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–+ servings

Dr Pepper Ribs

These Dr Pepper Ribs are sweet, smoky, and wonderfully tender thanks to an easy slow cooker method and a sticky oven finish. Original Dr Pepper adds gentle sweetness without an overpowering soda flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 7 hours 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 650 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 1/2 pounds country-style pork ribs bone-in if you can get them
  • 2 (12-ounce) cans Dr Pepper soda divided
  • 3/4 cup barbecue sauce your favorite kind
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Put the country-style pork ribs in the slow cooker, arranging them as best you can; it is fine if they are a little stacked.
  • Pour one full 12-ounce can of Dr Pepper over the ribs, cover, and cook on low for about 7 hours or on high for about 4 hours, until very tender.
  • Near the end of the cooking time, heat the oven to 400°F, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and place a wire rack on top.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, liquid smoke, garlic powder, black pepper, and 1/2 cup Dr Pepper from the second can until smooth.
  • Carefully move the cooked ribs from the slow cooker to the wire rack using tongs, since they will be very tender.
  • Brush the tops of the ribs generously with the sauce and bake for 15 minutes, until the sauce starts to darken around the edges and becomes glossy.
  • Remove the pan from the oven, carefully flip the ribs, brush the second side with more sauce, and bake for another 15 minutes until sticky and caramelized with browned spots around the edges.
  • Serve the ribs hot with the remaining sauce on the side, alongside potato salad, mashed potatoes, or coleslaw if desired.

Notes

Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, keeping extra sauce separately if possible. Reheat in a baking dish with a little reserved sauce, covered tightly with foil, in a 350°F oven until heated through. Cooled ribs can be frozen in a freezer-safe zip-top bag for up to 3 months; freeze with a little sauce if possible and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal
Keyword barbecue ribs, country-style pork ribs, Crock-Pot ribs, Dr Pepper Ribs, pork ribs, slow cooker ribs
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