Looking for a fun summer dinner? Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Ribs take no time to add to the slow cooker and make for a great easy dinner.
If you haven’t done ribs in the crock pot, you need to put it on your dinner menu ASAP. I’ve done ribs with other cooking methods but for me, the cooking them in the crock pot is not only is the easiest but it also always cooks the ribs to perfection. This is one of those dump and go recipes with little prep!
How to cook ribs in the slow cooker:
- Low and Slow. The low setting is the best to ensure tender ribs
- Remove sinew from the back of ribs BEFORE cooking
- Keep the lid on the entire cooking time
- Add plenty of liquid (this recipe uses Dr. Pepper as the liquid)
You will need:
- Pork Baby Back Ribs, these are packed raw and usually weigh somewhere between 3-4 pounds.
- Dr. Pepper
- Barbecue sauce
- Hickory liquid smoke, this makes the ribs taste like they’ve been in the smoker all day
- Black pepper
- Garlic Powder
Dr. Pepper adds sweetness to the ribs, notice I did not add brown sugar to the recipe, I think that would have been too much sugar.
Time to cook!
The hardest (and grossest) thing about this recipe is removing the sinew from the back of the ribs. It’s a thin piece of tissue that you would think would break down with cooking, but it doesn’t all the way and is not good eats. This piece of tissue is easily removed by taking a knife and loosening an edge of it, then grab hold of that edge and rip it off, if you are lucky it will come off in one piece.
I made ribs for my entire extended family years ago in the oven, not only did I not cook them long enough to get tender, I left that piece on the back of the ribs. I’m really surprised my family let me cook at all for family functions after that.
Add the ribs to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the garlic powder and black pepper. Pour over the barbecue sauce, Dr. Pepper and liquid smoke.
Cook on LOW for 8 hours, do not open the lid while these cook. They will turn out moist and tender if you leave them be.
Serve these ribs with your favorite sides. My go to is mashed potatoes and a green salad, what is yours? Enjoy!
Equipment
- Slow Cooker Size: 5-quart or larger
Ingredients
- 4 lbs. rack baby back pork ribs (1 rack is usually about 3-4 pounds, any size that will fit in the slow cooker will work fine.
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. hickory liquid smoke
- 1 cup barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays)
- 12 oz. can Dr. Pepper
Instructions
- Remove the sinew from the ribs (it’s the white slimey thing on the rounded back part of the ribs.) I do this by lifting a edge of it up with a knife, then grabbing it with 2 fingers. If your lucky the entire things will come off in one pull.
- Cut the ribs in to 4 even sections, or in half. Doesn’t matter how you slice it.
- Add to the slow cooker
- Sprinkle over the pepper, garlic powder and add the liquid smoke.
- Drizzle over the barbecue sauce.
- Pour the Dr. Pepper in.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve with additional barbecue sauce if desired
Do the ribs have to completely covered with liquid? The video it looks like they are not and want to make sure. Look forward trying this recipe.
It will be fine not completely covered. The slow cooker keeps in the moisture.
Can I make this in a roaster so that I can make a larger amount? My crockpot wouldn’t be big enough.
If you have experience cooking in a roaster, I don’t see why not!
Can you use frozen ribs?
If you can get them to fit, I don’t see why not. Keep the lid on the entire cook time.
Have you ever cooked more than 1 rack of ribs? Or can you?
I have not, but it would work fine! Same cooking time.
Can you use boneless country style ribs instead?
Yes! That will work fine.
I’ve always wondered, with this or any raw meat you put into a slow cooker, question: Is it ok to eat the things cooked with the raw meat? Say, sauce, potatoes, carrots, etc.?? Just can’t seem to get why those things are not filled with the Ewwww from raw meat!? HELP, IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU.
Yes, it’s fine. Many stove-top and oven recipes do the same. They all get hot enough to not be raw.
LOOK’S GREAT CAN’T WAIT TO TRY IT
Can you use regular pork ribs instead of baby back ribs
Yes, any will work fine.
Love this recipe. Tried it a few months ago and it was fantastic! This is one of those meals where your guest/family will say WOW!
Love this recipe.
Thank you so much. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Can I layer the ribs or can it on,y be 1 layer?
You can layer! Works fine.
Do you have to use liquid smoke, I was out and also I had beef ribs would that be ok?
You can leave out the liquid smoke, no problem. I LOVE beef ribs and think this recipe will be great with them.
Because I’m a diabetic can I use diet Dr pepper instead
Yes, I’ve had other use diet sodas and they work fine as long as your used to the flavor.