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Crockpot ribs, coming up! If you’ve been visiting CookingChew.com for a while, you know we are big fans of the slow cooker. If you have every appliance in your kitchen going at once, the Crockpot can be a lifesaver. While you can cook them all the way through til tender, if you want a little bark on the outside, just a few minutes in a hot conventional oven will do that for you in this babyback ribs recipe.
These use just a couple of store-bought ingredients, a seasoning rub and a BBQ sauce, to create tender, delicious and easy slow cooker ribs.
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How to make this recipe for Crockpot Ribs
Tools you’ll need
Removing the silver facia: If your ribs still have the shiny silvery “skin” on the bone side, these will cook better and be a better eating experience if you remove it now. Using the tip of a small sharp knife, pierce the edges under the skin and gently pull up and off. It doesn’t come up in one piece usually; even getting most of it off before cooking ribs in slow cooker will help.
Step 1: To help get all of the ribs in the slow cooker, cut the 3 to 4 lb rack of baby back ribs in half.
Step 2: Sprinkle 2 tbsp BBQ seasoning over the front and back of both halves .
Step 3: With clean or gloved hands, rub the seasoning into the meat thoroughly, spending particular attention to the meatier edges and side.
Step 4: Place one rack bone side down in the bottom of the crock and cover it with barbecue sauce, then again with the second rack of ribs.
Step 5: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
Step 6: It’s best to test the ribs with a meat thermometer in the meatiest parts; temp should reach 145F. Let them rest for 2 minutes and serve warm, or go to Step 7 to finish with a caramelized bark in the oven.
Optional Step 7: If you want a bit of dark bark on the ribs, finish these in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425F and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Use tongs to carefully lift the ribs out of the slow cooker onto the lined sheet pan, brush them with more barbecue sauce, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce firms up and caramelizes on top.
Tools & Equipment
- Slow cooker, 6 qt. or larger
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife or kitchen shears
- Measuring spoons and measuring cup
- Tongs
- Basting brush or spoon
- Rimmed sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Meat thermometer for best results
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Crockpot Ribs
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb baby back ribs
- 2 T BBQ seasoning
- 1-1 1/2 c BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Cut the rack of baby back ribs in half.
- Rub the BBQ seasoning over the front and back of both halves.
- Place one half bone side down in the slow cooker and cover it with barbecue sauce. Repeat with the second half.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Transfer the ribs to the lined sheet pan, brush them with the remaining barbecue sauce, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce tightens and caramelizes on top.
Notes
Nutrition
The bottom line
Slow cooker BBQ ribs get the easy treatment in my recipe that uses both a seasoned rub blend and a store-bought BBQ sauce. Want more crockpot dinner ideas? Check our list of slow cooker recipes for fall here and pork loin recipes here. I recommend: Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese as a side for these ribs, too!
