Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

These Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs were a hit! Baby back ribs seasoned with spices and cooked for hours in the slow cooker until tender, and brushed with your favorite BBQ sauce. Make this easy slow cooker crock pot BBQ ribs to satisfy your cravings.

These slow cooker BBQ ribs cook right in your crock pot for 6-7 hours until super tender and delicious. The ribs are rubbed with delicious spices for flavor, and then brushed with your favorite BBQ sauce. To make it extra good, broil the ribs (with the brushed BBQ sauce) so you get that slight char on the sides and to caramelize the flavors. I’m telling ya, these crock pot BBQ ribs are all you need!

My entire family loved these slow cooker BBQ ribs. The meat is so tender…it falls apart with every bite and it just melts in your mouth. This slow cooker ribs recipe is really easy too! All it requires is preparing the meat, rubbing it with spices, and throwing it into the crockpot with some onions and garlic for extra flavor. Then you brush it with BBQ sauce and broil it  for a few minutes.

Slow cooking ribs is a great and easy way to serve a comforting meal for the entire family.

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs Recipe Ingredients

Just to give you an idea of the ingredients you need for this crock pot BBQ ribs recipe:

• 3 pounds pork baby back ribs
• brown sugar
• paprika
• chili powder
• cumin
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• salt and pepper
• onions and garlic
• BBQ sauce

As you can see, it’s all about seasoning the ribs with lots of delicious spices. The seasoning mix is what makes these slow cooker ribs so sooo good!

How Do You Make Slow Cooker Ribs?

1. Prepare the meat: remove the outer membrane from the ribs. To do this, on one end of the ribs, run a knife through the outer membrane layer until the layer starts to loosen. Then carefully tear out the membrane. Here is a helpful step-by-step guide by Weber Grill.
2. Pat dry the ribs, and rub all over with the spice mix on both sides.
3. Place the ribs in the slow cooker, along the sides of the pot (see photo below).
4. Add onions, garlic, and water.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, until tender. Remove ribs from slow cooker, being very careful not to break it apart. Cut it in half before removing if needed.
6. Place ribs on a sheet pan and brush with BBQ sauce. Broil for 2-3 minutes until caramelized, making sure it doesn’t burn. Quick tip: don’t broil too closely to the heating element. I usually use the middle rack.

Serve immediately with a couple of your favorite sides.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs?

This must be the most important question! I served my barbecue ribs with loaded potato skins and it was amazing!

Here are some ideas:

• loaded baked potato skins
• blue cheese and bacon potato salad
• garlic roasted potato wedges
• easy stovetop mac and cheese
• cast iron skillet cornbread
• corn on the cob
• french fries
• coleslaw salad

I’m a huge fan of these slow cooker ribs. They are truly easy to make, and because it all goes in the slow cooker, I get plenty of time to make some really good sides to go with it.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading! And please don’t forget to pin this recipe:

Kitchen Tips

• If possible, buy a meatier piece of baby back ribs.
• Pat dry the ribs before adding the rub. This will help the spices adhere to the ribs better.
• Once the ribs are done cooking, carefully remove the ribs without breaking the meat apart. Remember the rib meat will be very tender at this point. To avoid breaking the meat, I cut the rack of ribs into 2 parts and then quickly remove it with two hands (be careful not to burn your hands).
• Try not to broil the BBQ ribs too closely to the heating element to avoid burning. I usually use the middle rack.

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5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

These Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs are so delicious and easy to make. Rubbed with spices and cooked right in the slow cooker until tender. Use your favorite BBQ sauce and serve with your sides of choice.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword crock pot ribs, slow cooker bbq ribs, slow cooker ribs

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 7 hours

Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Tania

Ingredients

• ▢ 3 pounds baby back ribs
• ▢ 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1/2 cup water
• ▢ Your favorite BBQ sauce (about 1 cup)

Dry rub:

• ▢ 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

• Combine all the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl until evenly mixed. Set aside.
• Prepare the meat: remove the outer membrane from the ribs. Here’s how: on one end of the ribs, run a paring knife through the outer membrane layer until the layer starts to loosen. Then carefully tear out or peal the membrane. For more detailed instructions, see link above.
• Pat dry the ribs. Evenly distribute and rub the seasoning mix all over the ribs.
• Place the ribs in a large slow cooker, lined up against the sides of the pot (see photo above). Add onions, garlic, and water in the center. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, until the meat is tender.
• Remove from slow cooker carefully, without breaking apart the meat. If you’re unable to lift the ribs, cut it into 2 or 3 pieces and remove them using your hands. Place ribs on a large sheet pan.
• Brush ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce, and broil 2-3 minutes until caramelized. Quick tip: don’t broil too close to the heating element to prevent it from burning. I usually use the middle rack.
• Serve immediately. Enjoy!