Slow Cooker Barbecue Baby Back Ribs (2024)

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Get that barbecue flavor year-round with this Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs recipe. The pork ribs are rubbed with a smoky-sweet spice blend and cooked in the slow cooker until they are fall off the bone tender. Smother those crockpot ribs in your favorite barbecue sauce and enjoy!

Serve Crockpot Ribs for game day or a weeknight dinner with some Macaroni Salad,Homemade Baked French Fries, and Corn on the Cob.

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Table of Contents

1. The Best Crockpot Ribs Recipe
2. Ingredients For The Best Baby Back Crockpot Ribs
3. How To Prep Ribs Before Cooking
4. How To Cook BBQ Ribs in a Crock Pot
5. Tips For The Most Tender Slow Cooker Ribs
6. FAQs
7. Serving Suggestions
8. Storing Leftovers
9. More Slow Cooker Recipes
10. Crockpot Ribs (Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs) Recipe

The Best Crockpot Ribs Recipe

I’m pretty sure that Barbecue Ribs was one of the first things I learned to cook in my slow cooker. Baby Back Ribs benefit greatly from the “low and slow” method of cooking. Slow Cooker Ribs are perfect because the ribs get all day to cook and your whole oven isn’t taken up for hours.

BBQ Baby Back Ribs are an absolute favorite for any occasion. This easy ribs recipe will surely become your new favorite. Nothing beats tender, juicy Slow Cooker Ribs!

Serving crock pot ribs for game day or family parties is perfect because they just cook in your slow cooker. They are hassle free and ready when you want them to be. Everybody loves these crockpot ribs.

Ingredients For The Best Baby Back Crockpot Ribs

The right spice rub can be pretty epic. I use my own special blend to get that tru smoky, spicy and sweet flavor. Here are all the ingredients you’ll need t make this ribs recipe:

Baby Back Ribs – You could also use St. Louis style ribs.

Dry Rub – A good dry rub is imperative to the flavor of your ribs. I use a blend of brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

BBQ Sauce – Grab a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce or try my Root Beer Barbecue Sauce or classic Homemade BBQ Sauce.

How To Prep Ribs Before Cooking

In my family, I am known for this amazingly fall off the bone tender crock pot ribs recipe. My kids ask for them almost daily. Along the way I’ve learned a thing or two about how to prepare them for cooking.

1. Remove the membrane. Remove your slab of ribs from the packaging and take a look at the backside. You’ll see a thin layer of membrane that holds the ribs together. This is quite tough and should be removed. Slide a knife underneath one side to loosen it, then just peel it off. If you’re lucky the butcher will have already done this for you, or you can ask them to at the meat counter of your grocery store.
2. Inspect. Take a look at the whole slab and check for shards or pieces of bone that may have been left behind when the butcher cut the ribs.
3. Cut. Lay the slab flat on a cutting board and cut into three equal pieces. This will help the ribs fit snugly into the slow cooker.

How To Cook BBQ Ribs in a Crock Pot

• Mix dry rub ingredients together and set aside.
• Pat ribs dry and remove membrane from the back.
• Rub in the spice blend and cut ribs into 3 pieces.
• Place crumpled foil in the bottom of the crock pot and stack the ribs on top.
• Cook for 8-9 hours on LOW or 5-6 hours on HIGH. I recommend keeping it on the low setting.
• Once cooked, arrange on a baking sheet and brush on bbq sauce and broil for a few minutes to caramelize.

Tips For The Most Tender Slow Cooker Ribs

• Foil – Add foil to the bottom of the crock pot so the meat isn’t sitting in the juices.
• BBQ Sauce – Add the barbecue sauce after your ribs have finished cooking. Cooking ribs in the crockpot with barbecue sauce adds a little flavor, but while the ribs are cooking they release a ton of liquid that will just water down your barbecue sauce. You won’t have that finger-licking stickiness that you expect from a good plate of bbq ribs. Let the ribs cook in the crockpot, then douse them in your favorite barbecue sauce.
• Broil – Once the slow cooker ribs are cooked, I like to go the extra step of broiling them in the oven. This helps to caramelize the barbecue sauce, making them extra sticky and yummy, and ensuring that the sauce stays right where it belongs. They get all charred and crispy on top with just adds to the overall deliciousness.
• Grill – You could also grill the cooked ribs on your outdoor grill for extra smokiness.

