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 crock pot is not only is the easiest, it also always cooks the ribs to perfection.
This is one of those dump and go recipes. The hardest (and grossest) thing about this recipe is removing the sinew form 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.
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The Dr. Pepper adds sweetness to the ribs, notice I did not add brown sugar to the recipe, I think that would have been way to much sugar.
Cooked to perfection!
Here is my YouTube video of this recipe. You can follow me on YouTube, here.
Have a great week! I will be posting a new recipe for you next week, stay tuned.
- 1 rack baby back pork ribs
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. hickory liquid smoke
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 (12-oz.) can Dr. Pepper
- More barbecue sauce for serving
- 5-quarts or larger
- 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
I used my touch screen 6.5-quart Crock-Pot® for this recipe. Though any slow cooker 5-quart or larger will work fine.
You may also like: Slow Cooker One Pot Chicken Burrito Filling
Hi Sarah
We tried the Slow Cooker Louisiana ribs of yours last week. Also 8 hours. The basting was perfect, everything was fine, but the ribs. They were fairly tough still, we had to do another 4 hours on high the next day. The ribs you use – I am sure they are pre-cooked?
I am contemplating in cooking them for 4 hours in brine on high, then cooling and drying them, then do the spice overnight, and then continue your recipe.
Thank you for all the awesome recipes, you’re the reason I bought a slow cooker, I’ve tried so many recipes already.
Did you leave the slow cooker lid on the entire time? Or your slow cooker runs low. I use fresh raw ribs. I’m sorry that that rib recipe didn’t work for you, I hope you figure out how to make it work for your slow cooker.
I cook ribs in my slow cooker at least 3 times a month. My ribs just fall apart after 6-7 hours. I also start with raw cold ribs. Perhaps there is something wrong with your crock pot. Maybe you could borrow someone else’s crockpot to see if you need a new one. Good luck!
How long would you cook a boston butt using this recipe?Weight 7 lbs.
Hi Melba. I would brown all sides of it in a skillet. Then add to the slow cooker and follow the directions. I would do 10 hours on low if it is a large butt.
Could I use Diet Dr. Pepper?
I think it would do fine, I’ve seen many other people use diet soda in crock pot recipes with no problems.
I found your recipe and the ribs look and sound delicious, my husband and daughter are big fans of baby back ribs. I’m going to use my slow cooker tomorrow to try them. I am allergic to liquid smoke, is it OK to leave it out and also do you think it’s OK to double up the recipe? The rib racks we bought were not huge so I though we should double it up, but if you think not we will just add one extra piece from the 2nd rack to the first rack.
Yes, you can leave out the liquid smoke, no problem. If it fits it will be fine, keep the lid on the entire time. 🙂
Thank you Sarah, I put my baby back ribs in the crock pot last night so my husband could have them today before he goes to bed, he works nights. He came in this morning just as I was pulling the lid off the crockpot and had to try one right away, as did my daughter. YUM they were perfect. I used raw fresh baby back ribs, the spices, bbq sauce and Dr. Pepper as you suggested (no liquid smoke) and set them to low for overnight about 8 hours then they went on to keep warm. I may never cook ribs any other way. Everyone should try this recipe if they haven’t already, they are the bomb. I have actually saved this recipe now twice to my Facebook page and told everyone I know to try them. Thank you again for an amazing “go to” easy, recipe.
Would this work with St. Louis Style Ribs? Thank you!
I don’t see why not!
would this recipe work with beef ribs also?
Yes, I do think that it would work fine!
How did the beef runs turn out??
I never tried making ribs on a slow cooker before, but this really makes me wanna try it. Looking forward to the results 🙂
Made these yesterday and they were delicious! We added our favorite rub and marinated the ribs in the fridge overnight and followed the cooking directions exactly! Thank you for another tasty and easy recipe! This one is definitely a keeper!
That’s great! I love that did a rub on them too!
