Tender Crockpot BBQ Ribs Recipe
A simple and forgiving slow cooker recipe for tender, fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs with a smoky, sweet flavor and minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 7 hours 10 minutes (low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 to 3 pounds baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Remove the silver skin membrane from the back of the ribs using a paper towel to grip and pull it off gently.
- In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to make the dry rub.
- Rub the dry seasoning mix evenly all over both sides of the ribs and let rest for about 5 minutes.
- Coil the ribs into the crockpot, meat side up if possible. Pour water and apple cider vinegar into the bottom of the crockpot to create steam.
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the meat is tender but not completely falling off the bone.
- Carefully transfer ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush a generous layer of BBQ sauce over both sides.
- Broil ribs for 3-5 minutes until the sauce bubbles and darkens slightly, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Let ribs rest for a few minutes before slicing between the bones and serving.
Notes
Remove the membrane for tender ribs. Keep the lid closed during cooking to retain steam. Broiling after slow cooking caramelizes the BBQ sauce for a sticky glaze. Avoid overcrowding the crockpot for even cooking. Can substitute honey for brown sugar or use sugar-free BBQ sauce for low sugar. For gluten-free, ensure BBQ sauce and spices are gluten-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 350400
- Fat: 25
- Carbohydrates: 1015
- Protein: 30
Keywords: crockpot ribs, BBQ ribs, slow cooker ribs, tender ribs, easy ribs recipe, fall off the bone ribs, barbecue, slow cooking