Slow Cooker Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and slathered in zesty barbecue sauce

These tender ribs are fall off the bone tender and everything you want in an easy and delicious dinner for the whole family

Baby back ribs are coated in a spicy rib rub, covered in rich and tangy barbecue sauce, then slow-cooked to perfection. We are big fans of Oven Baked Ribs and Smoked Ribs but the beauty of this method is that it’s a simple recipe for any time of the year

Slow cooking ribs in the crock pot is perfect for weeknights. Meat becomes melt in your mouth tender after cooking in a slow cooker. We rely on slow cooker recipes, such as our Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken and Irish Pot Roast, because it makes life so easy.

Prep the ribs quickly in the morning (or even the night before), let them cook low and slow all day, and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Ingredients Needed for Slow Cooker Ribs

(See the recipe card below for the exact quantities)

Ribs – One rack of ribs. Our favorite is baby back ribs, but feel free to pick your favorite kind of ribs because any type, such as pork spare ribs, St. Louis style ribs, or beef ribs, will work for crockpot ribs. 

Barbecue Sauce – Make our 15-minute Homemade BBQ Sauce or use your favorite grocery store brand

Dry Rib Rub – we use our favorite homemade Dry Rub for Ribs recipe blend, which includes dark brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper. You can also keep it simple and use just salt and pepper.

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

Prep:

• Blend the spice rub mixture in a small bowl and set aside. 
• Prepare the ribs by patting them dry with a paper towel. Trim excess fat.
• Turn the ribs over and remove the thin membrane from the back of the ribs (see photos and the How-To below).
• Rub the ribs all over with the rib rub, including the sides of the ribs. Make sure they are well coated.

• Cut the rack in half and place them in the slow cooker.
• If using a large crockpot you can stand the ribs up on their side and wrap them around the inside of the slow cooker bowl. If you are using a smaller slow cooker you can cut the racks into 4 pieces instead of 2 to make sure they fit in the pot.

• Pour your favorite BBQ Sauce all over the ribs, making sure they are coated all over.

Cook:

• Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
• For baby back ribs cook for 6-7 hours on low, or about 3 ½ hours on high, until the ribs are tender. Other types of ribs may have a longer cooking time. Cooking them on low will result in the most tender ribs.
• Ribs are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 190˚- 200˚F, and they are falling off and pulling away from the bone.
• Preheat the oven broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Spoon or brush some of the sauce from the crock pot over the ribs.

• Broil for about 5 minutes until the sauce on the ribs starts to caramelize.
• Remove from the broiler. Place on a cutting board and let cool for 5 minutes. 
• Cut the racks into individual riblets.
• If desired, brush some more of the leftover sauce from the slow cooker onto the ribs and serve.

How to Store

These make a great make-ahead meal which saves you a lot of time.

Once cooked and cooled the ribs can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or can be frozen for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Ribs

• Preheat the oven to 250˚F 
• Place the ribs in an oven-safe baking dish. Brush with BBQ sauce and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes. 
• If frozen bake for about 30 minutes. No need to thaw.

Variation Ideas

• Instead of traditional BBQ sauce substitute an Asian based BBQ sauce
• Use a simple salt and pepper rub in place of our Dry Rub mixture
• Want your ribs spicier? Try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the rib rub mixture
• Love a smoky flavor? Use smoked paprika and chipotle chile powder
• If you have a large slow cooker you can easily cook 2 racks of ribs instead of 1

How to Remove the Membrane from Ribs

Ribs come with a thin white membrane that runs along the back side of the rack. It can become tough and chewy when cooked so it’s best to remove it. This also allows the seasonings and BBQ sauce to fully flavor the meat.

To remove it run a knife under the membrane in one spot to loosen it, then grasp it and pull it off in a sheet. Use a paper towel if needed to get a better grip on the membrane. ​​The membrane should come off in one or two whole pieces but you may need to remove it in smaller pieces. Discard the membrane once removed.

What to Serve with Crock Pot Ribs

These ribs are so versatile and here are some of our favorite side dishes to serve alongside them.

• Baked Beans
• Asian Coleslaw with Peanut Dressing
• Grilled Vegetables or Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Black Bean and Corn Salad (aka Cowboy Caviar)
• Rice Pilaf or Oven Roasted Potatoes