What kind of Rub did you use
McCormick Grill Mates Sweet & Smoky rub. It’s in a small container, maybe 4 oz. Our local Walmart carries it. I use it in another slow cooker recipe and you can be pretty heavy handed with it.
Do you have to use Dr pepper can you u a different cola
A
You can use whatever soda you like! Cola would be just as good I think.
I cook frozen boneless pork chops in my crockpot with this same type recipe.Instead of cola I use REDS Apple Ale and bbq sauce with seasonings and OMG they are amazing, I can’t wait to try this with Dr. Pepper!
That sounds amazing Chauntelle… Thx for the tip! Hadn’t thought of that but I love REDS and other apple ales. I also use apple cider vinegar almost exclusively in my BBQ cooking. So I’m going to have to try that!
I use a bottle of dark beer with the BBQ sauce and rub, and a cut up onion…yummy!
great idea, I will try.
Really want to try this, my wife loves dr pepper. But 8hrs is a long time for my household.. can i cook part of time on high mayne then finish on low? Im not a very skilled cook yet lol.
Yes, that should work fine. Keep the lid on the entire time.
How much of the liquid smoke did you use?
Tried it yesterday but the ribs turned out like they were boiled in Dr Pepper. I did something wrong don’t know what will try again.
Can I cook them on high for 4 hours instead of low for 8 hours?
It may be ok. Usually for pork or roasts, low and slow is the way to go.
I just tried out your recipe and it worked really delicious ribs. Fall off the bone tender and with great flavor! I didn’t use baby back ribs because I’m in China and I just took any pork ribs that they had! I also didn’t use liquid smoke because….I can’t find that in China. Thanks for the recipe!
Glad the recipe worked for you Lucy!
Can they stay on low longer than 8 hours? Or can I cook them on low 8 hours then keep them on warm for 2 hours. I want to start these when I leave the house in the morning but I dont get home until 10 hours later. However, I could have my son turn them on low when he gets home from school or just keep cooking them until I get home?? Thanks in advance! I need to invest in a fancy cooker. 🙂
I made these ribs using baby backs today and it couldn’t have been easier, the ribs were the best I’ve ever made in my slow cooker and I’ve made ribs before in it. I low cooked them for 8 hours exactly and followed the recipe to the letter, except I used diet Dr.Pepper. When they were ready, I couldn’t even pick them out of the cooker to eat them b/c they were so tender, just falling off their bones. These were so flavorful, like restaurant quality, I highly recommend this recipe and will make them again soon… fantastic!
Will cooking them for 10 instead of 8 hours change anything? Someone above said that 8 didnt work for them. I can do 10 just to be sure but dont want to screw it up.
Trying this tomorrow. Thanks!
Hi,thx i made st Louis style and they were done in 6 hrs on low .really good .I normally use my smoker but it is just to windy today ..i will be making these again …
These ribs are Phenomenal entire family loved them. Followed the recipe exactly as stated.
can you use boneless ribs, like country style?
Yes! I think those would be great. I usually do country style for 6-7 hours on low.
I really want to try this but im out of the house for 10-12hrs at work. Would your recepies be okay on low for 10hrs then keep warm for 2? Thanks in advance
I think anything really saucy would do fine! Like soups and roasts come to mind. I used to be gone 10 hours too and always used the warm setting for 2 hours, most things do well!
Tried these ribs last night they were wonderful and fall off the bone tender.
Can you make this with chicken?
These were great! I did about 7.5-8 hours on low and then transferred to a foil lined baking sheet, basted with more bbq sauce, then in the oven at 400 for about 10 minutes. I left out the liquid smoke and added a few dashes of Worsterchire sauce. I would also recommend a good bbq sauce. the $1 bottles are not worth the time! If you can’t make your own, spend a few extra dollars and get a quality sauce. It makes a big difference in the slower cooker I find.
Can I cook this on high?
Yes, it will work fine.
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.