Valentina's Corner
This crockpot ribs recipe is like no other! Tender ribs are slow-cooked on low to perfection in your slow cooker. This recipe yields the most fall-of-the-bone tender and delicious ribs. The crockpot is an incredible kitchen tool that can be used to make tender beef tips and even incredible pulled chicken that tastes incredible on a sandwich.
Though we love grilling recipes, this crockpot recipe allows you to have mouthwatering baby back pork ribs without the need of a grill!
Making ribs can often be intimidating, but this recipe makes it so simple with the use of a handy crockpot. The slow cooker ribs are seasoned and cooked low and slow until tender. We love barbecue sauce in our pulled pork sandwiches and it works perfectly with these ribs as well!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Feed a crowd. This crock pot ribs recipe is the perfect meat to make for a large crowd.
- Easy recipe. The crockpot does most of the work for you so this recipe is so simple!
- Delicious ribs. This recipe makes the most mouth-watering ribs; you’ll never need another bbq ribs recipe.
Ingredients for the Best Crokpot Ribs
- Dry rub – a combination of brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika. You can also use smoked paprika to get a more smoky flavor.
- Ribs – a whole rack of pork ribs.
- Barbecue sauce – any brand will do, we like sweet baby ray’s to get that pork baby back ribs flavor.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Barbecue Ribs in the Crockpot
- Use a knife to peel off the back membrane of the rack of ribs. Cut the meat in between the bones to create individual ribs.
2 – Generously rub-down the ribs with seasoning.
3 – Add the ribs to the crockpot and cook.
4 – See our guide below for instructions on how long to cook the ribs for.
5 – Brush the ribs with the barbecue sauce and cook at 365°F for 8-10 minutes. This is optional, you can serve once you brush with barbecue or return to the crockpot to keep warm.
6 – Garnish the ribs with fresh herbs and serve alongside more of that delicious barbecue sauce!
How Long to Cook Ribs in the Crockpot
The crockpot has two settings: high and low. The cooking times will vary:
- High: Cook for 4-5 hours.
- Low: Allow the ribs to cook for 7-9 hours.
Expert Tips:
- Prep the ribs by gently peeling off the membrane.
- Be patient: Although waiting so many hours for these ribs may seem grueling, I promise it is so worth it. Slow cooking allows the meat to cook in those juices, producing the most delicious pork, just like our crockpot pulled pork recipe.
- For a crispy finish, coat the ribs with barbecue, transfer the ribs onto a baking dish lined with parchment paper, and cook the last 10 minutes in the oven at 425°F.
Serving Suggestions
- Entree: These ribs make the perfect entree! We love to pair ours with a twice-baked potato casserole and a creamy cabbage salad. The combination is incredible!
- Barbecue style: Serve up these ribs at an outdoor barbecue! You can’t have a barbecue without creamy macaroni salad and, of course, grilled corn.
Recipe FAQs
With this rib recipe, you don’t need to add any liquid. The ribs have enough moisture on their own.
The slow cooker is excellent at producing tender meat thanks to its long cooking time, but leaving the ribs to cook longer than advised will result in dry and tough ribs. Be sure to follow our guide for how long to cook ribs.
Yes, the ribs can be cooked in an instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes and allow the pressure to release naturally. Lather the ribs in barbecue sauce and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
You can make crispy ribs without barbecue sauce. Our pro tip is baking them in the oven after slow cooking to get a nice crispy crust.
Although it is possible to overcook ribs, it is unlikely if you follow this recipe.
Cooking the ribs on low for 7-9 hours will yield a juicier, more tender rib. However, cooking them on high for up to 5 hours will still yield a delicious result.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the ribs in the sauce.
- Reheat. Warm the ribs in the sauce on a stovetop skillet until thoroughly reheated.
- Freeze. Ribs can be frozen to last up to 3 months. Place cooked ribs in a freezer-safe bag and store. Reheat: Thaw the ribs in the fridge overnight. Reheat the ribs in the oven until warmed through.
More Crockpot Recipes
If you enjoyed this crockpot rib recipe, be sure to try our other popular slow cooker recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this crockpot rib recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Crockpot Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tsp paprika
- 3-4 pounds baby back pork ribs
- 2 cups barbecue sauce
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the sugar, onion powder, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika for the dry rub.
- Cut the meat between the bones.
- Season the meat on all sides of the ribs.
- Cook on low for 7-9 hours or 4-5 hours on high.
- Brush the ribs with the barbecue sauce and cook at 365°F for 8-10 minutes. This is optional, you can serve once you brush with barbecue or return to the crockpot to keep warm.
Notes
- Storage. Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the ribs in the sauce.
- Reheat. Warm the ribs in the sauce on a stovetop skillet until fully reheated.
- For a crispy finish, coat the ribs with barbecue sauce, transfer them to a baking dish lined with parchment paper, and cook for the last 10 minutes in the oven at 425°F.
- Whole ribs. If you don’t want to cut the ribs into pieces, just add another hour to cook time.