These ribs are unbelievably tender. We’ve had bad ribs that you have to chew of the bone and that are unfavorably tough. These are anything but. The meat falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth!
Slow Cooker Ribs with a Homemade BBQ Sauce
Another thing I really love about this recipe is this homemade bbq sauce. It’s flavored just how I like. It’s lightly sweet and tangy, it’s rich and has good depth, and it’s slightly smokey with a little kick. The other great thing is that there will be extra sauce so you can grill chicken the next day and slather it with lots of this bbq sauce. When in a rush you can use some of your favorite bottled barbecue sauce but I highly highly recommend trying this homemade sauce when you’ve got the time. It’s so easy to throw together it’s just a bit of measuring and simmering.
Slow Cooker Ribs Ingredients
For the slow cooker bbq ribs, you’ll need:
Pork baby back ribs Spices (ancho chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, etc.)
And for the homemade barbecue sauce, you’ll need:
Ketchup Apple cider vinegar Molasses Brown sugar Steak sauce Worcestershire sauce Yellow mustard Salt and pepper Natural liquid hickory smoke flavor Cocoa powder Chipotle chili powder or cayenne pepper
How to Cook Ribs in a Slow Cooker
First you’ll remove that thin whitish, somewhat translucent membrane from the back of the ribs. Here’s a video if you’ve never done it. Then you’ll rinse and dry the ribs and rub a spice rub over them. After that you’ll pour a little water into the slow cooker and add the ribs. If the bones aren’t too wide to wrap the ribs around the inside of the slow cooker and still be able to cover with a lid then do that, otherwise cut the in half and layer one over the other as I had to here. Cover and cook until very tender about 6 1/2 – 7 hours. Meanwhile prepare the sauce by mixing bbq sauce ingredients in a saucepan and simmering 15 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly (chill if ribs won’t be done for a few hours). Remove ribs from slow cooker once cooked, carefully transfer to a wire rack over a rimmed sheet (covered with foil if you hate clean up). Broil on each side about 2 – 3 minutes to slightly caramelize and brown the sauce, serve warm!
How to Make Ribs Tender to Your Liking
You can adjust the cooking time here based on how tender you like ribs. I like them fall off the bone tender so I cook about 6 1/2 to 7 hours, but if you want the meat to stick the the bones it will probably be more like 5 hours. And those times are just an estimation because every slow cooker cooks a little differently, especially older models. After you’ve tried the first batch then you’ll know exactly what time works perfect for you and just jot that down. I make these slow cooker pork ribs usually once a month, and once you try them you’ll know why. Everyone in my family loves them and requests that I make them. I don’t know if meat gets any more tender than this!
Can I Cook These Ribs on High for a Shorter Amount of Time?
Having not tried it myself, I can’t say for sure. But I prefer to cook ribs low and slow to make them super tender. If you have time, cook them on low as the recipe instructs for best results.
Can I Freeze Leftover Barbecue Sauce?
Yes, you should be able to freeze the leftover homemade barbecue sauce (you’ll have about a cup left over after making the slow cooker ribs). This barbecue sauce is super versatile and can be used on any meat!
What to Serve with Ribs
Nothing beats ribs at a summer potluck or barbecue. If you’re looking for slow cooker rib side dishes, here are a few of my personal favorites:
Baked potatoes (loaded of course!) Coleslaw (mix-ins optional) Grilled corn on the cob (or boiled) Macaroni Salad Honey Lime Fruit Salad Creamy Potato Salad
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Ribs
Use baby back ribs, they’ll fit in the slow cooker much better. They’re more tender than spareribs too. Adjust heat level. Add more or less chipotle chili powder to the barbecue sauce to suit your tastes. It’s spicy stuff, so use your best judgment. Don’t leave out the hickory smoke flavor. You can find the liquid hickory smoke flavor in the barbecue section of your local grocery store. It mimics that classic smoked flavor. Cook low and slow. High heat cooking won’t work here. Transfer the slow cooker pork ribs to a wire rack using tongs; they’re very tender so you’ll need to be careful!
More Barbecue Recipes You’ll Love:
Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch Honey Chipotle BBQ Chicken Skewers Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
