Crock Pot Ribs made in a slow cooker with an amazing dry rub and BBQ sauce. These incredibly tender ribs are fall-off-the-bone delicious and so full of delicious barbecue flavor.
If you want the easiest way to cook ribs that are unbelievably tender every time, these crock pot ribs are the real deal!
For the best texture, I’ve found that cooking ribs in the slow cooker is better than cooking them in the oven or on the grill. I would go so far to say crock pot bbq ribs is the best way of cooking ribs.
In fact, the ribs turn out so tender that the meat just slides right off the bone.
Plus, it’s really easy to shred, which is great for people who love using shredded pork rib meat to make barbecue sandwiches.
If you want a big rack of ribs the next time, just put them in the slow cooker and forget about it. When you come back, you’ll have the BEST ribs that the whole family will love!
For a quick dinner during the week, make these baby back ribs in the crock pot. You can also serve them to family and friends on game days or special occasions.
Forget standing over a hot grill or oven for hours With the crockpot, you can make incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs with hardly any effort. No complicated steps or fancy equipment needed! All it takes is a few simple tricks to make these melt-in-your-mouth pork ribs everyone will rave about.
Cooking ribs low and slow in a crockpot breaks down the collagen for fork-tender meat that’s juicy, never dry. The key is knowing exactly how long to cook pork ribs in the crockpot to end up with the perfect texture.
Follow this simple guide for outrageously delicious crockpot ribs every time. We’ll cover everything from prep, cook times flavor tips and more! Let’s get started.
How Long Should You Cook Ribs in a Crockpot?
The cooking time for ribs in a crockpot depends on the temperature setting:
- Low setting: 5-7 hours
- High setting: Not recommended
For fall-off-the-bone tender ribs, always use the low setting. The extended cook time allows the meat to become succulent and juicy
High heat can cause the ribs to dry out and won’t give enough time for the collagen to properly break down.
For the most even cooking, arrange the ribs upright around the sides of the crockpot. Place meatier sides facing outwards and wider rib ends on the bottom.
Handy Crockpot Rib Prep Tips
Prep is key for tender, flavorful crockpot ribs:
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Trim off excess fat for better texture. Leave 1⁄4 inch fat cap.
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Remove membrane for tenderness. Slip knife under and peel it off.
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Apply a dry rub generously. Let ribs sit 30 mins for flavor infusion before cooking.
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For more intensity, marinate overnight in a sticky sauce, vinegar or spices.
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Cut racks in half for quicker cook times. Stack upright in crockpot.
Flavor Elevators for Next Level Ribs
The right flavors take crockpot ribs over the top. Use these easy ways to add zing:
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Smoky spice rubs infuse subtle charred flavor.
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Sweet and sticky barbecue sauces lacquer ribs with glaze.
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Spicy marinades with chili flakes or cayenne bring the heat.
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Herby marinades tenderize while imparting big flavor.
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A splash of broth, cider or juice keeps ribs incredibly moist.
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Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion and cumin pump up the flavor.
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Maple syrup or honey for the last hour caramelizes into a glaze.
Doneness Tips for Perfect Results
Since crockpots cook low and slow, ribs can easily over or undercook if you aren’t careful. Here’s how to nail doneness:
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Check tenderness periodically by poking ribs with a fork. Meat should easily pull away when fully cooked.
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Use an instant read thermometer to check for 145°F internally. This guarantees safety and ideal doneness.
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If ribs are underdone, re-cover and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes more. Check again with fork or thermometer.
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Avoid opening the crockpot often to prevent heat loss and extra cook time.
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Always use low setting and cook for full 5-7 hours for fully tender ribs.
Finishing Touches for Finger-Licking Ribs
A few finishing touches really take ribs over the top:
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Baste ribs with sauce during the last 30 minutes of cook time to tackify.
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Move to oven broiler for 2-5 minutes to caramelize sauce. Watch closely to avoid burning.
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Let ribs rest 10 minutes before cutting so juices can reabsorb for maximum juiciness.
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Slice ribs between bones into individual pieces. Serve bones up for easier eating!
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Garnish with chopped parsley, sesame seeds or scallions for extra flavor and crunch.
Handy Serving and Storage Tips
Crockpot ribs for a crowd? Here are some serving tips:
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Keep ribs hot in a slow cooker set to warm. It frees up oven space.
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Place cooked ribs in a foil pan, cover and hold in a 200°F oven.
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For potlucks or picnics, wrap ribs in foil to transport while staying warm.
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Refrigerate leftover ribs in an airtight container up to 4 days.
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Freeze ribs in portion sizes up to 2-3 months for quick future meals.
With the right techniques, deliciously tender crockpot ribs become an easy everyday treat. Ditch the grill and oven and let your crockpot do all the work!
Choosing the Right Ribs for Your Recipe
The cut of ribs makes a difference. Here’s how to choose:
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Baby back ribs are smaller and naturally tender. Great if you’re in a time crunch!
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Spareribs and country-style ribs have more intense pork flavor when you have time.
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Meaty, thick ribs with good marbling will be juiciest.
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Pasture raised and organic ribs offer superior quality and taste.
When you start with quality ribs, the crockpot turns them meltingly tender.
Best Sides to Serve with Tender Crockpot Ribs
What pairs best with fall-off-the-bone crockpot ribs?
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Corn on the cob – Classic accompaniment! Slather with spice butter.
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Coleslaw – Cool, crunchy and tangy. Helps cut the richness.
