Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs – a foolproof recipe for baby back ribs. These are THE BEST ribs I’ve ever eaten! PLUS they are super easy to make! Simply coat baby back ribs in a homemade BBQ rub and slow cook in the crockpot. Finish them with some BBQ sauce under the broiler. Baby back ribs, brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and BBQ sauce. These are better than any restaurant! #slowcooker #crockpot #ribs #bbq

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Are you looking for a fool-proof recipe for your upcoming Memorial Day cookout? Look no further. These ribs are super easy to make in the crockpot and taste absolutely delicious! This was our first time making baby back ribs in the slow cooker and the result was fall-off-the-bone tender ribs. Hands down the best ribs we’ve ever eaten! Better than any restaurant. You must add these to your summer BBQ list!

How to Make Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

These ribs are very easy to make. Start with making a quick homemade BBQ seasoning. Whisk together brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. Season both sides of the ribs with rub. Slice racks in half. Place ribs vertically in a 6-quart slow cooker, with the larger cut bone side down and meat side out. Cook on low for 6-7 hours. Remove ribs from slow cooker and place on a baking sheet. Brush with BBQ sauce and place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, until BBQ sauce is bubbly. Serve with additional BBQ sauce, if desired.

Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• It is very important to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. The membrane does not soften when it’s cooked. It just comes out tough and chewy.
  • To remove the membrane, slide a dinner knife under the membrane and over a bone on the back of the rack of ribs. Lift and loosen the membrane until it tears. Grab the edge of the membrane with a paper towel and pull it off.
• I bought my ribs at Costco, and they come with the membrane already removed.  That is a huge timesaver for me!  
• My favorite store-bought BBQ sauces are G. Hughes, Sweet Baby Rays, Stubbs, and Williamson Brothers.
• Here is our recipe for Homemade BBQ Sauce: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-bbq-sauce/
• Feel free to use a store-bought pre-made BBQ seasoning instead of the homemade seasoning below.
• Can make BBQ rub in advance and store in an air-tight container for weeks.
• Can Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs be made in advance? Yes! You can rub ribs with BBQ seasoning and refrigerate overnight before cooking.
  • You can also cook the ribs in the slow cooker and refrigerate them overnight before adding the sauce. When ready to serve, reheat the ribs covered in the oven and then brush with BBQ sauce and broil.

What to Serve with Crockpot BBQ Ribs

These ribs are going to be the main attraction at our Memorial Day feast this month! These ribs are super easy to make and taste great! They are always tender and full of great flavor. We will be making these all summer long and for tailgating in the fall!

Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with these ribs:

Side Dish

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad – our favorite potato salad recipe! Super simple to make and tastes great! Red potatoes roasted…

Pasta Salad

Sweet Macaroni Salad

Sweet Macaroni Salad – seriously THE BEST macaroni salad EVER!! I took this to a potluck and it was the…

Side Dish

Chick-fil-a Coleslaw

Chick-fil-a Coleslaw – They might have taken it off the menu, but I was able to get the recipe directly…

Mac & Cheese

4-Cheese Mac & Cheese

4-Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe – so easy and it tastes AMAZING! No roux or white sauce! Simply boil the…

Recipe Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Author: Stephanie @ Plain Chicken

Yield: 6 people

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 6 hrs

Total Time 6 hrs 5 mins

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs – a foolproof recipe for baby back ribs. These are THE BEST ribs I've ever eaten! PLUS they are super easy to make! Simply coat baby back ribs in a homemade BBQ rub and slow cook in the crockpot. Finish them with some BBQ sauce under the broiler. Baby back ribs, brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and BBQ sauce. These are better than any restaurant! #slowcooker #crockpot #ribs #bbq

Equipment:

• 6-qt Slow Cooker

Ingredients:

Rub

• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1½ tsp kosher salt
• 1½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder

Ribs

• 3 racks baby back ribs
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions:

• To make rub, whisk together all spices. Set aside.
• Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. Season both sides of the ribs with rub. Slice racks in half. Place ribs vertically in a 6-quart slow cooker, with the larger cut bone side down and meat side out. Cook on low for 6-7 hours.
• Remove ribs from slow cooker and place on baking sheet. Brush with BBQ sauce and place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, until BBQ sauce is bubbly. Serve with additional BBQ sauce, if desired.

Notes:

• It is very important to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. The membrane does not soften when it’s cooked. It just comes out tough and chewy.
  • To remove the membrane, slide a dinner knife under the membrane and over a bone on the back of the rack of ribs. Lift and loosen the membrane until it tears. Grab the edge of the membrane with a paper towel and pull it off.
• I bought my ribs at Costco, and they come with the membrane already removed.  That is a huge timesaver for me!  

• My favorite store-bought BBQ sauces are G. Hughes, Sweet Baby Rays, Stubbs, and Williamson Brothers.
• Here is our recipe for Homemade BBQ Sauce: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-bbq-sauce/
• Feel free to use a store-bought pre-made BBQ seasoning instead of the homemade seasoning below.
• Can make BBQ rub in advance and store in an air-tight container for weeks.
• Can Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs be made in advance? Yes! You can rub ribs with BBQ seasoning and refrigerate overnight before cooking.

• You can also cook the ribs in the slow cooker and refrigerate them overnight before adding the sauce. When ready to serve, reheat the ribs covered in the oven and then brush with BBQ sauce and broil.

Plain Chicken

https://www.plainchicken.com/slow-cooker-baby-back-ribs/

All images and text © Plain Chicken, Inc.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @plainchicken or tag #plainchicken!

Steph