Tender ribs slow-cooked, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat so succulent and just too good not to try this recipe.
The crockpot/slow cooker will do all the work needed and when you come home from that long day of chores and work, you're going to love this super simple meal!
Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are not only easy to make they literally fall off-the-bone tender ribs and if you desire a char on the outside, just broil them after they are slow cooked for that whole barbecued experience and wow factor.
Saucy barbecue, sauce, or use one of our delicious sauces from our Collection of 14 Dipping Sauces page where there is something for everyone to choose from.
We love our DIY Seasonings homemade rubs that you also can use to season the ribs.
We also love our Jack Daniels Homemade Barbecue Sauce on another page on this blog.
Whether you're a pork chops or rib lover, this slow cooker recipe for ribs can do either one all in your slow cooker to make the perfect slow cooker pork!
We got you covered come rain or shine, for the best barbecued spare ribs everyone will rave about.
Easiest Recipe for Slow Cooker Ribs Ever
- oil spray a slow cooker liner (or use disposable liners)
- add 1 cup of apple juice or soda like cherry coke, root beer, (or a good regular stout beer)
- add your ribs
- sprinkle with whatever seasoning you prefer we like Cajun
- add your favorite barbecue sauce
- slow cook up to 8 hours on low or 6 hours on high
- Note: for a nice crispy char broil them after cooking in a baking dish until crispy the way they look on the Barbie!
Cooking Methods
- Grilled in Foil Method: First I usually parboil the ribs for 20 minutes. Heat grill to medium-high heat. Prepare the sauce you're going to use and set it aside. Slice the slab in half. Add the dry rub to the ribs. Place half the ribs in a single layer in the center of a large sheet of heavy-duty foil. Bring up long sides of foil. Do this again in another piece of foil for another slab if you have more to cook. Place on the grill for 45 minutes. to 1 hour or until ribs are soft when pierce with a fork. Remove ribs from foil packet; return ribs to grill on both sides basting with your favorite sauce for around 15 more minutes.
- Slow Cooker: Using a 6 to 7-quart slow cooker or instant pot, add the ribs to the cooker with rub on each side. Place on high for 5-6 hours. Add 1/2 of apple juice, coke, root beer,Dr. Pepper or regular stout beer and 1 cup of barbecue sauce.
- Electric Smoker: Heat the smoker to 225 degrees and use hickory or mesquite chips or another kind you prefer. Place the rub on the ribs and either add the ribs directly to the middle rack or place them on a disposable aluminum pan with holes under them. Smoke the ribs for 3 hours adding wood chips every 35 minutes. Remove the ribs from the racks. Place the ribs on aluminum foil making a pocket, pour a little apple juice, soda as mentioned previously, wine, and beer, ( around 4 tablespoons) into the foil pocket for steaming purposes. This will help tenderize the ribs. Place them back in the smoker for 2 hours, then remove and add your favorite barbecue sauce..
- Oven Baked: use a Reynolds cooking bag when baking. Dry rub the ribs. Add 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 1 tablespoon of liquid smoke and 1/4 cup of wine, beer, soda any flavor you like. Bake at 350 degrees for two hours. Add more sauce of choice after cooking.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Baby back o ar St. Louis rib slab
- Barbecue Sauce any kind you prefer homemade or store-bought
- cherry coke, root beer, Dr. Pepper, beer, wine, or bourbon
- Worcestershire sauce
- Optional; pinch of cayenne pepper or 2 teaspoons hot sauce for heat
- sea salt chili powder, parsley, oregano, and roasted garlic powder
More Recipes We Love
Best Fried Pork Chops
Easy Barbecued Baked Pork Chops
Best Ever Pork Butt in a Crockpot
Pin for later
Best Barbecue Sauces
The barbecue sauce we love is the Jack Daniels sauce we make but of course, you can use a store-bought brand or a family homemade favorite.
You can also season the ribs with your favorite store-bought seasonings or use ours, the DIY homemade rub is terrific just use what you like
If you were looking for great-tasting baby back ribs super tender and delicious, you found it. This is the best slow cooker recipe for ribs ever!
Slow Cooker Barbecued Ribs
Yield: 6
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 5 HourTotal time: 5 H & 15 M
Slow Cooker Barbecued Ribs are so easy to make, just dump in the ingredients, set it, and forget it.
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 pounds of baby back o ar St. Louis rib slab
- 1 cup plus more for serving of Barbecue Sauce any kind you prefer homemade or store-bought
- 1 cup of cherry coke, root beer, Dr. Pepper, beer, wine, or bourbon
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Optional; pinch of cayenne pepper or 2 teaspoons hot sauce for heat
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- seasonings: 1 teaspoon each: chili powder, parsley, oregano, and roasted garlic powder
Instructions
- Using a 6 to 7-quart slow cooker or instant pot, add the liquid using to the bottom of an oil spray slow cooker. (or also a plastic slow cooker liner can be used)
- Add the ribs to the cooker with a rub on each side.
- Place around 1 cup of barbecue sauce on top or more if you're using a large rib size than 4 pounds (if they don't fit cut the slab in half and stack them).
- Place on High for 5-6 hours. Low 6 to 8 hours.
- For a crispy char broil in an oven proof baking dish on high until that crispy char is achieved (this is just an option).