FAQs

How do you keep the meat from falling off the bone while it’s cooking?

One issue people tend to have is the meat falling off the bone during cooking, and sitting in the juices and drippings below becoming overcooked and mushy. Luckily I have a sure-fire trick to make sure that doesn’t happen – Crumple some foil balls and place them at the bottom of your slow cooker. This will keep the bbq ribs from sitting in the juices and becoming mushy.

Can you cook ribs in a slow cooker without liquid?

Absolutely! In fact, I highly recommend it. Most beef can be cooked without liquid because it produced a lot of juices as it cooks, which both flavors and tenderizes the meat.

How long do you cook Ribs in the Crockpot?

There are a lot of “secrets” to getting that fall off the bone texture when cooking ribs, but the most basic of those is cooking low and slow. Slow cooker ribs at a low temperature for a long period of time yields incredibly tender meat that just falls off the bone without any effort. Plan on 8-9 hours on LOW or 6-7 hours on HIGH.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some great sides to go with your Crock Pot Ribs:

• Cheesy Garlic Bread
• Sour Cream Cornbread
• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Southern Potato Salad
• Fresh Corn Salad with Tomatoes
• Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Storing Leftovers

If you have some ribs leftover, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. You can reheat the in the microwave for 30 seconds or enjoy them cold.

Another way is to just pick the meat off the bones and use it for wraps and salads.

You can freeze cooked ribs in a freezer bag for up to 3-4 months. Thaw completely before reheating.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

• Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken
• Kalua Pork (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Oven)
• Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
• Carnitas
• Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Recipe

Crockpot Ribs (Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs)

4.61 from 33 votes

Kristin Maxwell

Learn the secrets to making the best Crockpot Ribs with this easy recipe. Get flavorful, tender and juicy bbq ribs while your slow cooker does all the work!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

Print RecipeReview Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 pounds baby back ribs (2 racks)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper and paprika. Set aside.

• Remove ribs from their packaging and pat dry. Look at the back side of each rack of ribs. If the membrane is still in tact, remove it by sliding a dull knife or your fingers underneath to loosen and peel it off. Rub the spice blend all over the meat on both sides. Cut racks into 3 even sections each.

• Crumple foil loosely into about 5 balls the size of your fist. Place these on the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker. Stack ribs on top of the foil. Make sure you able able to secure the lid all the way and they are not touching the lid. (In my 6.5-quart slow cooker, the sections of ribs fit tightly).

• Cook ribs on low for 8-9 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high. (TIP: low and slow is recommended).

• When ribs are fork tender, place them on a foil or parchment paper lined sheet pan and brush with barbecue sauce. Serve immediately, or proceed to the next step if desired.

• Turn your oven's broiler to high and place a rack near the top. Place ribs under the broiler for 3-4 minutes or until sauce is caramelized. Watch closely so they don't burn.You could also opt to grill them on an outdoor grill over high heat for several minutes.

• Cut into individual pieces and serve immediately.

Notes

Serving size will vary depending on how many ribs are in each rack that you purchase.

Nutrition

Calories: 646kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 38gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 3477mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 2gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 1405IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 3mg

Keyword crockpot ribs

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Introduction

As an expert in slow cooker recipes, I have a deep understanding of the techniques and ingredients used to create delicious and tender meals. I have extensive experience cooking with a slow cooker and have developed a wide range of recipes that have been enjoyed by many. I can confidently provide information and guidance on all aspects of slow cooker cooking, including preparation, cooking times, and serving suggestions.

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs Recipe

The Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs recipe you provided is a fantastic way to enjoy barbecue flavor year-round. The recipe involves rubbing pork ribs with a smoky-sweet spice blend and cooking them in a slow cooker until they are fall-off-the-bone tender. The ribs are then smothered in barbecue sauce for added flavor.

