Fall-Off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe

Crock Pot Ribs Ingredients
How to Make Crock Pot Ribs
Crock Pot Ribs
Recipe FAQ
Complete The Meal

We love cooking meat in the slow cooker because it makes dinner simple and hands-off. These crock pot ribs are among our favorites, alongside recipes like Kalua pork, meatballs, and teriyaki chicken.

These are truly some of the best crock pot ribs: easy, reliable, and delicious. The meat cooks until tender and falls off the bone every time.

Ribs are great year-round but especially in summer when you don’t want to fire up the grill or heat the house with the oven. Cleanup is also easy when you use the slow cooker.

Serve the finished ribs with your favorite sides — our potato salad is a classic accompaniment.

Why you’ll love it:

Set it and forget it. This crock pot recipe is mostly hands-off.
Fall-off-the-bone. The slow cooking yields tender, flavorful ribs.
Feeds a crowd. Works well for small families or large gatherings.

Crock Pot Ribs Ingredients

3 pounds baby back pork ribs – also called pork loin back ribs
2 cups barbecue sauce – use your favorite brand or a homemade sauce
¼ cup brown sugar – light or dark
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon salt

Ribs covered in sauce, cooking in the slow cooker.

How to Make Crock Pot Ribs

Prep. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray or use a liner for easy cleanup. Cut the rack of ribs in half to fit the crock if needed.
Sauce. In a small bowl combine the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and salt. Pour the sauce over the ribs, coating them well.
Cook & Serve. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for about 4 hours. For extra sauce, brush additional barbecue sauce over the ribs before serving.

Kristyn’s Recipe Tips

For very tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, cook on low for about 6 hours; on high they’ll be done in 3–4 hours.
Spare ribs or St. Louis-style ribs work too, but they may need a larger slow cooker and closer to 8 hours.
Add ½–1 teaspoon liquid smoke for a smoky flavor on a 3–4 pound rack.
Keep extra BBQ sauce handy if you like your ribs extra saucy.
You’ll need at least a 6-quart slow cooker; you can cut or curve the rack to fit.

Slow cooker ribs after being cooked in the slow cooker.

5 from 19 votes

Crock Pot Ribs

By: Kristyn Merkley

Juicy BBQ crock pot ribs that fall off the bone with minimal effort. Great for families or feeding a crowd.

Servings: 8

Prep: 5

Cook: 4

Total: 4 5

Ingredients

3 pounds baby back pork ribs
2 cups barbecue sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Spray the crock with cooking spray or line it for easy cleanup. Cut the rack into pieces if necessary to fit.
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, oregano, Worcestershire, chili powder, and salt. Combine with the barbecue sauce and pour over the ribs.
Cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for about 4 hours. Spoon extra barbecue sauce over the ribs before serving.

Notes

Recipe Tips.

For fall-off-the-bone ribs cook on low for 6–8 hours.
Spare or St. Louis-style ribs will take longer and may require a 7–8 quart slow cooker.
Add ½–1 teaspoon liquid smoke for a smoky flavor on a 3–4 pound rack.

Store leftovers: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 3–4 months.

Reheat: Microwave or preheat the oven to 250°F. Wrap ribs in foil with extra BBQ sauce, place on a baking pan and heat 20–30 minutes. Open the foil and broil about 3 minutes to finish.

Nutrition

Calories: 394kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 18g

Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guide.

Recipe FAQ

How to store?

Place cooked leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 4 days, or freeze for 3–4 months.

How to reheat?

Reheat in the microwave or warm in a 250°F oven. Wrap ribs in foil with extra BBQ sauce, heat 20–30 minutes, then open the foil and broil about 3 minutes to finish.