{"id":651,"date":"2025-09-03T14:19:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/airfryerchickenwings.com\/slowcooker\/?p=651"},"modified":"2025-09-03T14:19:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:19:20","slug":"slow-cooker-bbq-baby-back-ribs-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/airfryerchickenwings.com\/slowcooker\/slow-cooker-bbq-baby-back-ribs-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you love ribs, this Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs recipe is for you! They are so flavorful and SO incredibly tender. It\u2019s insane.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a super easy and low-maintenance recipe<\/strong>. Simply season them with a homemade dry rub and slow cook in the Crockpot for 6 hours. Then, brush with your favorite BBQ sauce, broil for a few minutes\u2026and ta-da, dinner is served!<\/p>\n

These slow cooker BBQ baby back ribs fall off the bone beautifully<\/strong> and melt in your mouth<\/strong>. Seriously out of this world!<\/p>\n

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It doesn\u2019t matter what season of the year it is, my favorite way of cooking ribs is by using the slow cooker. Even during summer time, when everyone is out smoking or grilling ribs, you\u2019ll probably find me slow cooking ribs right in my Crockpot.<\/p>\n

These Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs are seriously AMAZING! Incredibly flavorful, super tender, and succulent. They fall off the bone beautifully and melt in your mouth like no other.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why you\u2019ll love these Crockpot BBQ baby back ribs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Incredibly easy, low-maintenance:<\/strong> These ribs cook for 6 hours on LOW and are broiled at the end for just 2-4 minutes to get that beautiful caramelization. It\u2019s a hands-off recipe for the most part.<\/li>\n
  • Super tender and fall-off-the bone:<\/strong> They fall off the bone and melt in your mouth, but don\u2019t turn into \u201cpulled pork\u201d either. It\u2019s the perfect in-between.<\/li>\n
  • The dry rub for the ribs is AMAZING!<\/strong> Packed with lots of aromatic spices and brown sugar for that classic BBQ ribs flavor.<\/li>\n
  • Use your favorite BBQ sauce:<\/strong>\u00a0To keep it easy, convenient, and simple, use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce. Or try my favorite Homemade Sweet BBQ Sauce. It\u2019s the same sauce I use to make Spatchcock BBQ Chicken and BBQ Chicken Salad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      Size and Shape of Slow Cooker<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      I\u2019d recommend this Crockpot 6-quart slow cooker. To fit a full rack of baby back ribs, use a 6-quart slow cooker or larger. Make sure it fits and that you can close the lid completely. As for the shape of the slow cooker, use either a round or oval slow cooker.<\/p>\n

      Preferably, curl the ribs around the sides of the slow cooker.<\/strong> It is my preferred method because it encourages even cooking and heat distribution. This also ensures that the water isn\u2019t directly touching the bulk of the meat, which helps to get the right meat texture.<\/p>\n

      If you\u2019re unable to arrange the ribs around the sides of a slow cooker, cut them into 2 to 3 pieces and arrange them as best as possible for even cooking.<\/p>\n

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      Slow Cooked for 6 Hours<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      The goal is to make these slow cooker baby back ribs fall-apart tender but not turn them into \u201cpulled pork\u201d. There are two ways to achieve that:<\/p>\n

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      • Slow cook for 6 hours on LOW. If cooked for too long, the meat will start breaking down too much and turn into shredded meat or mush.<\/strong> Tender is good, but too tender isn\u2019t what we\u2019re looking for when it comes to ribs. Note:<\/strong> For 4-pound ribs, cook closer to 6.5 hours.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • Add the BBQ sauce at the end only, when broiling.<\/strong> There\u2019s no need to add the BBQ sauce into the slow cooker \u2013 too much liquid will cause the ribs to \u201csimmer\u201d in the sauce and break down more than needed. Instead, cook the ribs with just the dry rub, garlic, onions, and water, and use the BBQ sauce at the end when broiling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Dry Rub Seasoning for Ribs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        Speaking of the dry rub\u2026this seasoning for ribs is seriously AMAZING! It\u2019s a simple rub made with brown sugar and aromatic spices that you can find pretty much anywhere.<\/p>\n

        Here\u2019s what\u2019s in the dry rub used to make these slow cooker BBQ ribs:<\/strong> brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper. If you want to add other spices you like, feel free to do that.<\/p>\n

        Ingredient Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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        • Pork baby back ribs:<\/strong> Also known as \u201cpork loin back ribs.\u201d A full rack of ribs weighs about 3-4 pounds. Find the meaty ones to make extra succulent ribs.<\/li>\n
        • Onions and garlic:<\/strong> It infuses flavor inside the slow cooker as the ribs cook. It also creates flavorful liquid that you can spoon over the ribs for serving.<\/li>\n
        • Water:<\/strong> To create moisture inside the slow cooker.<\/li>\n
        • Dry rub:<\/strong> brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Step-by-Step Instructions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

