There's no easier way to make amazing ribs than this Slow Cooker Ribs recipe! It produces tender, flavorful ribs that only take a few minutes to prep and are sure to impress any guests!
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Try Crock Pot Baked Ziti, Beef Noodle Soup, or Pot Roast!
Why I love these ribs:
- Hands-Off – Put the ribs in the slow cooker and let it do the work! There's no babysitting them like you would on the smoker, and the end result is fantastic.
- Favorite Meal – We enjoy ribs year-round, whether during the winter with a side of mashed potatoes and roasted veggies, or in the summer with potato salad, baked beans and cornbread.
- The BBQ Sauce– If you want to make them extra special, use my homemade BBQ sauce recipe!
How to Make BBQ Ribs in the Slow Cooker:
Prep Ribs on both sides with salt and pepper. Rub garlic powder, onion powder and brown sugar onto both sides. Lay them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Pre-bake the ribs at 400 degrees for 15 minutes on each side to seal in the juices and render some of the fat. Alternately, throw them on the grill on HIGH for 5 minutes on each side.
Place in Slow Cooker: Layer the ribs in the bottom of your slow cooker or curl the rack around the inside, meat side facing out. Smother them in BBQ sauce, reserving some for later. Cook crockpot bbq ribs on LOW for 4-6 hours. Mine are usually done cooking around the 4 hour mark. You want them to be tender, but not falling off the bone.
Serve crockpot ribs with more bbq sauce and your favorite sides.
Pro Tips:
- Type of Ribs to Buy: Baby back ribs, spare ribs, or country-style ribs will work for this slow cooker recipe. I prefer baby back pork ribs (and I buy them in a 3-pack from Costco).
- Remove membrane, if needed: Depending on where you purchase them, the ribs may still have a white, shiny membrane connective tissue on the back (bone side) that needs to be removed.
Serve With:
- Coleslaw
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Balsamic Roasted Carrots
- Mashed Potatoes
- Buttermilk Cornbread
- Wedge Salad
- Baked Potato Salad
- Corn Salad
- Baked Beans
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Burrata Salad
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Ribs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 rack pork ribs* (about 2 lbs)
- 32 ounces BBQ sauce *
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Season the ribs generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Rub garlic powder, onion powder and brown sugar onto both sides of the ribs.
- Pre-Bake: Line a large baking sheet with tinfoil or parchment paper. Bake the ribs on prepared pan for 15 minutes. Flip the ribs to the other side and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Slow Cook: (I like to use a slow cooker liner, for easy clean-up). Place the rack of ribs around the inside of the slow cooker, meat side facing out. Alternately, cut the ribs into a few sections and place them in the slow cooker. Smother them in some barbecue sauce, reserving some sauce for serving later. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours, until tender but not falling off the bone.
- Serve warm with extra barbecue sauce slathered on top.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe October 2017. Updated November 2019, September 2022 and January 2024.
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Ribs taste great and easy to cook
I make this recipe all the time. I also double it cause I use 2 racks of ribs. It’s the best recipe I’ve used and sooooo delicious!!
Really good! Thanks for the recipe!
I was wondering if 2 racks of ribs could be made in the slow cooker at the same time. If yes, would it take longer….this is probably a silly question. Thanks for all the great recipes and I love the cook book!!
Hi there, thank you so much for your kind words about the recipes and cookbook! Your question is not silly at all, it’s actually a common one.
Yes, you can certainly cook two racks of ribs in the slow cooker at the same time, as long as they fit properly. I recommend standing them up on their sides and wrapping them around the inside of the pot if you’re struggling with space.
As for cooking time, it should remain approximately the same as long as your slow cooker distributes heat evenly. It’s more about the thickness of the meat than the quantity. As long as the ribs aren’t stacked on top of each other and they all have exposure to the heat, they should cook uniformly.
Remember, the key to slow cooking is low and slow, so don’t rush the process. You’ll know they’re done when the meat is tender and easily pulls away from the bone.
I hope this helps! Enjoy your ribs, and feel free to share how they turn out!
We have made this twice now, and my family LOVES it. We cook it for 6 hours on low, and they come out perfect. So easy and delicious.
Great easy recipe for tender ribs!!
You need to change the title to slow cooked ribs. I’m looking to use my sloecooker so the title threw me off completely. Wasted my time reading all the ingredients and instructions only for an oven to be used lol.
The ribs are initially baked for 15 minutes in the oven to seal in the juices and render some of the fat. They are then finished in a slow cooker.
This is by far my favorite method to make ribs. I have used this procedure at least 3 times and every time it comes out perfect. The ribs come out super tender, and myself, I do prefer it to fall right off the bone, so I’ll let it go closer to 4.5-5 hours, or even longer if necessary. And either way it’s perfect for my household, my grandpa has a hard time with tougher/chewier meat but these ribs are no problem for him.
Some suggestions for the home cook: Mess with the seasonings! Like if you like a spicier kick, add some cayenne, chili powder, or just more black pepper. Use whatever you like, and don’t be afraid to experiment with it!
Another thing you could try is after pulling them out of the slow cooker, brush a little extra bbq sauce on them and put them under the broiler for a few minutes to let the sauce thicken up or maybe char a little.
All in all a great method for ribs, way better than pressure cooking or straight grilling in my opinion. 5/5, will eat many times.
I agree with you!! This is the method I will use to cook my ribs!!
These were easy to prepare and very tender. I added a drop of liquid smoke for flavor and deducted a star for Sweet Baby Ray endorsement….full of high fructose syrup. Masterpiece and Kinders have awesome flavors available without HFS and of course making your own works too but I have never been able to replicate the flavors of 2 brands listed above. I love how your recipes are always easy to follow and include plenty of ideas for adaptations and serving suggestions. And your cookbook is one of my favorites!
I wouldn’t call it a sweet baby ray’s endorsement, her first suggestion was her homemade bbq sauce, and she listed a couple store bought varieties as her personal favorites, including the Masterpiece brand you mentioned. I haven’t tried Masterpiece or Kinder, but my favorite is Stubbs, which also skips the HFCS. But yes ribs made this way are absolutely perfect.
These were great! Hubby loves ribs and these are the perfect way to fix them if you aren’t a griller.
Easy to prepare and absolutely delicious.