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    Home » Recipes

    Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe

    July 27, 2018 by Patti Estep Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe
    Dry rub spareribs stacked on top of each other.
    plate of bbq ribs

    This recipe for slow cooker ribs is a breeze to make, using a homemade tasty dry rub, that's sure to please everyone at the table. Just a little time in the morning and you have tender fall-off-the-bone ribs come dinner.

    Slow cooker ribs with homemade dry rub

    One of the easiest dishes I like to make at home is slow cooker ribs. I used to think this was only something you could get at a restaurant. However, once I tried making them at home in a slow cooker, I was amazed at how easy it was to make this delicious dish.

    Baby back spare ribs with homemade dry rub

    Just a few minutes of time in the morning, and you have a delicious meal waiting for you at dinner time. 

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    All you have to do is rinse off the ribs and cut them into slabs to fit the slow cooker. In this example, I'm using baby back ribs, but you can use larger ribs if that's what you prefer or can find in the store.

    Then liberally coat them with a nice dry rub. I use my own homemade BBQ rub, but you can usually find one in the grocery store or purchase a dry rub online.

    Spare ribs in the slow cooker

    How to Cook Ribs in a Slow Cooker

    Step 1. Place the rib slabs standing on end in the slow cooker as shown above. 

    Step 2. Cook on low heat for 6 - 8 hours. 

    There will be a large amount of grease in the bottom, which is why I like to stand the ribs up in the pot.

    Step 3. Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place on a serving try.

    Step 4. Serve immediately or consider brushing or drizzling barbecue sauce on top of the cooked ribs and placing them under the broiler for a few minutes.

    Platter of slow cooker ribs with homemade dry rub seasoning

    Slow Cooker Ribs FAQs

    • If you only have a few hours to cook them, you can try cooking on high heat.
    • You'll know that they are perfectly done when they're falling off the bone.
    • Serve immediately, or place them on a cookie sheet drizzled with barbecue sauce. Place the cookie sheet under the broiler for 5 minutes for added barbecue flavor.
    • Skip the sauce and you have a great low-carb dinner that's so satisfying and delicious.

    Homemade BBQ Sauce 

    When I was a kid we would sometimes whip up a quick homemade barbecue sauce with ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Start with a cup of ketchup in a saucepan and then add in some brown sugar, about 1/4 cup.

    Next, add a teaspoon of any mustard you have on hand along with about 1 teaspoon or two of Worcestershire sauce. From there you can play around adding more sweetness or more ketchup to suit your taste. Add water to thin. Finally, if you like it spicy add in some cayenne powder or hot sauce.

    Barbecued slow cooker ribs

    You don't have to go out to a restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal like this. Make your own slow cooker ribs at home and your family will love it.

    Patti signature

    More Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Busy Day Pot Roast
    • Chicken Burrito Bowls
    • Jerk Chicken
    • Italian Beef
    • Italian Meatball Stuffed Peppers
    Platter of slow cooker ribs with homemade dry rub seasoning

    Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe

    This slow cooker barbecue ribs recipe is super simple and gives you a nice serving of dry rub spareribs that fall off the bone.
    4.34 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 6 hours hrs
    Additional Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course Dinner Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 500 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 pounds approx 2 slabs of baby back ribs
    • 1/2 - 1 cup of bbq dry rub seasoning
    • bottled barbecue sauce optional

    Instructions
     

    • Clean the ribs and dry thoroughly.
    • Sprinkle dry rub bbq seasoning on both sides of the slabs.
    • Place the ribs standing up in a slow cooker. Cut to fit.
    • Cook on low for 4 - 6 hours or until the meat pulls easily off the bones.
    • Remove ribs from the slow cooker and place on a cookie sheet.
    • Drizzle or brush on barbecue sauce and place the ribs under the broiler for a few minutes.

    Notes

    You can skip adding the bbq sauce step at the end and eat the ribs as is.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 500kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 42gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 190mgSugar: 4g

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

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