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!
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.
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.