Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are melt-in-your-mouth incredible. Let your slow cooker do all the work and come home to sticky, fall apart ribs!
Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are super easy and low maintenance like our Slow Cooker Whole Chicken and our Crispy Slow Cooker Turkey, this mouth-watering Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs Recipe only requires four ingredients. Chuck them in the slow cooker, head out for the day and return to the sweet scent of barbecue pork.
Our Secret
Our secret to Delicious Slow Cooker Ribs is a healthy kick of garlic in our marinade. People often assume that the grill, the smoker or the oven (like with our Garlic Herb Prime Rib) is the only way to cook ribs, but that’s most definitely not the case.
While we love our Oven Baked Barbecue Ribs recipe, this slow cooker barbecue ribs recipe has become my new favourite. That’s all thanks to my new best friend – the slow cooker! Move over oven…
The best part about Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs is that they’re fit for any time, any occasion and any season. Slow cooking ribs breaks down the connective tissue in the meat, causing them to fall apart. Try out Slow Cooker Chilli if you’re looking for more slow cooker recipes
Brushed with a delicious barbecue glaze, a kick of garlic and cayenne, then broiled for an extra two minutes until charred and crispy on the top, makes for the best slow cooker barbecue ribs you’ll sink your teeth into.I consider myself somewhat of a barbecue sauce connoisseur as you ca probably tell if you’ve tasted our Sticky Barbecue Chinese Pork Belly or our Barbecue Buffalo Chicken Thighs. So, trust me when I say that these Slow Cooked Barbecue Ribs are ALL TIME!
What Goes Into Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs?
- Baby Back Pork Ribs, are tender, meaty, and have a natural sweetness. They are taken from the top of the rib cage near the spine, making them leaner than spare ribs, which means less fat but more tenderness
- Barbecue Sauce a good quality barbecue sauce serves as the foundational flavor for your ribs. Look for sauces that have a balance of sweetness, acidity, and spice. Using a sauce with natural ingredients will enhance the taste without overpowering the meat. This works well in my bbq baked pork chops recipe too.
- Brown Sugar adds a rich sweetness and helps with the caramelization process during cooking and broiling.
- Minced Garlic provides a savory undertone that perfectly balances the sweetness of the barbecue sauce and brown sugar. Fresh minced garlic will yield the best flavor, but jarred garlic works in a pinch.
- Worcestershire Sauce contains a blend of tangy vinegar, savory anchovies, molasses, and spices, which complement the natural sweetness of the BBQ sauce
- Cayenne Pepper (Optional) Adding cayenne pepper introduces a bit of heat that lifts the dish and excites the palate. It balances the sweetness from the brown sugar and barbecue sauce
*Note – See recipe card at the bottom for full list of ingredients and measurements
Making Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
- Remove the Membrane: Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. At one end of the rack, slide a fork or a blunt knife under the membrane and over a bone. Lift the membrane away off of the bone until it begins to tear. Grab hold of the edge of the membrane and pull it off. It may come off in one piece or it may tear
- Mix the Barbecue Sauce: Combine Sauce Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper (if using). This creates an easy BBQ Sauce marinade.
*Note – Removing the membrane from the Slow Cooker Ribs is not essential, but I find the sauce is better absorbed into the meat when removed.
- Add Ribs to Slow Cooker: Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray. Layer the Ribs: Place the ribs inside the slow cooker. Pour half of the barbecue sauce mixture over the ribs, ensuring they are well coated and add salt to taste.
- Slow Cook the Ribs: Cover the slow cooker lid and set it to cook: Low: Cook for 7-9 hours for tender ribs that fall off the bone. High: Cook for 3-5 hours for softer but firmer ribs. Monitor Cooking throughout. The slow cooking process allows the connective tissue in the ribs to break down, creating tender meat.
