Fall off the bone tender, these Slow Cooker Ribs are so easy and so tasty! They only take minutes to throw together, then they cook low and slow, giving you the best ribs, perfect for any night of the week.
If you’re looking for ribs in a hurry, try these Instant Pot Ribs.
Usually, when I’m testing recipes, my family gets tired of eating the same thing over and over again.
But let me tell you – they didn’t complain once when these Slow Cooker Ribs made it to the table multiple times in a row!
I usually would say that ribs are meant to be smoked, or at least finished on the grill. These ribs, though – they are so perfectly tender and full of flavor, I may stick with this method all the time from here on out!
It doesn’t hurt that they only take a few ingredients, and a few minutes to prep before they go into the slow cooker. It’s a great hands-off recipe!
Ingredients
- Spice Mix: This comes together super fast with pantry staples. I use brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. If you have a spice mix you like you could always swap it in.
- Ribs: I have made this using baby back ribs and St. Louis ribs and both worked great.
- BBQ Sauce: Make sure you use a bbq sauce that you like. You can use homemade or store bought. If using store bought, we like Sweet Baby Rays.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ribs
STEP 1: Make your spice mixture by mixing all of the spices and the brown sugar together.
STEP 2: If your ribs have the silverskin still on them, remove that first. Then cut the rack in half. You want to do this so that they will fit in your slow cooker. If needed, cut them into thirds.
STEP 3: Take your spice mixture and rub it all over the ribs, on both sides. You want them fully coated.
STEP 4: Take half of the bbq sauce and spread it over the tops of each half.
STEP 5: Place the ribs in your slow cooker. You’ll need to layer one half rack on top of the other. Place the lid on, and cook on low until fall apart tender.
STEP 6: Once tender, carefully transfer the ribs to a foil lined baking sheet. Brush them with the remaining bbq sauce. The place under the broiler and broil until the sauce turns sticky and bubbly.
Tips and Tricks
The ribs on the bottom will cook faster than the half that is on top. If you want to make sure they cook evenly, you can swap them halfway through the cooking time.
You can also cook these on high, but I think low and slow is the best way to go. If cooking on high, you will cook them for around 3-4 hours.
Every slow cooker cooks differently, so times will differ. I tested this with two different slow cookers, side by side, and one cooked an hour less than the other. Keep this in mind and check the ribs as needed.
If you want to double this recipe, keep in mind that it may take a little longer to cook with more layers of ribs.
More Favorite Slow Cooker Dinners
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Crock Pot Ham
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Wings
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Slow Cooker Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 rack pork ribs (about 2 lbs)
- 1 cup prepared bbq sauce divided
- Additional bbq sauce for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- If the membrane, or silver skin, is still on the bottom of the ribs, use a knife to remove it. Cut the ribs into 2 pieces (or more, if needed) to be able to fit them into your slow cooker.1 rack pork ribs
- Take the spice rub and rub it onto both sides of the ribs. It will seem like a lot at first, but you should be able to rub all of it onto the ribs.
- Take about 1/2 cup of the bbq sauce and spread it over the top side of the ribs. (1/4 cup per piece, if cut into 2.)1 cup prepared bbq sauce
- Layer the ribs in the slow cooker, laying one piece on top of the other.
- Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook until they are tender, 6-7 hours on low.*
- Once tender, carefully remove the ribs to a foil lined baking sheet. Turn the oven on to broil. Brush the remaining 1/2 cup of the bbq sauce over the tops of the ribs, then place under the broiler until the sauce is sticky and bubbly.
- Cut the ribs into pieces to serve. Serve with more bbq sauce, if desired.Additional bbq sauce
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