Step 1

Spray inside of 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Step 2

Remove inner skin from ribs; cut into 4-inch pieces. Mix brown sugar, salt, pepper, liquid smoke and garlic; rub mixture into ribs. Layers ribs and onion in slow cooker. Pour cola over ribs.

Step 3

Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Remove ribs from slow cooker. Drain and discard liquid.

Step 4

Pour barbecue sauce into shallow bowl. Dip ribs into sauce. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour any remaining sauce over ribs. Cover and cook on low heat setting 1 hour. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer’s directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.