- Broil for a Perfect Finish: Once cooking is finished, carefully transfer the ribs to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using the reserved barbecue sauce, generously baste the ribs. Broil the ribs for 5-10 minutes until the edges are caramelized and slightly charred. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve: Allow the ribs to rest for a few minutes before slicing. cut between bones or plate the rack whole if desired. Serve with your remaining barbecue sauce for dipping. Pairing Tips: These slow cooker barbecue pork ribs pair perfectly with our Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob with Garlic and our Macaroni Salad.
*Tip – When moving the ribs to the baking tray take your time and use tongs at either side of the rack, the Slow Cooker Ribs will be very tender and may fall apart if rushed.
Recipe FAQ’s
While it’s not strictly necessary, removing the membrane improves flavor absorption from the marinade and sauce, resulting in juicier ribs.
Broiling the ribs after slow cooking is essential. Baste the ribs with sauce and broil them in the oven for 5-10 minutes until crispy and caramelized.
It is recommended to thaw them first for more even cooking. Cooking from frozen may require additional cooking time.
Refrigerate leftover ribs in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving. If you have leftover sauce you can try it with out Portuguese BBQ Peri Peri Chicken
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs
These slow cooker barbecue pork ribs pair perfectly with our Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob with Garlic and our Macaroni Salad.
Love pork? Try these recipes!
Pork Chops With Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Easy Honey Garlic Pork
Crispy Pork Carnitas
Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs On Video!
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Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 cups barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper optional for a hint of spice
- 2 kg baby back pork ribs 4 pounds
- ¼ teaspoon salt to taste
Instructions
- Spray inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Remove inner skin (membrane) from ribs and place ribs in slow cooker. Discard skin.
- Combine bbq sauce, brown sugar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Mix well to combine and completely cover with half of the sauce.
- Season with a good amount of salt and pepper; cover with lid and cook on low setting for 7-9 hours or high setting for 3-5 hours *see notes. Refrigerate remaining sauce to use later.
- When ribs are tender and falling apart, transfer onto an oven tray (or baking sheet), lined with parchment paper. (Lift them carefully as the meat will be very tender and falling off the bone).
- Pour half of the juices from the slow cooker bowl into the remaining sauce. Baste ribs with half of the sauce and broil (grill) in preheated oven at 400°F (220°C) for about 10 minutes or until beginning to char and crisp on the edges.
- Serve ribs with remaining sauce.
Notes
- LOW: 7 HOURS / HIGH: 3 HOURS — Ribs that are soft but stay on the bone (as shown in the video in post).
- LOW: 9 HOURS / HIGH: 4-5 HOURS — Tender, fall apart ribs that melt in your mouth like butter (as shown in the images in post).
Juno Beach says
My croak pot has four settings, I used the second shortest (six hours) and the meat was juicy and fell off the bone.
karen frye says
This is a great recipe, easy and very good. I added liquid smoke to the sauce for that smoky grilled taste. Thanks for the recipe!
Mary Anne says
These look great! Question- can I make a day before and refrigerate then grill in oven? I have a crowd coming and need to make 2 batches. Thanks!
Tom Mozgala says
Hi Mary Anne,
Yes, you can definitely prepare the ribs a day in advance and refrigerate them before grilling in the oven. Here’s how you can do it:
Cook the Ribs: Follow the recipe as instructed and cook the ribs in the slow cooker until they are tender.
Cool and Store: Once the ribs are cooked, let them cool down a bit, then carefully transfer them to a baking sheet. Cover them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and refrigerate.
Reheat and Grill: When you’re ready to serve, preheat your oven to 400°F (220°C). Remove the ribs from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes while the oven preheats. Baste the ribs with half of the reserved barbecue sauce and bake for about 10 minutes, broiling them towards the end to get that char and crispiness on the edges.
Serve: After grilling, serve the ribs with the remaining sauce on the side.
This method will help you save time on the day your guests arrive, allowing you to focus on other preparations! Enjoy your gathering!
Cassandra says
Fall off the bone!! I didn’t read the notes and did 4.5 hours, they were tricky to keep together while transferring to the baking sheet but still managed to keep 4/5 ribs together. This was so good!!! Only going to make ribs this way from now on.
I eyeballed the measurements and it still turned out great.