Ovencue, Slow Cookercue But Not BBQ (OUTSPOKEN_SIVA's Favorite Recipes)

Memorial Day Weekend is thought to be the start of "BBQ Season". I live in Texas, so grills & smokers may blaze year-round. But many people light their grills & smokers for the first time of the year on the last weekend in May. Shout out to the people who actually can barbeque, grill, & smoke food. I love a good smoked chicken. I can't 'cue or smoke food. And the only grilling I do is on an electric, indoor one.

And I don't say I can barbecue. I also don't label my dishes BBQ when they are not. Pouring barbecue sauce on it doesn't make it BBQ. Yes, it seems nit-picky & some think I am rude, but I will ask how was the BBQ chicken made at a non-BBQ restaurant.

If I hear baked, slow cooked or pan seared, I'm ordering something else. Growing up my mom, MuhDiva called baked meat in BBQ sauce, Oven-cue. I now use that term, too. And if I cook the meat in a slow cooker with BBQ sauce, I call that Slow Cooker-Cue.

I have only been cooking via slow cooker for a few years. My first year, I jumped head first in cooking almost everything in one. Ribs were no exception. This recipe is one I found on the net that I put my touches on. A few hours in sauce & cola, the meat can literally fall off the bone.

Slow Cooker-Cue Ribs

Ingredients

• 4 lbs pork spareribs
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 Tblsp. Italian Seasoning
• 1 18oz bottle Barbecue Sauce
• 1 cup Coca-Cola

Directions

1. Spray inside of 4 to 5 qt slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Remove inner skin from ribs.
3. Mix spices together
4. Rub mixture into ribs.
5. Cut ribs into 4 in pieces.
6. Layer ribs in slow cooker.
7. Combine Italian dressing, BBQ Sauce and Coke in a bowl, mix well, reserve ½ cup, then pour remainder of sauce over ribs in slow cooker.
8. Cover and cook on low setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender
9. When ribs are done, remove from slow cooker and brush on remaining ½ cup of sauce before serving

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. MuhDiva makes the best Oven-cue Chicken. Once I turned down an invite to one of my favorite eateries because she was making it. It's a simple dish. And many times, simple is best.

Oven-Cue Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

• 4 bone-in Chicken Breast Halved
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing
• 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 cup favorite prepared BBQ sauce

Directions

1. Put cleaned & trimmed chicken breast halves and place in a large ziptop bag.
2. Combine Italian dressing & smoked paprika in a small bowl and pour over chicken.
3. Let chicken marinate for at least an hour, up to 24 in the fridge.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
5. Remove chicken from bag and place on a baking sheet. Season with pepper, onion & garlic powders.
6. Bake for 30 minutes and brush a layer of BBQ sauce on the chicken. Pour the BbQ sauce onto chicken Return to the oven for 30 more minutes
7. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Both of these go well with your favorite salads or vegetable sides that are usually served at a bbq or cookout.

Just something for us who don't have outdoor cooking skills. No, it's not the hickory smoked tastiness from your favorite BBQ spot. But it's still delicious!

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