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Easy Crock Pot Ribs aren’t just easy, they are delicious when you use the slow cooker. The whole family is going to love this ribs recipe!
Why You’re Going to Love This Recipe!
It doesn’t get much easier, or more delicious, then these slow cooker ribs. There is only about 15 minutes of prep time and then you just let them cook for about 5 hours and dinner is ready. With the use of bottled BBQ sauce so there aren’t very many ingredients involved, but you wouldn’t know that by the flavor. And they are fall off the bone tender thanks to slow cooking!
Ingredients Needed
- Paprika
- Brown sugar
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Baby back ribs. Also known as pork loin back ribs, back ribs, loin ribs or pork ribs.
- Barbecue sauce. My favorite brand is Sweet Baby Rays.
How to Make Crock Pot Ribs
If the ribs still have a membrane attached, go ahead and remove it.
- Mix together the rub using paprika, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
- Rub both sides of the rack of ribs with the rub. Just use your fingers to rub it into both sides of the ribs.
- Place your ribs into the crock pot with the meaty side against the inside wall.
- Cover the ribs with 2 -3 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Add the lid and turn the crock pot on low. Let the crock pot ribs cook for 4-5.
- Once the meat is falling off the bone, you know they are done! Then remove them from the crock pot,
- Brush the ribs with more BBQ sauce. Place under the broiler for a few minutes to let the sauce caramelize.
- Cut the ribs apart using a sharp knife. Just cut between the bones into the meaty section.
Tips from Leigh Anne
- Serve the ribs with some BBQ sauce on the side.
- If the ribs are done before you are ready to enjoy them, just wrap them up in foil and put them in the oven at 150 degrees F to keep them warm.
- To make clean up easy, use a crock pot liner. You won’t have to scrub out caramelized or burnt on sauce. You can find them in the grocery store near the aluminum foil and plastic bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Crock Pot Ribs in the Instant Pot?
You can, check out my recipe for Instant Pot BBQ Ribs right here.
Can I make ribs in the oven?
My favorite way to make ribs in the oven is using this recipe for Easy BBQ Ribs.
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Easy Crock Pot Ribs
Ingredients
Rub
- 2 Tbsp paprika
- 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp kosher salt
- 1/2 Tbsp ground black pepper
Ribs
- 5-6 lbs. baby back ribs
- 2-3 cups barbeque sauce
Instructions
- Combine paprika, brown sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the mixture over the meaty side of the ribs
- Place ribs in slow cooker standing them upright with the meaty side against the wall of the cooker.
- Pour the barbecue sauce over the ribs
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours until tender
- Cover with additional bbq sauce and place under the broiler for a few minutes to allow sauce to caramelize.
- Cut ribs apart and serve.
Tips & Notes:
- f the ribs are done before you are ready to enjoy them, just wrap them up in foil and put them in the oven at 150 degrees F to keep them warm.
- Serve with some additional BBQ sauce on the side.
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Nutrition Facts:
Candice Kaczmarek says
I generally don’t leave feedback on mass recipe sites but after making these ribs I felt compelled to! I simply googled “crockpot ribs” and came across this recipe. It seemed simple enough, so I figured I’d give a shot. Absolutely AWESOME! I use my crockpot ALL the time, so I’m always looking for new recipes. We are camping right now, so the oven in our RV is pretty tiny and I try to use as little propane as possible, another reason to use the crockpot. I followed the directions (very simple!!! you don’t have to dilly dally around with them on the grill, flipping them and what not…or the oven, simply throw them in the crockpot and AMEN!) and since I have a new crockpot, it cooks pretty hot and fast on low. The ribs were done in about 3 hours. My husband and I absolutely loved them!!! I’d argue they might just be the 8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD!! Hand in hand with mashed potatoes, green beans, and whiskey and cokes I served with them 😉 Thank you for the HEAVEN-SENT RIBS! =)
Leigh Anne says
WOW!! Thank you so much for the amazing review of the ribs. I am so glad you love them! I love you calling them the 8th Wonder of the World!!!! I may just have to post that on Facebook!
Kimberley says
I have my ribs in the crockpot now… Perfect for game day! I can’t wait to taste them later, thank you for the recipe!
Leigh Anne says
Hope you loved your ribs as much as we do!!
s lynette bryant says
I will start off by saying that I believe that ribs belong on a grill. I’m a griller -girl at heart. I love being outside in the summer with my grill and a pitcher of sangria. My husband has even convinced me, on occasion, to throw a slab on the grill in the winter…in Chicago. But, this season, we have had the coldest winter we’ve seen in 20 years. So, needless to say, when he asked for ribs, he received, “the look.” But I did a little research and came across this recipe. I liked what I read; so I tried it tonite. Upon taking the ribs out of the crockpot, they were, as promised, fall off the bone. However, they were a litttle too wet for my taste, So, I threw them under the brolier for a couple of minutes. This dried them up a bit and added a nice crust. My husband loved them and asked me to add them into the dinner rotation. Thanks for the recipe!!
Leigh Anne says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Donna says
I want to prepare this recipe for Super Bowl Sunday. The poster, Jess asked if Leigh Anne meant to write “high” instead of “low” for the 4 to 5 hours in the crockpot. I’m curious about that, too, due to Leigh’s response to Shelby’s mention she would cook on Low for 8 hours to melt off all the fat, and Leigh responded with a thanks for the suggestion and she might try it on low next time (in not distinguishing the part about the extra hours) so, to me, it caused a bit of confusion on whether the original recipe is supposed to have the ribs cooked on low versus high. Possibly, Shelby thinks the extra hours are warranted to melt off all the fat, but if Leigh Anne’s recipe has the ribs being tender after 4 to 5 hours, then I’m wondering if 8 hours would have the meat totally falling off and not needing any cutting once they’re done. Okay, LOW or HIGH for 4 to 5 hours. Thank you.
Leigh Anne says
I cooked them on low for about 4.5 hours and they were perfect. It could vary depending on your crock pot. I have found that older crockpots don’t cook as hot. The type of ribs you use could effect it too.
Llowyn says
Thank you for your quick response that indeed it’s the Low setting you use. I couldn’t find decent looking baby back ribs today so instead bought some great looking country style boneless pork ribs. The clerk at the grocery store (in my mentioning I was going to cook them in the crockpot) suggested I first braise them, which I think I’ll do. One of the commenters to this thread had mentioned your recipe worked well with the kind of ribs I’m going to use, so I think I’ll be okay. What I love about your recipe is the rub. Got a bottle of paprika, already have the brown sugar (I’ll be using dark), the kosher salt (I actually use Hawaiian sea salt since that’s where I’m from), and coarse ground pepper. I always have Sweet Baby Ray’s Original on hand so that’s the sauce I’ll use. My crockpot works well when I make chalupa, pot roast, etc. so I’m sure the Low setting will do fine, and I’ll do a “2-fork” pull test around 4 hours. Thanks, again!
Crystal says
are you able to do them on high for a quicker time… ? or only low for 4-5 hours?
Leigh Anne says
Have only done them on low – I’m afraid if you did it higher and quicker they wouldn’t get as tender.
Jess says
Hi! Do you think the ribs will cook all the way through on low for 4-5 hours or did you mean to write “high”?
Thanks!