If you do not have access to a conventional stove, this will still come out okay, but the pork will not be browned. On the plus side, you just shaved some of the steps off, and do not need to add the oil. Just throw the ingredients into the Crock Pot and go.
What you need:
Crock Pot
1 Tbsp peanut oil or other high smoke point vegetable oil
2-3 lb boneless pork "country" ribs
Salt & Pepper
Garlic powder
1/4 cup apple juice (kids small size drink box is perfect for this - it is handy to keep a 6 pack of no sugar added drink boxes on hand for cooking.)
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup to 1 cup of your favorite prepared BBQ sauce
Sandwich buns/bread of your choice (Texas toast works nice for this too.)
Step 1. Pre-heat oil in a large, heavy non-stick or stainless steel skillet, on medium high setting.
Step 2. Wash pork ribs under running water, and pat dry with paper towels. Arrange ribs on a plate, and sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and a small amount of garlic powder.
Step 3. Brown ribs on both sides in the hot oil, using tongs to turn (couple minutes on each side). You are only browning the ribs for flavor & color - the actual cooking will be done in the crock pot. Take care to not burn the ribs, you just want a nice even brown color.
Step 4. Remove the browned ribs from the skillet, and place them in the crock pot, reserving drippings in skillet
Step 5. Reduce burner setting to medium, and add apple juice, vinegar, and chopped onion. Stir briskly with a wooden spoon or heat resistant spatula to raise up all the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet (this is called "deglazing" the pan in cooking terms).
Step 6. Continue stirring for another 3 min, the onions should be starting to become transparent. Remove the skillet from the heat. Pour the pan "gravy" over the ribs in the crock pot. Cover and cook according to your crock pot settings. For the above referenced crock pot, I cook on LOW for about 8 hours or HIGH for about 4 hours.
Step 7. When the meat is tender (falls apart easily when pulled with a fork) it is ready. Pour off the excess liquid, reserving the cooked meat in the pot. Turn crock pot setting to "Warm" and using two forks, pull the meat in the pot into nicely shredded pieces. Pour BBQ sauce in amount to suit your personal taste over the pulled pork and stir to coat. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve.
Crock Pot Recipes and Tips: Grizelle's Pulled-Pork Crock-Pot Recipe, Advantages of Crock Pots, by Grizelle and Zonoma, Helfire Boar Stewin' with Berlena, Monti's Crock Pot Ready Tortilla Soup, Merry Making Peach and Apricot Hot Cider.