Ingredients for the Best Baby Back Crockpot Ribs

To make the best baby back crockpot ribs, you will need the following ingredients:

• Baby Back Ribs (or St. Louis style ribs)
• Dry Rub (brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper)
• BBQ Sauce (your favorite store-bought sauce or homemade)

The combination of these ingredients creates a flavorful and delicious spice rub that enhances the taste of the ribs.

How to Prep Ribs Before Cooking

Before cooking the ribs, there are a few steps you should take to ensure they are prepared properly:

1. Remove the membrane: The backside of the ribs will have a thin layer of membrane that holds the ribs together. It is tough and should be removed before cooking. You can use a knife to loosen one side and then peel it off.

2. Inspect: Check the ribs for any shards or pieces of bone that may have been left behind during the butchering process.

3. Cut: To ensure the ribs fit snugly in the slow cooker, lay the slab flat on a cutting board and cut it into three equal pieces.

Taking these steps will help ensure that your ribs are prepared properly and will cook evenly and tenderly.

How to Cook BBQ Ribs in a Crock Pot

Once the ribs are prepped, you can follow these steps to cook them in a crock pot:

1. Mix dry rub ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

2. Pat ribs dry and remove the membrane: Dry the ribs with a paper towel and remove the membrane from the backside.

3. Rub in the spice blend and cut ribs: Rub the spice blend all over the meat on both sides of the ribs. Then, cut the ribs into three equal pieces.

4. Place crumpled foil in the bottom of the crock pot: Add crumpled foil to the bottom of the crock pot to prevent the ribs from sitting in the juices.

5. Stack the ribs on top of the foil: Place the ribs on top of the foil in the crock pot, making sure they are not touching the lid.

6. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 5-6 hours: Cook the ribs on low heat for 8-9 hours or high heat for 5-6 hours. Cooking on low heat for a longer time will result in more tender meat.

7. Optional: Broil with BBQ sauce: Once the ribs are cooked, you can arrange them on a baking sheet and brush them with BBQ sauce. Broil them in the oven for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce.

Following these steps will result in delicious and tender slow cooker BBQ ribs.

Tips for the Most Tender Slow Cooker Ribs

Here are some tips to ensure that your slow cooker ribs turn out tender and flavorful:

1. Add foil to the bottom of the crock pot: Placing crumpled foil at the bottom of the crock pot prevents the ribs from sitting in the juices, which can make them mushy. This helps to keep the meat tender and prevents it from becoming overcooked.

2. Add BBQ sauce after cooking: While the ribs are cooking, they release a lot of liquid, which can water down the barbecue sauce. To achieve that sticky, finger-licking texture, it's best to add the BBQ sauce after the ribs have finished cooking.

3. Broil or grill for extra flavor: After the ribs are cooked in the slow cooker, you can broil them in the oven or grill them on high heat to caramelize the barbecue sauce and add extra smoky flavor.

FAQs

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about slow cooker ribs:

1. How do you keep the meat from falling off the bone while it's cooking?: To prevent the meat from falling off the bone and becoming overcooked, you can place crumpled foil at the bottom of the slow cooker. This elevates the ribs and prevents them from sitting in the juices.

2. Can you cook ribs in a slow cooker without liquid?: Yes, most beef can be cooked without liquid in a slow cooker. The meat produces its own juices as it cooks, which adds flavor and tenderizes the meat.

3. How long do you cook ribs in the crock pot?: For fall-off-the-bone texture, it's recommended to cook the ribs on low heat for 8-9 hours or on high heat for 5-6 hours.

Serving Suggestions and Storing Leftovers

To complete your meal, here are some serving suggestions for your slow cooker ribs:

• Cheesy Garlic Bread
• Sour Cream Cornbread
• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Southern Potato Salad
• Fresh Corn Salad with Tomatoes
• Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, you can microwave them for 30 seconds or enjoy them cold. The meat can also be used for wraps and salads. Cooked ribs can be frozen in a freezer bag for up to 3-4 months. Thaw them completely before reheating.

Conclusion

I hope this information helps you better understand the concepts and techniques used in the Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs recipe you provided. If you have any further questions or need more guidance, feel free to ask!