Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Rib Tacos
Earlier this month we were invited to Green City Market for the second year to participate in their Chef Demo series to share our award winning chicken tortilla soup recipe with the audience.
I love to arrive early to browse the market and chat with the vendors before the rush, and while purchasing the ingredients for the soup I picked up a fine rack of baby back ribs from Jake’s Country Meats. I chatted with the farmer Nate and left knowing that this pig had a happy life roaming free on grassy and in shady pastures.
We chose a new, tasty rib recipe to showcase the great flavors and variety of our Smoky BBQ spice blend for the slow cooker and the Instant Pot. You can substitute your own favorite BBQ spice rub in this recipe.
With our flexible approach to cooking, we outline how we take advantage of both the slow cooking and pressure cooking methods depending on your schedule. Both methods produced delicious, tender rib meat. Baste lightly at the end with your favorite BBQ sauce or drizzle with the warm cooking liquid.
| Slow Cooker | Pressure Cooker
/ Instant Pot |
|
| Overnight & Gone All Day prep | Rub the ribs the night before and refrigerate overnight. Place the ribs into the slow cooker the following morning and leave to cook to soft perfection for 9 hours. Alternatively, rub the ribs before heading out for the day at 7am and leave to cook all day long. | Rub the ribs the night before and refrigerate overnight. Place the ribs into the Instant Pot the following evening and leave to cook to soft perfection for 25 minutes. |
| Early Evening prep | Not applicable for the slow cooker | The total cook time is 55 minutes so this can be started at 5pm and be on the dinner table by 6pm. Rub the ribs with the spices before placing into the Instant Pot. The ribs take 10 minutes to reach pressure, fast cook in 25 minutes, and take a further 20 minutes to Natural Pressure Release. |
| How many people are you cooking for? | 4 OR MORE PEOPLE
Half a rack of ribs per person is recommended for big meat eaters, however for tacos with all the toppings 2 1/2lbs (a rack of ribs) was plenty of meat for our family of 4. My 6 quart slow cooker easily accommodates a 2 1/2lb rack of ribs, cut in half and laid on the bottom. Up to 5 lbs will fit. |
4 OR MORE PEOPLE
The ribs slot easily into the 6 quart Instant Pot on the trivet above the liquid, upright and wrapped around the inside edge. The 6 quart model will fit up to 5lbs of ribs at a squeeze. |
For these classic American BBQ flavors we are offering a buy 2 blends and get a Smoky BBQ blend free when you order online. This is easy inspiration for the slow cooker or Instant pot!
- 2 1/2 - 3 lbs pork baby back / spare ribs
- 2 tbsps favorite BBQ spice rub*
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- dipping sauce (optional) or BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup / 4 fl oz cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup / 2 fl oz water
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp salt
- dash of tabasco
- rub the pork ribs with the Smoky BBQ blend; transfer to the slow cooker or refrigerate overnight
- add the cider vinegar to the pork
- cover and cook on LOW: 8-10 hours or HIGH: 4-5 hours
- mix the remaining ingredients for the dipping sauce in a small jug or use your favorite BBQ sauce
- serve on corn tortilla with guacamole or suggested side dishes are jalapeño cornbread, red cabbage coleslaw or a Southwest salad
- pair with an India Pale Ale, fresh lemonade or tart hard cider
- * 1 Smoky BBQ Slow Cooker Spice Blend
- 2 1/2 - 3lbs lbs pork baby back or spare ribs
- 2 tbsp favorite BBQ spice rub *
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar PLUS 1 cup water
- dipping sauce (optional) or BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup / 4 fl oz cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup / 2 fl oz water
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp salt
- dash of tabasco
- rub the pork ribs with the BBQ spice blend, cover & refrigerate overnight
- place the trivet in the Instant Pot
- add the cider vinegar and water to the Instant Pot
- arrange the ribs around upright around the inside edge of the Instant Pot
- secure the Instant Pot lid and pressure valve to Sealing
- press the Manual button and adjust the cook time to 25 minutes
- once cooking is complete leave to Natural Pressure Release
- serve on corn tortilla with guacamole or suggested side dishes are jalapeño cornbread, red cabbage coleslaw or a Southwest salad
- pair with an India Pale Ale, fresh lemonade or tart hard cider
- mix the remaining ingredients for the dipping sauce in a small jug or use your favorite BBQ sauce
- * 1 Smoky BBQ Slow Cooker Spice Blend
“We strive to raise a healthy, happy hog that will provide you with tender, flavorful quality meat.”
-Nate Robinson, Jake’s Country Meats