          Step 1 | Remove membrane from ribs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          In the back of the rack of ribs, run a sharp paring knife between the meat and the top membrane layer to separate it. Then, pull off the entire membrane with your hands all the way through.<\/p>\n

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          Step 2 | Season ribs with the dry rub<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          In a bowl, mix the dry rub ingredients. Pat dry the ribs and evenly rub the seasoning throughout the entire rack, on both sides.<\/p>\n

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          Step 3 | Slow cook until tender<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          Arrange the ribs in a 6-quart slow cooker, curling it along the edges of the pot. Add the water, onions, and garlic to the bottom of the pot. Cover (make sure the lid closes completely), and cook on LOW for 6 hours until tender. Note: If your slow cooker is not big enough, cut into 2-3 pieces and arrange them as best as possible for even cooking.<\/p>\n

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          Step 4 | Brush with BBQ sauce and broil<\/strong><\/h3>\n

          Transfer ribs to a large sheet pan. Brush with BBQ sauce and broil 2-4 minutes until caramelized.<\/p>\n

          Which Types of Ribs to Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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          • Baby back ribs (RECOMMENDED):<\/strong> I\u2019d highly recommend using pork baby back ribs, also known as \u201cpork loin back ribs.\u201d They contain leaner meat (less fatty), and are also curvier and shorter than other cuts of ribs, which is ideal for the slow cooker. They cook and get tender in just 6 hours.<\/li>\n
          • St. Louis style ribs: <\/strong>They are less meaty than baby back ribs and more fatty. Their bones are also larger, so if using St Louis style ribs, you may need a bigger slow cooker (7-8-quart) and cook for an extra hour or so, depending on the size.<\/li>\n
          • Spare ribs:<\/strong> Spare ribs are large (meaty and longer bones), so you definitely need a large 8-quart slow cooker. Spare ribs need more than in the slow cooker to get tender, closer to 8 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Recipe FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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            Which slow cooker type or size should I use?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

            You need at least a 6 quart slow cooker, large enough to fit an entire rack of ribs around it. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s round or oval shaped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            What type of ribs should I use?<\/strong><\/p>\n

            I\u2019d highly recommend using baby back ribs (also known as \u201cpork loin back ribs\u201d). They are leaner, meatier, and smaller than other types of ribs, so they cook in just 6 hours. If you prefer to use larger cuts, such as St Louis style ribs or spare ribs, you\u2019ll need to adjust the cooking times and use a larger slow cooker. See \u201cnotes\u201d in the recipe card below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            How do I remove the membrane from the ribs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

            In the back of the rack of ribs, run a sharp paring knife between the meat and the top membrane layer to separate it. Then, pull off the entire membrane with your hands. See photos above for visuals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            How long do I cook the ribs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

            A 3-pound rack of ribs will cook in about 6 hours on LOW. If using a 4-pound rack, cook closer to 6.5 hours. These cooking times ensure that the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, but not mushy or too tender like pulled pork.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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            This recipe was published in 2019 and updated in February 2022 to include new photos and information.<\/em><\/p>\n

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            Tips for Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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            • Use a 6 quart slow cooker for a 3-4 pound rack of ribs.<\/strong> It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s round or oval shaped, as long as it can comfortably fit the ribs, curled around the pot.<\/li>\n
            • Remove the membrane<\/strong> in the back of the ribs before cooking. See step 1 in the recipe card below.<\/li>\n
            • Don\u2019t overcook:<\/strong> A 3-pound rack of ribs takes 6 hours on LOW (or 6.5 hours for a 4-pound rack). Don\u2019t overcook them, otherwise they will break down too much and become too tender, more like pulled pork. You want the meat to be tender but also stay in the bones.<\/li>\n
            • Prep ahead:<\/strong> The rub can be made up to 1 month in advance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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              Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs<\/h2>\n
              These slow cooker BBQ baby back ribs are seriously delicious and so tender! They fall off the bone beautifully and melt in your mouth. They are seasoned with a homemade dry rub, slow cooked for 6 hours until tender, and broiled with your favorite BBQ sauce.<\/div>\n
              <\/div>\n
              Course <\/span>Main Course<\/span><\/div>\n
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              Cuisine <\/span>American<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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              Prep Time <\/span>15 minutes<\/span><\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
              Cook Time <\/span>6 hours<\/span><\/span> hours<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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              Total Time <\/span>6 hours<\/span><\/span> hours<\/span> 15 minutes<\/span><\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
              Servings <\/span>3<\/span> people<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
              Calories <\/span>833<\/span>kcal<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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              Ingredients<\/h3>\n
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