Easy Crock-Pot BBQ Ribs Made in the Slow Cooker

Learn how to make the easiest (10-minute prep) fall-off-the-bone slow cooker ribs that will have everyone licking their fingers & plates! This is the best method for fixing bbq ribs if you don't own a smoker or it's cold outside. Cook the ribs in as little as 4 hours using the high setting on your crock-pot. Use your favorite rack of ribs (spare, country style, baby back, beef) and barbecue sauce for an easy comforting meal any night of the week.  

I'm betting you're here because you either love ribs or want to cook a rack for someone else who does. If so, you're in the right place! Why? Ribs are my absolute favorite food.

Smoked pork ribs, to be exact, but those are a labor of love (hours of babysitting the smoker/charcoal grill to make sure it stays at a consistent temp). 

Which is totally worth it to me because I'm from Kansas City (barbecue capital of the world) and it's hard to find good smoked barbecue near me that compares (sorry, Dallas). 

And for the record, my favorite KC barbecue restaurant is Oklahoma Joe's (now Joe's Kansas City). I also like Gates and Q39, but I usually stick to Joe's so I can get my z-man with fries fix. :P

So, when I can't fix my own smoked ribs (weather & time plays a part), my second favorite method for making ribs is in the slow cooker

NOT the oven. Big fat nope on that one.


St. Louis Style Crock-Pot BBQ Ribs Seasoning

Why Make Ribs in a Slow Cooker Instead of the Oven?

Every time I've tried the oven, the ribs don't turn out tender enough and the meat tastes very "meh". Probably because it's cooked at a lower temperature covered in foil, so the outside hardly develops any caramelization. 

In contrast, ribs cooked in the crock-pot yield meat that is fall-off-the-bone tender, juicy, and flavored with fat (this is part of the reason why I like St. Louis style spare ribs the best). You don't want tough and dry meat.

And cooking it on the HIGH setting in a slow cooker helps to create a bit of caramelization on the edges of the ribs from the barbecue sauce that has dripped down.

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe

How to Make Slow Cooker Ribs

First things first, you have two options when it comes to ingredients: store-bought or homemade. If you have access to high-quality spice blends and bottled barbecue sauces, using store-bought ingredients probably seems like a no-brainer. It also cuts down on the prep time (only 10 minutes), which is a big bonus. 

However, if you're avoiding certain ingredients (gluten-free, paleo or whole30) or want to show someone you love 'em by making it all from scratch (lots of room to get creative), a homemade sauce and spice blend is the way to go. It's on my short list to experiment with a homemade sweet & spicy version! (Let's make it happen, Elaina.)

Once you have the ingredients ready (homemade or store-bought), it's as simple as:
  1. rubbing the ribs on both sides with a generous coating of dry spices
  2. placing the rack standing up in the crock-pot near the wall (this prevents the ribs from turning into a soggy mess in the juices)
  3. drizzling your favorite barbecue sauce (I usually mix two types) over the ribs on both sides
  4. cooking the ribs on HIGH for about 4 hours (give or take depending on the size of your ribs and how  many racks you put in)

St. Louis Style Crock-Pot BBQ Spare Ribs Made in the Slow Cooker

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