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!
Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Ribs
Equipment Needed:
- 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.
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 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
Trying this tomorrow but with beef ribs. I’ve never cooked ribs so fingers crossed. Do beef ribs have anything on the bottom that needs to be removed prior to going into the slow cooker?
Would this work using chicken?
I don’t see why not
Oopps I left the slimey back on. Will they cook ok?
yes! Just be sure to remove before eating. I’ve done it before too.
I thought I helped keep I together when on the grill. After slow cooking for 10 hrs it melted into the meat. I put a layer of thin sliced onions on the bottom.
Can you use diet soda or does it need to be regula? Also are pork spare ribs the same as baby back ribs?
Excellent!
Loving your food.
Can you make these with pork chops, or would they dry out?
If I were to use pork chops I would only cook on low for 6 hours. They should work great.
It won’t dry out you are slow cooking it in liquid…
I’m diabetic, Can you use diet Doctor Pepper in this recipe? Thank You.
Yes! I’ve had other viewer do this and worked out great.
Can I use beef ribs to make this recipe?
Yes! Beef ribs are great in this recipe.
My wife suggested these when the recipe appeared on her Facebook on day. We agreed to have them the following Saturday since we planned to spend that day working in the yard. When we finished for the day and came in to cool off, get something to drink and have our showers, the smell was all over the house and it was still another hour before they were scheduled to be ready. Two quick showers, some quick prep time for side dishes later and we could barely contain ourselves. These were the best ribs we could remember eating. The next day we heat the remaining ribs in the microwave and had them for lunch with a baked potato, they were even better the second time around. Now we look for an excuse to serve them. Friends coming over for dinner, serve ribs! Family stopping by to visit, have ribs. Pot luck lunch at the office, have ribs. Don’t feel like cooking later this evening, have ribs. Nothing special to celebrate, .. you guessed it, RIBS! This works just as good with beef, pulled pork sandwiches or even chicken. This has lead up to us looking for other great Crock Pot meals. Who knew you could cook so many great meals in a Crock Pot. But, first you have to try the Dr. Pepper Ribs!
I just made these toady and they were delicious I will be making them again. Thank you for sharing your receipe looking forward to making more of your delicious food. Wife gave me 5 thumbs up for copying your instructions