Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs
If you love tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs but don’t want to babysit the grill or smoker all day, this Slow Cooker Pork Ribs recipe is about to become your new favorite. With a flavorful rub, your favorite BBQ sauce, and a few hours in the crockpot, you’ll have juicy, saucy ribs that taste like a backyard BBQ — no grill required!
Serve with The Ultimate Easy BBQ Baked Beans, Coleslaw, and Cornbread for the most delicious meal.
Why You’ll Love These Slow Cooker Ribs
These ribs are everything you want in a comfort meal — sticky, saucy, smoky, and savory — all with minimal effort. The slow cooker keeps the ribs incredibly tender, while a quick broil or grill at the end gives them that caramelized BBQ finish.
Here’s why you’ll be obsessed:
✅ Hands-off cooking: Let the slow cooker do the work.
✅ Tender and juicy: The low-and-slow method guarantees fall-apart ribs every time.
✅ Flavor-packed: A double layer of seasoning (salt & pepper + BBQ rub) makes every bite pop.
✅ Customizable: Use your favorite BBQ sauce for a flavor that’s all your own.
I love ribs, and have made them all the ways, baked, smoked, instant pot, etc, and the slow cooker is my favorite way.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2–3 racks of pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs are your best option)
- 2 tablespoons salt and pepper mix (I used Kinders)
- 3 tablespoons BBQ rub seasoning mix (store-bought or homemade, you could use the spice rub for this Baby Back Ribs recipe)
- 1–2 cups BBQ sauce, your favorite brand or homemade (I used Sweet Baby Rays)
How to Make Slow Cooker Pork Ribs
- Prep the ribs:
Start by removing the silver skin from the back of each rack of ribs, use a paper towel to get leverage to pull that membrane off. - Season generously:
Pat the ribs dry with paper towels, and generously season both sides of the ribs with the salt and pepper mix and the BBQ rub. - Layer in the slow cooker:
Cut the racks in half so they fit in the slow cooker better, then lay them in, and layer them with BBQ sauce between each layer. - Cook low and slow:
Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until ribs are tender and easily pull apart with a fork. The bones should fall right out. - Finish with sauce:
Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with more BBQ sauce and broil for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes and isn’t burnt. - Serve and enjoy:
Slice and serve with extra BBQ sauce.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Ribs
1. Remove the Silver Skin (Here’s Why and How):
That silvery membrane on the back of the ribs? It’s tough, chewy, and keeps seasonings from soaking in. Removing it ensures your ribs are tender and flavorful all the way through.
How to remove it:
- Slide a butter knife under one edge of the membrane (usually near a bone).
- Lift it just enough to grab with a paper towel for grip.
- Pull it off in one piece if possible — it should peel away easily.
2. Layer flavor:
Start with salt and pepper for a base, then add your BBQ rub. This builds depth and enhances the pork’s natural flavor.
3. Sauce timing:
Add more BBQ sauce at the end of cooking or when broiling so it doesn’t burn or become watery in the slow cooker.
4. Finish under the broiler or on the grill:
A few minutes under high heat gives that caramelized, sticky BBQ finish that makes these ribs irresistible.
How to Serve Them
These ribs are perfect for game day, summer BBQs, or cozy weekend dinners. Serve them with:
- Creamy mac and cheese
- Corn Salad or Corn on the Cob
- Homemade potato salad
- A fresh green salad for balance
And don’t forget the napkins — these ribs are finger-lickin’ good!
These Slow Cooker Pork Ribs bring all the smoky, saucy goodness of classic BBQ ribs with none of the fuss. Just a few simple ingredients, your favorite BBQ sauce, and a slow cooker are all you need for a crowd-pleasing dinner that tastes like it came straight off the grill.
So go ahead, set it, forget it, and get ready to impress everyone at the table.
Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 2-3 racks pork ribs baby back or spare ribs
- 2 tablespoons salt and pepper mix
- 3 tablespoons BBQ rub seasoning mix store-bought or homemade mix
- 1-2 cups BBQ sauce your favorite brand or homemade
Instructions
Prep the ribs:
- Start by removing the silver skin from the back of each rack of ribs, use a paper towel to get leverage to pull that membrane off.
Season generously:
- Pat the ribs dry with paper towels, and generously season both sides of the ribs with the salt and pepper mix and the BBQ rub.
Layer in the slow cooker:
- Cut the racks in half so they fit in the slow cooker better, then lay them in, and layer them with BBQ sauce between each layer.
Cook low and slow:
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until ribs are tender and easily pull apart with a fork. The bones should fall right out.
Finish with sauce:
- Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with more BBQ sauce and broil for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce caramelizes and isn’t burnt.
Serve and enjoy:
- Slice and serve with extra BBQ sauce.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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