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Try my Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs instead of spending a fortune on takeout at a barbecue restaurant. My recipe turns out super tender, has a homemade rub, and uses Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce.
We love anything BBQ from our slow cooker in the summer! If you love it too, try my Root Beer Pork, or Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken, great for your family or guests.
Key Takeaways: Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
- Slow cooker baby back ribs are easy to make and incredibly tender with a homemade rub and Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce.
- Key ingredients include baby back pork ribs, Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce, hickory liquid smoke, and a flavorful spice rub.
- You can customize your recipe by switching BBQ sauce, adding vegetables, or boosting smokiness with different liquid smoke flavors.
- Serve with traditional summer sides like coleslaw, baked beans, or mashed potatoes for a perfect meal.
- You can use other rib cuts and double the recipe without altering cooking time, ensuring everyone enjoys these delicious ribs.
Why Make this…
These Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs were the first recipe on my blog from 2013 – I’ve updated the photos a few times, but the recipe has not changed. Between the homemade rub, liquid smoke and my favorite barbecue sauce, this crockpot rib recipe is a winner.
There is no need to worry about overcooking or undercooking. Trust me, once you try these slow cooker ribs, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with any other method.
Featured Comment
“I have made this recipe time & time again and my husband keeps asking for it!! Thank you Magical Slow Cooker enjoy making a lot of your crockpot recipes..
– Lisa
Love your new website!!”
Key Ingredients
1 rack of baby back pork ribs: The star of the show, these pork ribs will become incredibly tender and flavorful after hours of slow cooking.
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce: A classic barbecue sauce that adds the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess to the ribs. We also use this sauce in our Sweet Baby Rays Crockpot Chicken.
Hickory Liquid Smoke: Liquid smoke adds rich, smoky flavor without a smoker – just a few teaspoons go a long way. It’s great for barbecue-style slow-cooker recipes and makes your kitchen smell like smoked meat! A little goes a long way, so don’t add extra.
Rub ingredients: Brown sugar, onion powder, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika – this spice rub creation of mine is a keeper, no need to buy a store-bought rub.
How to Make Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
- Remove the membrane (often called silver skin).
- Make a homemade rub with sweet and savory ingredients.
- Cut the ribs into quarters, then add the rub.
- Add ribs, water, liquid smoke, and BBQ sauce into the slow cooker.
Tips & Variations for Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
You don’t have to stick to my recipe; you can make one or more of my approved tweaks:
Switch Up the BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce to change the flavor profile—try smoky chipotle, honey barbecue, Carolina mustard, or a spicy version for a kick.
Add Vegetables: Toss in sliced sweet onions, bell peppers, or even wedges of cabbage or potatoes to cook alongside the ribs and soak up the flavor.
Boost the Smokiness: Change the liquid smoke flavor—hickory, mesquite, or applewood all bring something different.
Finish Under the Broiler: For crispy edges, broil the ribs for a few minutes after slow cooking, brushing with more sauce. (Do this on a sheet pan, don’t use your slow cooker insert).
Other Ribs Recipes: If you love baby back ribs, try my Slow Cooker Ribs and Sauerkraut, Cajun Style Ribs, or my Peach BBQ Ribs.
What to serve with Baby Back Ribs
Think summer sides when serving ribs, and you will have a perfect meal:
- Keep it simple with classic barbecue sides like Crockpot baked beans, slow cooker macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and potato salad.
- If you want an easy weeknight dinner pairing, simply serve with mashed potatoes or baked potatoes.
- For dessert, make slow cooker blackberry cobbler in another crockpot. Also see all my Summer Crockpot Meals for more dinner and desserts that don’t heat up your kitchen.
What cuts of ribs can be used instead of baby back?
Any style of ribs can be used (beef or pork!). You can use short ribs, spare ribs, or St. Louis ribs. Try my Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs, Slow Cooker Short Ribs, or my Slow Cooker Beef Ribs for other variations.
Can ribs be doubled in the crockpot?
Yes! Use two racks of ribs, double everything except the liquid smoke. The cooking time will remain the same. Keep the lid on during the entire cooking time.
How to Store
Meats like cooked ribs store well! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.
If you tried this Brats and Sauerkraut recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 rack back pork ribs,
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce
- 2 tsp. hickory liquid smoke, (don't add any additional amount)
- more sweet baby ray’s bbq sauce for serving
Rub ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. 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. If you are having a hard time gripping it, use a paper towel to hold it (see video).
- 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 6-7 or high for 4 hours.
- Brush with more warmed barbecue sauce if desired and serve.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I made these exactly as a recipe called for and indeed they fell off the bones but halfway through my second rib I realized there was something really missing and that was salt. I went back and reread the recipe that was no salt in the recipe therefore while the meat indeed fell off the bone it was bland and flavorless.
Jeanne – You can add salt to the ribs to fix them up if you found them bland. I do not add salt to my recipe for pork can be VERY salty. You can adjust it next you make them to add salt if that’s what you prefer.
What are measurements of spices?
They are in the recipe card at the bottom of the photos.
!excellent!
A fantastic recipe. The only thing I did differently is that I put the ribs on a grill. This gave them some nice color. Truly, this is the very best recipe for fall-off-the-bone ribs.
I made these slow cooker ribs and they came out awesome. I’ve made ribs before in my pressure cooker, on the grill and in the oven but these have to be the best I’ve made.
Five star on this rib recipe.
You listed several kinds of alternative meat, would this work with a couple small pork tenderloins?
I don’t see why not!
I made these last night and they were delicious! I had a 3lb. slab of baby back ribs. There were a total of 12 ribs so I cut the slab into thirds with 4 ribs each. I used a 4 quart cooker which was just fine. I put a small wire rack in the bottom of the cooker to keep them up out of the water. I followed the suggestion of many of the other commenters and only used 1/2 cup of water and that was plenty. I went a bit lighter than 2 tsps. of Liquid Smoke but did everything else just as written. I did them for 8 hours on low heat. I had cooked a pot of baked beans in the oven during the last hour of ribs so the oven was still hot. I put the ribs on a small sheet pan and under the broiler for about 8 minutes. Turned it off and let them coast in the hot oven for 15 – 20 before serving. I had to be careful lifting them out of the cooker as they really were falling apart tender. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Can I do two racks in the same slow cooker? I looks like there is room. I have a larger group. Thanks!
Yes! That will work fine.
Thanks!
Great ribs. Easy peezy
Always perfect!!!!
Will the ribs be better if cooked on low than if cooked on high? The four hour method would be much better for my situation but I want the ribs to be very tender and moist. I also plan to finish with a good glaze under the broiler.