Crockpot ribs are guaranteed to be fall off the bone tender. Learn the secrets for making the best slow cooker ribs including instructions for prepping the meat, giving it a good dry rub, and finishing them off for restaurant quality perfection.
You want your ribs to be fall-off-the-bone tender. The crockpot is a great choice. BUT, how do you go from the ugly mess of the slow cooker to beautifully caramelized fall of the bone ribs?
If you just throw ribs and bbq sauce in a slow cooker for 8 hours, you’ll get some fall-off-the-bone ribs, but they’ll be kind of funky and unappetizing. The bbq sauce won’t have caramelized at all, and the liquids in the meat will have produced a really runny bbq sauce liquid.
We find the crockpot to be the easiest method to cook ribs and it is my go-to method, especially when cooking for a crowd. Combine the ease of the crockpot with my easy secret tip and you’ll have yourself some pretty dang amazing ribs.
THE SECRET TO CROCKPOT (SLOW COOKER) RIBS
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. See the video for an easy demo. Just slide your fingers around the side to loosen it up and rip it right off.
- Give the ribs a dry rub. This step is optional. Some people like a good dry rub first for additional flavor.
- Put your ribs in the crockpot. Lather them with barbecue sauce. You can use a homemade sauce like my Raspberry-Chipotle Barbecue Sauce for ribs or a store-bought bottle. Just remember to save a little bit for later.
- Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. The more racks in the pot, the longer you’ll need to cook.
- Gently remove the racks and lay them out on a foil lined baking sheet. Add more barbecue sauce on top.
- Broil under a broiler for 3-5 minutes until the barbecue sauce starts to bubble and caramelize. Alternately you could wrap them in foil and throw them on a heated grill for the same effect. I sometimes do this for crowds and picnics. This keep the ribs warm until ready to eat and makes it easy to pass out portions. Enjoy!
What kind of ribs should I use to make slow cooker ribs?
This recipe and method will work best with pork ribs including: baby back ribs, spare ribs, St. Louis style ribs, and country style pork ribs. For beef short ribs try my slow cooker short rib recipe or my recipe for classic braised beef short ribs. If you have a smoker we also highly recommend these Smoked Beef Ribs.
Can I finish my crockpot ribs on the grill instead of the oven?
Our secret to crockpot ribs is to caramelize the ribs under the broiler setting in your oven. Another option is to put them on the grill to get that extra caramelization. If you choose to use the grill, put them straight onto the grill (or onto a piece of aluminum foil) over high heat (500 degrees). Brush them with additional barbecue sauce and then close the lid. Let them grill for about 3-5 minutes, until the sauce starts to bubble and caramelize.
PRO TIP: One of the best tips for making ribs in the crockpot is to use a crockpot liner. These BPA-free plastic bags line your crockpot, making clean up a breeze! No more scrubbing out caramelized, burnt on sauce! They are awesome. You can find them in your grocery store near things like aluminum foil and plastic bags. They are a huge time saver.
Super easy & delicious! This will be how we make our ribs from now on! I I did not have crockpot liners, used parchment paper instead….still easy to clean afterwards. Also, I used our own homemade Jack Daniel BBQ sauce. Fall off the ribs yummy!!
Wonderful and easy
Just had this rib recipe last night. At 8 hours slow cook, the ribs came out almost totally off the bone, more like mush.
Flavor was good, but think would reduce cook time to 6 hours,and add more if needed. I like to bite into my ribs
That’s the way I like mines to😋😋😋
I had the same disappointing results. Followed recipe to the tee and an epic fail!
I did the same and ours were mush off the bone. Tasty but didn’t appeal to the eye very much 👁
Funtastic,easy,fall off the bone,great
Yummy. I made them. Thanks for all the tips.
I tried this and my family loved it and wanted me to make it again!!! Ty for sharing, love your recipes.
I used mckormicks bbq seasoning on the ribs and then sweet baby rays bbq sauce. Omg! They are fall off the bone ready after 12 -14 hours in the crock pot on low. I’m a nurse so I usually work 12 hour shifts, so when I get home I throw them on a cookie sheet throw some more bbq sauce on them and in the broiler they go! The bones literally just fall right out! I use 3 slabs from sams club so I cook them a little Longer then the recipe. You won’t be disappointed!!!
Thanks Nurse!
The broiler trick is perfection! I was intimidated to cook ribs for the longest time, but this crockpot method made it approachable and easy. I do this every few months now for a treat with our own special rub and favorite BBQ sauce, and everyone looks forward to it!
My family loved these! This will be our go to rib recipe!
Made the ribs tonight and they were a huge hit. I only cooked them on low for 8 hours. Next time I am going for 10 hours because we like fall off the bone ribs. If you like to pick up the bone and eat then the 8 hours is perfect.