- Serve with more barbecue sauce if desired.
Notes
Cooking Methods
- Grilled in Foil Method: First I usually parboil the ribs for 20 minutes. Heat grill to medium-high heat. Prepare the sauce you're going to use and set it aside. Slice the slab in half. Add the dry rub to the ribs. Place half the ribs in a single layer in the center of a large sheet of heavy-duty foil. Bring up long sides of foil. Do this again in another piece of foil for another slab if you have more to cook. Place on the grill for 45 minutes. to 1 hour or until ribs are soft when pierce with a fork. Remove ribs from foil packet; return ribs to grill on both sides basting with your favorite sauce for around 15 more minutes.
- Electric Smoker: Heat the smoker to 225 degrees and use hickory or mesquite chips or another kind you prefer. Place the rub on the ribs and either add the ribs directly to the middle rack or place them on a disposable aluminum pan with holes under them. Smoke the ribs for 3 hours adding wood chips every 35 minutes. Remove the ribs from the racks. Place the ribs on aluminum foil making a pocket, pour a little apple juice, soda as mentioned previously, wine, and beer, ( around 4 tablespoons) into the foil pocket for steaming purposes. This will help tenderize the ribs. Place them back in the smoker for 2 hours, then remove and add your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Oven Baked: use a Reynolds cooking bag when baking. Dry rub the ribs. Add 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 1 tablespoon of liquid smoke and 1/4 cup of wine, beer, soda any flavor you like. Bake at 350 degrees for two hours. Add more sauce of choice after cooking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
396.01Fat (grams)
27.22Sat. Fat (grams)
9.64Carbs (grams)
5.87Fiber (grams)
0.03Net carbs
5.83Sugar (grams)
5.01Protein (grams)
31.83Sodium (milligrams)
322.92Cholesterol (grams)
115.02Pin for later
Recipes To Try We Love
Chicken Wings and Dipping Sauces
Best Fried Pork Chops
Hawaiian Pork Chops
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Claudia that is one great looking roast. I have to try your baking sauce next time I make a pork roast.
ReplyDeleteThis sauce should make these ribs very succulent. It looks amazing dear Bye, have a great week
ReplyDeletelooks fantastic, I will your rib recipe this coming weekend... Lets just pray I don't burn my kitchen down
ReplyDeleteIt looks fantastic!Well done,dear!Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteLove how u incorporate Bourbon into the recipe!
ReplyDeleteDropping by from Luxury Indulgence
Bartender give me another shot of pork. That looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about this is sipping the Jack Daniels over ice while the roast cooks. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYour sauce sounds amazing! I'm going to save that one to try for our "Dads and Grads" party that is coming up. Your roast looks absolutely fabulous. Thank you for sharing your recipe! Have a great week, Candace
ReplyDeletegotta be one of the best looking roast I've seen, just beautiful and the sauce sounds amazing....
ReplyDeleteBoo to rain! But 'yay' for this awesome BBQ alternative :) Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteWow, looks amazingly flavorful and succulent! awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhere were you on Sunday?? The temptation!
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous photos. You have made me hungry for ribs before 9 in the morning.
ReplyDeleteYour marinade sounds wonderful. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Oh yeah!!! Nice! This is what I want this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI haven't made a pork roast with the bones attached in eons! This one looks fabulous, Claudia!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing and sounds delicious! Note to self: must make this soon!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at pork roast; the Jack Daniels put me over the edge.
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous roast.
The spicy and tangy flavors in the sauce must have been divine. You cannot beat ribs that melt off the bone. Goodness, I am craving some!
ReplyDeleteMy mouth is on the floor... oh my goodness... that is just incredible! Thank you for the recipe...can't wait to give this a go!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Gorgeous. Oh my. I am in love.
ReplyDeleteThat is one gorgeous roast! Your picture speaks volumes! I can practically taste it and smell it! Wow! : )
ReplyDeleteClaudia, is that 1/2 teaspoon OR 1/2 cup of bourbon in the marinade? Stacey
ReplyDeleteIs it really bad to want pork roast at 8:30 in the morning? I blame it all on you, Claudia :-)
ReplyDeleteNow that is one good looking roast! Bottoms up on a shot of JD on the side too!
ReplyDeleteBon appetit!
CCR
=:~)
Ah, there's nothing like a little bourbon in the ribs!!! Love this recipe and wish I had seen it before having ribs Sunday. I see ribs in my near future...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delicious! Love Ribs, and this sauce just sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteThere is something about bourbon in a BBQ sauce that just makes it for me. Looks absolutely mouth watering!
ReplyDeletelooks super good - Jack Daniels makes everything better
ReplyDeleteClaudia, those ribs look awesome! Great pictures. I think I need more napkins though.
ReplyDeleteOh this is a good one!!!
ReplyDeleteYour roast is a beautiful sight Claudia! And your marinade is packed with flavor - love the JD in it!
ReplyDeleteGorgeously prepared roast, and that marinade is just beautiful! Rainy days can't stop you my dear :)
ReplyDeleteJust about the most beautiful roast in BBQ sauce, Claudia. BBQ'd ribs rock!!! Bet the flavor was over the top!
ReplyDelete