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Baked beans or potato salad – Both comforting, flavorful sides.
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Mac and cheese – Ooey-gooey cheese pairs perfectly.
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Cornbread – Warm wedges with honey butter. Yes, please!
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Watermelon slices – Juicy, refreshing and sweet.
Round out your plate with delicious sides everyone will love.
With these simple crockpot rib tips, you’ll be enjoying outrageous ribs any night of the week. No complicated steps or fancy equipment required. Just set it and forget it for truly unforgettable ribs!
Ingredients for Crock Pot Ribs:
Rack of Ribs: For crock pot ribs, should you use baby back ribs, spare ribs, or St. Louis style ribs.
What’s the difference between spare ribs and baby back ribs? Baby back ribs tend to be a little more expensive because they are leaner and more tender than spare ribs.
In this sense, spare ribs are both fattier with a meatier bite. St. St. Louis style ribs are flatter, shaped like a nearly perfect rectangle, and fattier. This makes them easier to work with and makes sure that the fat layer gets nice and crispy.
Select the type of ribs you use based on the texture you enjoy.
If you follow this easy crock pot pork ribs recipe, the baby back ribs or spare ribs will both be so tender that they will fall off the bone.
You can fit two racks of ribs in most large crock pots. To make two racks, which is about 6 pounds, double the dry rub and barbecue sauce.
Dry Rub: All we need to make a great dry rub for these tasty slow cooker ribs is paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
Many people add brown sugar to a dry rub for ribs. If you’d like to do so, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the dry rub. You can also use chili powder or your favorite rib rub to season ribs.
BBQ Sauce: This is why we’re all here! The ribs are covered in barbecue sauce while they’re slow cooking, which makes them taste like they were made for BBQ.
I use Kevin’s Paleo BBQ Sauce which is naturally sweetened (refined sugar-free). Everyone has a favorite barbecue sauce, so pick yours! Stick with a sauce you know you’ll love.
You can also use homemade bbq sauce such as my Maple Bourbon BBQ Sauce.
If you follow a keto diet, use sugar-free keto BBQ sauce for a great recipe for sugar-free ribs.
One large rack of ribs, which weighs about 3 pounds, only needs 9 ounces of barbecue sauce to cook. However, for sauce lovers, I suggest having an extra bottle on hand for dipping the ribs.
Now that we’ve covered the simple ingredients for this easy slow cooker ribs recipe, let’s make them!
How to Make Crock Pot Ribs:
For the dry rub, mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until everything is well mixed.
Remove the rack of ribs from its packaging. If there is silverskin on the back of the ribs, cut it off and discard. Note: some racks of ribs come with the silver membrane already removed. If you’re unsure how to remove the membrane from pork ribs, watch this video for an easy tutorial.
Put the rack of ribs on a large cutting board and sprinkle the dry rub all over both sides. You want the ribs to be well-seasoned.
Gently press the rub into the meat with your hands so that it sticks to the ribs.
Brush a light layer of Barbecue sauce over both sides of the ribs.
Plug in your crock pot and spray the sides with cooking spray. This will make the crock pot easier to clean once the ribs have finished cooking.
Transfer the rack of ribs to the crock pot, placing it upright with the meat side against the walls of the crock pot.
Pour the remaining sauce over the ribs, ensuring the rack is well saturated in sauce.
Put the lid back on the crock pot and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, or until the ribs are very soft. Mine are fall-off-the-bone tender after 5 hours.
Take the ribs out of the slow cooker with care and put them on a large baking sheet or cutting board. Cut the ribs down the middle and serve with more barbecue sauce. You can also save the crock pot juices to use as a dipping sauce.
Move the rib rack to a large baking sheet and broil the ribs for 5 minutes on the High Broil setting if you want them to be crispy.
Enjoy with your choice of side dishes and enjoy!
Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Super Easy Slow Cooker Ribs – Fall Off The Bone BBQ Ribs Recipe
FAQ
Can you cook ribs too long in a crockpot?
How many hours does it take to cook pork ribs?
Is it better to cook pork ribs fast or slow?
How long do you cook boneless pork ribs in a slow cooker?
Pour the BBQ sauce over the ribs to cover. Cover and cook on low for about 6-8 hours (low is preferred, but you could do high 4-6 hours) and come back to perfect, melt in your mouth slow cooker boneless pork ribs! Cooking time can vary but you will know your ribs are ready when they easily apart when twisting with a fork.
Can you cook pork ribs in a crock pot?
Combine rub mix and massage into prepared ribs. Place onion, garlic and ribs in the slow cooker with a touch of water (or broth). Close the lid and let the crock pot work its magic. Gently remove from the pan, cut ribs apart and serve! Crock Pot Pork Ribs (I use pork baby back ribs) are easy to make as long as you cook them low and slow.
How long should you cook ribs in a crock pot?
Rib Recipes You Might Like + Sides! How Long Should You Cook Ribs in the Crock Pot? You should plan to cook ribs in a crock pot for 5-7 hours on the LOW setting. We recommend avoiding cooking them on HIGH, as the ribs will not have time to get tender and may dry out.
How do you cook ribs in a slow cooker?
Prep Ribs: Prepare your ribs by removing the membrane and patting dry with a paper towel. Dry Rub: Prepare the rub by combining brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Rub evenly on top of the ribs. Cut in Half: Cut the ribs in half. Add half of the rack of the ribs into the bottom of the slow cooker.