Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs are the best way to make ribs if you don’t like to grill. The ribs turn out fall off the bone tender.
Welcome to the very first recipe on the Magical Slow Cooker. This recipe has not changed over the years but my photography skills have. Here is what my first photo on the blog looked like if you are curious.
How to make Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs:
This recipe has a homemade rub for the ribs, it’s very simple
Ingredients:
- One rack of pork baby back ribs
- Sweet baby rays barbecue sauce
- Water
- Hickory liquid smoke
Rub ingredients:
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Brown Sugar
- (add the liquid smoke to the rub or to the water in the slow cooker)
Directions:
- Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs. I do this by lifting an edge in the middle, then ripping off in one piece.
- Cut the ribs into 4 even sections.
- In a small bowl combine the rub ingredients. (Or apply the pulled pork seasoning packet)
- Rub the rub mixture onto the ribs evenly. Add the ribs to the slow cooker. Spread over the barbecue sauce on the ribs and pour the water and liquid smoke around the ribs
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
What is liquid smoke and why should I use it?
- Liquid smoke can be used in place of cooking with wood smoke in recipes and will add plenty of smoke flavor. I find liquid smoke near the hot sauces at the store.
- Use sparingly, I never use more than a few teaspoons, even in my large pulled pork recipes.
- I use liquid smoke in many of my barbecue inspired recipes in the slow cooker. Makes the house smell like smoked meat while cooking!
Can I use a different cut of meat in this recipe?
Yes! Choose one of these cuts of meat in place of the baby back ribs:
- Pork spare ribs
- Country style pork ribs
- Beef back or spare ribs
- Beef shortribs
What to serve with baby back ribs:
I like to serve similar sides as if I was barbecuing. Here are my top choices, choice one or more to go with your ribs:
- Crack Potatoes
- Baked potatoes
- Jalapeno cheese corn or Corn on the Cob
- Green salad
- Cornbread
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 246kcal
Equipment
- Slow Cooker – 5 quart or larger
Ingredients
- 1 rack back pork ribs
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce
- 2 teaspoons hickory liquid smoke
- more sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce for serving
Rub ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs, I do this by lifting an edge of the middle of the ribs and tearing off in one piece.
- Cut the ribs into 4 sections.
- In a small bowl prepare the rub; combine the brown sugar, onion powder, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Put the rub onto ribs with hands.
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker. Pour the water and liquid smoke in around the ribs. (note- you can add the liquid smoke into the rub instead of adding it in the water if desired). Pour over the barbecue sauce on top of the ribs.
- Cook on low for 8 or high for 4 hours.
- Brush with more warmed barbecue sauce if desired and serve.
Video
Notes
Can I use a flavored barbecue sauce?
Yes! Use your favorite such as honey or chipotle barbecue sauce.Can I use a different cut of meat?
Yes, try one of these cuts if you can’t find pork baby back ribs.- Pork spare ribs
- Country style pork ribs
- Beef back or spare ribs
- Beef shortribs
Nutrition
Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 438mg | Potassium: 258mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 220IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @themagicalslowcooker or tag #themagicalslowcooker!
First published: 01/08/2013
Updated: 07/06/2015
This recipe is delicious! I made it for a family get together, and everyone raved about it!
I made these today. All’s I can say is OMG! Better than Texas Road House. I followed this recipe to a T and they came out perfect. Will def def be making this again
That is so great to hear! I’ve been meaning to make a video of this, I think more people should try them, sooo good!
i AM WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL A REAL CAJUN- IM FROM “BAYOU COUNTRY” THE OUTER MARSHES AND SWAMPS OF LOUISIANA IN A TOWN CALLED THIBODAUX– YOU COULD SAY I WAS RAISED ON GUMBO IN MY BABY BOTTLE!! AND ALTHOUGH THIS RECIPE IS GOOD– TRY IT THIS WAY- WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR RUB FOR THE RIBS, ADD 1/4 TEASPOON OF GROUND CAYENNE PEPPER AND DOUBLE EVERY ONE OF THE SPICES FOR THE RUB– ALSO USED SMOKED paprika INSTEAD OF PLAIN PAPRIKA–
!
