Cocktail BBQ Riblets
These Cocktail BBQ Riblets are so tender and layered with flavor. This crockpot recipe is easy to make and perfect for a crowd. You make them earlier in the day and finish them in a few minutes as your guests arrive. This makes them the perfect party appetizer!
These start with a slathering of Cajun seasoning for the rub. Top that with a sweet and smoky BBQ sauce, and let the flavors do their thing. Then they’re finished with more BBQ sauce and broiled to gain that perfect caramelization.
These riblets are lovely any time of the year. I like to serve them as the last big bite of a tasting party. They hold beautifully in the crock pot and create a fun wow moment when they come out of the broiler bubbling and beautifully caramelized.
Because they’re cut into bite-sized pieces, they are so easy to eat. We prefer to make these for ourselves instead of full-sized ribs. They’re fun and a lot less messy.
Note on Crockpots: All crockpots are not created equally. Many of the newer crockpots cook very hot and can ruin a good piece of meat. When my old crock pot quit working, I bought a few different models to find my food was boiling on low every time. In my research mode, I found that the government changed the US temperature regulations around 2004. If you can’t find one that was built before then, there are multi-use cookers that allow you to manage the temperature to get that low slow cook that made crockpots so popular. I got lucky a few years back. My Mom handed her 1970’s model down to me. Crockpot score!
Cocktail BBQ Riblets
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 slabs baby back ribs butcher sliced vertically into two pieces (each)
- Cajun seasoning (salt free) ⅓ to ½ cup - depending on size of ribs
- salt to taste
- 1 cup hickory bourbon barbecue sauce
Sauce
- 1 cup hickory bourbon barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Spray crockpot with cooking spray. Remove the membrane (Peritoneum) from the back of each rib section.
- Rub ribs generously with Cajun seasoning on top, bottom and both sides.Cajun seasoning (salt free), salt to taste, 2 slabs baby back ribs
- Cut to fit into crock pot. Place 1 layer in and top with a portion of the barbecue sauce. Continue until all sauce and ribs have been added.1 cup hickory bourbon barbecue sauce
- Cook for 7 hours on low heat.
Caramelize
- Preheat broiler
- Place ribs top sides up on a large heavy foiled lined baking sheet. Baste with 1/2 of the sauce1 cup hickory bourbon barbecue sauce
- Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce begins to bubble.
- Remove and base with the rest of the sauce. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce begins to bubble and the ribs have caramelized.
- Cut between the bones into individual riblettes. Serve warm.
Kitchen Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
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