instant Pot, which both break down the fibers and produce moist, fork-tender meat.
How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Country Style Pork Ribs
- Pat the ribs dry with paper towels. If pieces are large, cut them into 5- to 6-inch serving portions. Mix the Smoky Pork Spice Rub and evenly coat the ribs on all sides.
- Combine 1 cup BBQ sauce, soy sauce, water, and liquid smoke in a small bowl and stir. Set aside.
- Place the onion chunks in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker and arrange the seasoned ribs on top. Pour the sauce over the ribs so the tops are coated.
- Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the ribs are very tender but still hold their shape.
- When cooked, preheat your oven broiler. Transfer the ribs with tongs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush generously with remaining BBQ sauce, and broil until the sauce caramelizes and the ribs brown—no need to flip.
Instant Pot BBQ Country Style Ribs
- Prepare the ribs, rub, and sauce exactly as described above.
- Place onion chunks in the Instant Pot insert, arrange the seasoned ribs on top, and pour the sauce over them.
- Seal and cook on HIGH pressure for 35 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
- Transfer the ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush with extra BBQ sauce, and finish under the broiler to brown and caramelize the sauce.
Make it a Freezer Meal
- Season the ribs and prepare the sauce. Place the uncooked seasoned ribs in a freezer-safe bag, pour the sauce over them, squeeze out as much air as possible, seal, and label.
- Freeze for up to 4–5 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking according to the slow cooker or Instant Pot instructions.
Serving Suggestions
The rich sauce and tender ribs pair especially well with creamy mashed potatoes. Serve with buttermilk mashed potatoes and a simple vegetable like steamed broccoli or green beans. Other compatible sides include baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese, skillet corn with jalapeño, or roasted squash.
BBQ Country Style Pork Ribs
Ingredients
- 3½ to 4 pounds boneless pork country style ribs
- 1 large yellow onion, cut into 6 chunks
- 2 cups BBQ Sauce, divided
- ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke, optional but highly recommended
Smoky Pork Spice Rub
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
Instructions
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Pat the ribs dry and cut into serving pieces if needed. Combine the smoky rub and coat the ribs evenly.
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Mix 1 cup BBQ sauce, soy sauce, water, and liquid smoke in a small bowl and set aside.
Slow Cooker Instructions
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Place onion chunks in a 6-quart slow cooker, arrange ribs on top, and pour the sauce over them.
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Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours until very tender.
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Transfer ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush with extra BBQ sauce, and broil until browned and caramelized.
Instant Pot Instructions
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Place onion chunks in the Instant Pot insert, add the seasoned ribs, and pour the sauce over them.
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Cook on HIGH pressure for 35 minutes. Let the pot naturally release for 10 minutes, then manually release remaining pressure.
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Finish the ribs under the broiler as in the slow cooker instructions to caramelize the sauce.
Notes
Freezer Meal Instructions
Cut and season the ribs and prepare the sauce. Place uncooked ribs and sauce in a freezer-safe bag, remove excess air, seal, and label. Freeze up to 4–5 months for best quality. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate calculated from generic ingredients and should be used as a guide. Check your ingredient labels for more accurate values.
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