Could you do this with beef ribs as well?
Sidney, Yes, I think the beef ribs would turn out good!
The tissue you are talking about, the butcher call it Silver skin. Just ask him to remove it, he will then loosen it at one end with a knife and then grab with one hand whilst holding the rib with the other, and swiftly pull it off, easy as that.
Johan- I was wondering what that was called, that’s a great idea to have the butcher remove it!
My butcher calls the ribs I buy “Doc Ribs”. He has doctored the ribs by removing that tough back membrane. Makes a huge difference regarding the finished product. The ribs cook up tender and fall off the bone!
I’m trying your recipe today. It sounds wonderful. Thanks!
Would the slow cooker time change when cooking boneless country style ribs?
If I was doing boneless country style ribs, I would cook them for only 8 hours on low.
Thanks, I will let you know how they turn out!
will this recipe change if i’m cooking 2 racks of ribs in the same slow cooker?
Just double all the other ingredients as well, I’ve done this before, and it still turned out great!
If I double the recipe do I need to increase the cooking time?
What a easy recipe to follow…I have placed the baby back ribs in the slow cooker and will be having them for supper tonight with mashed potatoes and a variety of vegetables from the garden…will keep you posted…
I can’t wait to hear how the ribs turned out for you Mauro!
I made these yesterday for my boyfriend and I to eat while watching football and enjoying beer. Ribs and beer! They turned out great. I let the ribs marinade for well over 12 hours in the fridge and cooked for 9 hours on low. I used a whole rack of ribs so I had to cut it and make 2 layers. The meat was falling off the bone… or were the bones falling off the meat? I’m not sure. Either way it was amazing. Boyfriend definitely said it’s a “make again”. I also couldn’t get the membrane off so i just slit it between each bone and honestly I didn’t notice anything odd about the finished product. Thank you so much for the recipe!
I’m so glad you liked these ribs, this is still one of my fave slow cooker recipes!
I would love to try this. Would it be alright to cook on high for 4 hours instead of low for 8 ? I’m not well versed in Crock Pot cooking. THANKS!
4 to 6 hours on high would work! 🙂
Did the rub tonight so im ready for the slow cook tomorrow. Ill respond with my 2 cents after the meal.
Cheers!
did the baby back ribs….AWESOME!
Trying with beef short ribs tonight
We love ribs and making them in the slower cooker is wonderful. I always use a rub on mine and Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce. Coming over from Monday Mixer.
I LOVE ribs but have never made them. What a great idea to make them in the slow cooker – they look so easy and I bet they are fall apart tender. You rub sounds absolutely perfect!
I didn’t have them in for an hour even and I already had the apartment upstairs asking for some
This is super easy and came out as tender as always when using the crock pot.since I started mine out early in am, setting was on warm for 4 hours and then turned up to low to finish.I mixed the 1/4 cup water and the liquid smoke,used about 1teaspoon,to the bottom of the crock after the ribs were inside the crock pot. Minus the grill marks,you could not tell the difference. Excellent.
How many pounds of ribs? I wish when I come across recipes for slow cooker ribs, one specifies the pound(s). Some recipes do. A slab could be any size.
Thanks!
About 3 lbs. Less or more will work fine. Can’t mess this recipe up.
When do you add the bbq sauce? At the start of cooking? Step 4? Thank you!
Step 4! Thank you for letting me know.
Awesome is the only word that I can use! Thanks Sarah
Want to make these for Xmas dinner. Is it ok to make early, freeze and reheat Xmas day?
I’m not fond of liquid smoke. What can I use in place of it?
You can leave it out if you don’t like it. Use a flavored barbecue sauce if you want a lift of flavor.