Sweet BBQ Pork Ribs in Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs: sweet, fall-apart, tender inside and crispy on top. These are staple in our family and work great for any occasion. Whether these are smoked or slow cooked – these always turn out to be the best part of the meal!
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Slow Cooker Pork Ribs Recipe:
My favorite slow cooker meat! I’d say 4 out of 5 times we have ribs at our family gatherings, whether it’s a holiday, a birthday or just a last minute family party.
My sisters usually marinate the meat couple days ahead and smoke them when it’s time, but this recipe doesn’t require marinating. One day I decided to try the same marinade they use for smoked version, but in slow cooker and it turned out D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! All you have to do is place everything into the slow cooker and wait few hours.
Once ribs are cooked, I place them into the oven under higher temperature to get that crispy, burned grilled finish like you’d see on smoked ribs. Add mashed potatoes or pasta, a salad and you’ve got a full, tasty meal.
Slow Cooker Pork Ribs Ingredients:
- Pork baby back ribs
- Brown sugar
- Apple juice
- Spicy brown mustard
- Honey
- Worcestershire sauce
- Fine salt
- Weber barbecue sauce (or your favorite brand) for final coating
How to Make Pork Ribs in Slow Cooker:
1. Place pork ribs into a large bowl. Add 2 cups of ice and cover with cold water. Set aside while you make the marinade (about 20-30 mins). In a large bowl, combine and whisk: 2/3 cup spicy brown mustard, 1 cup apple juice, 4 tbsps Worcestershire sauce, 2 cups packed brown sugar, 2/3 cup warmed honey and 2 tsps salt. Set aside.
2. Rinse ribs in cold water and paper towel pat dry. Place ribs into the slow cooker bone side up. Pour the marinade over the ribs and turn ribs to dip in marinade. Set slow cooker to “Low – 5 hours”. After 4 hours, check if the meat is coming easily off the bone. (Sometimes pork baby back ribs come less meaty and are ready in 4 hours while other times they are meatier and need to cook slightly longer). Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush bottom of baking dish with barbecue sauce. With help of kitchen tongs, transfer cooked ribs to the baking dish. (Be careful as these will fall apart, so that you don’t get covered in hot marinade if pieces of ribs fall back into marinade once picked up). Brush ribs all over with barbecue sauce and cook for 10 mins. Serve hot and fresh. Enjoy!!!
Serve with pasta, mashed potatoes and/or salad!
More Dinner Recipes to Explore:
- Breaded Baked Chicken Drumsticks
- Oven Roasted Salmon
- Rice Stuffed Chicken Thighs
- Ukrainian Oven Roasted Cabbage with Pork
Sweet BBQ Pork Ribs in Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 13-15 pork baby back ribs
- 2 cups brown sugar, (packed)
- 1 cup apple juice
- 2/3 cup spicy brown mustard
- 2/3 cup honey, (warmed in microwave 20-30 seconds)
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons fine salt
- Weber barbecue sauce, (or your favorite brand)
Instructions
- Place pork ribs into a large bowl. Add 2 cups of ice and cover with cold water. Set aside while you make the marinade (about 20-30 mins). In a large bowl, combine and whisk: 2/3 cup spicy brown mustard, 1 cup apple juice, 4 tbsps Worcestershire sauce, 2 cups packed brown sugar, 2/3 cup warmed honey and 2 tsps salt. Set aside.
- Rinse ribs in cold water and paper towel pat dry. Place ribs into the slow cooker bone side up. Pour the marinade over the ribs and turn ribs to dip in marinade. Set slow cooker to “Low – 5 hours”. After 4 hours, check if the meat is coming easily off the bone. (Sometimes pork baby back ribs come less meaty and are ready in 4 hours while other times they are meatier and need to cook slightly longer).
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush bottom of baking dish with barbecue sauce. With help of kitchen tongs, transfer cooked ribs to the baking dish. (Be careful as these will fall apart, so that you don’t get covered in hot marinade if pieces of ribs fall back into marinade once picked up). Brush ribs all over with barbecue sauce and cook for 10 mins. Serve hot and fresh.
Kiki says:
These were really good! So easy, so simple. The whole family loved them. Tender and fall-off-the-bone! These will become a favorite for family gatherings from now on. Absolutely divine!! Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
Thank you for the wonderful review, Kiki! I’m so happy to hear your family enjoyed this recipe 🙂
Olga says:
Can you tell me which exact ribs to buy for this recipe? I am new to ribs.
Olga in the Kitchen says:
I purchase from Costco, the baby back ribs. There are 3 slabs in a package. I use one for the recipe and remaining slabs I cut in half for next 2 times to cook or cut between bones to use them for soup.
Bethany says:
These are truly delicious and so easy!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them 🙂
Candi says:
We loved these ribs, they worked out perfectly thank you.
I have leftover sauce. What other meat could I use it with please?
Olga in the Kitchen says:
That’s wonderful, Candi! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe :). I don’t reuse the leftover bbq sauce, but if you do want to reuse it, I have a slow cooked pulled chicken recipe that requires BBQ sauce.
Molly Sims says:
I made these and they were truly amazing! We live in the ‘rib capital’ so I was doubting that these would be any better, but you have proved me wrong. These ribs were AWESOME!!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
Thank you Molly for an amazing review. I’m so happy you enjoyed these ribs!
Jill says:
Just made these ribs and they are PHENOMENAL. Seriously, the best pork ribs I’ve ever made or had. My husband nearly ate the whole serving!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us! Sounds like you have a new favorite! 🙂
Bryan says:
The best bbq ribs anyone could ever ask for. Tender, fall apart, sweet and seriously amazing. Thank you for the recipe!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
You’re welcome Bryan! I’m so glad you liked these so much!
Lilly says:
Delicious recipe and easy to make! Thank you for sharing!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
Thanks Lilly! 🙂
Patrick says:
These are like the best ribs out there! I’ve never tried such delicious ribs before. The fall-apart, it’s like melt in your mouth.
Olga in the Kitchen says:
Thanks Patrick! These are indeed the best!!
Amilie says:
So delicious! My whole family loved them!! All this time we’ve been looking for a recipe that’s more fall apart rather than stack to bone and your recipe is a perfection! Thank you!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
Thanks Amilie! The fall apart is my requirement as well 🙂