My Slow Cooker Ribs are hands-down one of my favorite recipes on the site! They fall off the bone, are coated in sticky-sweet sauce, and are unbelievably easy to make.
A Reader’s Review
Made this recipe tonight and my family loved it!!! Even my picky 9 year old loved them. Making them in a crockpot makes them fall off the bone.
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Ribs, No Grill Required
- No Grill, No Problem : You don’t need a smoker or grill to get that fall-off-the-bone magic. The slow cooker makes them unbelievably tender with barely any effort. I can barely get them from the platter to our plates without falling apart. YUM!
- Bone-In Brings the Flavor : Cooking ribs with the bone in keeps them super juicy and adds rich, delicious flavor while they slow cook.
- Even Better the Next Day : If you have leftovers (good luck!), the flavor gets even deeper overnight.
Slow Cooker Ribs Ingredients
- Rib Type: Baby back, St. Louis, or country-style ribs all work. Baby backs are lean, St. Louis are meatier, and country-style are thick and extra tender. Just make sure they fit and cook longer for meatier cuts.
- Removing Membrane: Remove the thin membrane from the back—use a paper towel for grip. If it’s already removed, no worries!
Picky Kid Tip
Picky Eater Tip! Do your kids hate bones in meat? Try my slow cooker boneless ribs instead.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ribs
Ready to make the easiest, most mouthwatering ribs of your life? This method is simple, foolproof, and delivers big flavor with minimal effort. Let’s get cooking!
- Prep Ribs: Prepare the 2-3 pounds of pork baby back ribs by removing the membrane and patting them dry with a paper towel.
- Dry Rub: In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the spice mixture evenly all over the ribs.
- Cut in Half: Cut the rack of ribs in half. Add half of the rack to the bottom of the slow cooker . Pour HALF of the 2 cups of homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce on top and layer with the other rack and remaining sauce.
- Cook: Cook the ribs on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Caramelize for Flavor
- Broil: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and set them on a baking sheet. Pour the sauce from the crockpot on top of the ribs and cook for 10 minutes until the tops get crispy.
- Sauce it up! Brush with additional sauce if needed. Then serve with your favorite sides!
Storing Your Rib Leftovers
These are a great leftover meal, warm them up for lunch at the office, and everyone will be jealous!
- In the Fridge: These will keep in an air-tight container or tightly wrapped in the fridge for 5 days.
- In the Freezer: Tightly wrap leftover ribs in plastic wrap, then foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat: Warm in the microwave for 30-second intervals, or on a lower power level. You do not want to re-cook the ribs, just warm them, otherwise, they’ll become tough.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Ribs
I could eat my weight in these ribs. Add a good side like cowboy beans , and boom you’ve got a delicious dinner. Perfect for Father’s Day, birthdays, or just showing off.
Side Dishes
Copycat KFC Coleslaw
35 minutes
Side Dishes
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
1 hour 50 minutes
Side Dishes
Perfect Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
45 minutes
Side Dishes
World’s Best Baked Beans
1 hour 15 minutes
Pin this now to find it later
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2-3 pounds pork baby back ribs, 1 rack of ribs
- ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ▢ 2 teaspoons paprika
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper
- ▢ 2 cups homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the 2-3 pounds pork baby back ribs, by removing the membrane and patting them dry with a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix the 1 tablespoon brown sugar , 2 teaspoons paprika , 1 teaspoon garlic powder , 1 teaspoon onion powder , 1 teaspoon salt , and ½ teaspoon pepper . Rub the spice mixture evenly all over the ribs.
- Cut the rack of ribs in half. Add half of the rack to the bottom of the slow cooker . Pour HALF of the 2 cups homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce on top and layer with the other rack and remaining sauce. You can also wrap the ribs around the slow cooker if the top will not fit.
- Cook the ribs on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and set them on a baking sheet .
- Pour the sauce from the crockpot on top of the ribs and cook for 10 minutes until the tops get crispy. Brush with additional sauce if needed.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Easy & Tender Slow Cooker Ribs
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds pork baby back ribs, 1 rack of ribs
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the 2-3 pounds pork baby back ribs, by removing the membrane and patting them dry with a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix the 1 tablespoon brown sugar , 2 teaspoons paprika , 1 teaspoon garlic powder , 1 teaspoon onion powder , 1 teaspoon salt , and ½ teaspoon pepper . Rub the spice mixture evenly all over the ribs.
- Cut the rack of ribs in half. Add half of the rack to the bottom of the slow cooker . Pour HALF of the 2 cups homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce on top and layer with the other rack and remaining sauce. You can also wrap the ribs around the slow cooker if the top will not fit.
- Cook the ribs on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and set them on a baking sheet .
- Pour the sauce from the crockpot on top of the ribs and cook for 10 minutes until the tops get crispy. Brush with additional sauce if needed.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
QR code
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.
Easy & Tender Slow Cooker Ribs https://therecipecritic.com/slow-cooker-ribs/
