Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

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ByCorey Created Updated

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Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs Recipe from Family Fresh MealsThis recipe goes out to my rib-loving father 🙂 The one other time I made ribs, it was such a mess, and they really didn’t turn out all that great.
Since I have been on my crockpot kick lately, I thought, what better thing to cook in the slow cooker than ribs! No muss, no fuss, and by the end of the day you have finger-licking barbecue ribs to feast on.

There were a ton of recipes out there for ribs in the crockpot, but there was either too much heat, too much ketchup and not enough sweet. So I got to work at a good combo.

The big key to this recipe is the quick roasting in the oven. This removes the fat and liquid that would otherwise cause soupy results in the crockpot. I know it seems like an extra step, but it takes no time, and is worth it!Crockpot Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs - ingredients: ribs, bbq sauce, hot sauce, seasonings, brown sugar

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

  • pork baby back ribs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • bottle of bbq sauce
  • hot sauce
  • ketchup
  • brown sugar
  • vinegar
  • dried oregano
  • Worcestershire sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Season ribs with salt and pepper. Place in a shallow baking pan. Brown in oven 15 minutes. Turn over, and brown another 15 minutes; drain fat.
  2. In a bowl, mix together the bbq sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, hot sauce, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.Ribs on baking sheet and medium mixing bowl with sauce
  3. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour sauce over ribs. Turn to coat.Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs - ribs placed in crockpot covered with sauce
  4. Set crockpot on LOW for 6-7 hours. I would recommend 7 hours. Stir once during cooking time so ribs don’t stick to sides and burn.
  5. Ooooooooh. This IS finger-licking good!Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs Recipe from Family Fresh MealsEnjoying these crockpot bbq ribs

 

4.83 from 28 votes
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Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Are you looking for BBQ Ribs that cook mess FREE? Your search ends HERE! These Crockpot Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are the best way to cook delicious ribs.
4
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds pork baby back ribs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 18oz bottle of bbq sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays)
  • 1-4 tsp hot sauce depending on how spicy you like it. Since the girls were eating this, I only did 1 tsp
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Season ribs with salt and pepper. Place in a shallow baking pan. Brown in oven 15 minutes. Turn over, and brown another 15 minutes; drain fat.
  • In a bowl, mix together the bbq sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, hot sauce, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.
  • Place ribs in slow cooker.
  • Pour sauce over ribs.
  • Turn to coat.
  • Set crockpot on LOW for 6-7 hours. Stir once during cooking time so ribs don't stick to sides and burn.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1784mg | Potassium: 801mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 67g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 2.4mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

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TOOLS USED FOR THIS SLOW COOKER BBQ RIBS
Slow Cooker: Here is one of my favorite crockpots!

Slow Cooker Liners: Do you love easy clean-up jobs? Give these liners a try.

Ready for some more easy crockpot recipes?

Post updated March 31, 2020

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4.83 from 28 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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61 Comments

  1. I’m wondering if anyone has tried or knows if you could make these ribs (through the oven step and mixing the sauce) and put in the freezer to pull out, thaw and put right into the crockpot? I’m trying to get some freezer crockpot meals together and these look so tasty! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Natalie Scott says:

    Hello, I am planning on making this tomorrow but my crock pot isn’t big enough to fit a rack of ribs so I got boneless. (plus I’m pregnant and the thought of taking meat off the bone is just NOT working for me haha) I’m wondering if anyone has tried this with boneless ribs? Is there any adjustment needed for the timing or anything when you cook it that way? Also I see some people recommending putting an onion at the bottom to prevent sticking, has anyone had an issue with that or does the sauce on the bottom take care of it? Thanks inadvance

    Reply
    1. Debbie S. says:

      1 star
      I made these last night and cooked them for the recommended 7 hours. I was able to pull the bones right out. I followed the directions exactly. My husband liked them, but I thought it was gross. I don’t like my ribs to fall off the bone. I won’t make this again. If I want ribs, I will do the work and smoke/BBQ them. If I wanted a pulled pork consistency, I would have bought a loin or shoulder, cooked it in root beer and added BBQ sauce to taste. These ribs ended up way too saucy/sweet for me to enjoy.

    2. Sorry to hear that you didn’t like them, but I’m glad your hubby did! I must say, you are the first person I have heard say that they didn’t like their ribs to be so tender that they fall off the bone. I thought that’s what most people do like. 🙂

    3. 5 stars
      Debbie, I was hoping that your one-star review was sarcastic since you complained how gross your “fall off the bone” ribs turned out. If the meat “falls off the bone”, that means that your ribs turned out tender and perfect, as evidenced by your husband liking them. If you think that’s gross…well, I don’t know what to tell you.

      Corey, the only change I made was to cook the ribs in a slow cooker for 4 hours on HIGH. Mine still turned out delicious and the meat was so tender and juicy that it fell off the bone! I would definitely make them again!

    4. SO glad you loved them Andrew 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I made these a over a week ago and they were SO good. My daughter was eating them which absolutely means something!! Definitely gonna try more of your crock pot recipes, but until then were planning on doing these again 🙂 thanks so much!!

    Reply

    1. 5 stars
      And actually, i always end up using more than two pounds of ribs.. and the amount of sauce you say works seems to cover all of them. I just put a bit over 6 pounds i believe in and they covered quite well with the sauce amounts you recommend 🙂

    2. Wondeful Brit! I’m so happy you loved them 🙂

  4. When is the best time to stir them? I usually use the crockpot cooking bags to make clean up easier, would using the bag for this recipe work ok? Can you use as many ribs as you want & fill up the crock pit by cutting them in half? Or if you have to many will it not cook thoroughly? I really want to try this.

    Reply

    1. Dana, I have never used the bags for this recipe so I cannot say.

  5. What type vinegar? Apple cider? White?

    Reply

    1. I used white vinegar for this recipe 🙂