Slow Cooker Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe – the best easy recipe to make fall off the bone tender ribs in the slow cooker!

We love making these when it's too rainy out to make smoked ribs – or ahead of a big tailgate or party!

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Simple Slow Cooker Ribs

We love ribs – good, meaty, sticky, crunchy, melt in your mouth good baby back ribs – but they are kind of a pain to make on the smoker when a craving for ribs hits.

We've had two massively popular recipes for ribs on our site for years – one on the smoker (which is the best rib recipe on earth)and one baked in the oven.

Both have stood thee test of time on site – but the #1 question on both posts we get is always “How can we make ribs in the slow cooker??”

Today we're sharing how we adapted our recipe, with the help of another hugely popular crock pot rib recipe, to make the ultimate slow cooker rib recipe!

We combined our crazy popular Oven Baked Ribs and our Best Ever Smoked Ribs Recipe with our friend Becky's Crockpot Ribs Recipe to come up with this good finger licking good slow cooker ribs recipe!

If you'd like to make this recipe in your Instant Pot, please follow our instructions and technique in our Keto Instant Pot Ribs post.

How to Make Ribs in Your Slow Cooker

To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:

• Pork ribs (8 lb) – These meaty pork ribs form the hearty base of the dish, becoming fall-off-the-bone tender in the slow cooker.
• Olive oil cooking spray (1 tsp) – A light spray of olive oil helps prevent the ribs from sticking and ensures even browning.
• Garlic powder (2 tbsp) – Garlic powder infuses the ribs with a deep, savory flavor that enhances the richness of the meat.
• Onion powder (2 tbsp) – Onion powder adds a subtle sweetness and aromatic depth to the seasoning mix.
• Season salt (2 tbsp) – Season salt delivers a balanced, all-in-one boost of salt and spice to elevate the rub.
• Ground pepper (2 tbsp) – Ground black pepper gives the ribs a bold, peppery bite with a hint of heat.
• Paprika (3 tbsp) – Paprika lends a warm, smoky undertone and vibrant color to the ribs.
• Chili powder (3 tbsp) – Chili powder adds a flavorful kick and enhances the barbecue-style seasoning.
• Cumin (2 tbsp) – Cumin brings a toasty, earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with the smoky spices.
• Celery salt (2 tbsp) – Celery salt adds a subtle, savory herbal note that rounds out the rub.
• Cinnamon (2 tbsp) – Cinnamon gives a surprising touch of warmth and sweetness to balance the savory spices.
• Cardamom (2 tbsp) – Cardamom adds an aromatic, slightly citrusy spice that deepens the flavor profile.
• BBQ sauce (1 cup) – A generous coating of barbecue sauce caramelizes beautifully and finishes the ribs with sticky, tangy sweetness.

Our Pro Tip

Slow Cook Tip

Let your ribs fully cook in the slow cooker for 7-8 hours on low for best results!

Once you have gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:

Prep Ribs

Mix rib rub ingredients in a bowl. Generously coat ribs in rub. Prepare slow cooker by spraying with olive oil based cooking spray. Cut ribs to fit into slow cooker.

Arrange and Cook

Arrange in slow cooker and cook for 7-8 hours on low, until rib meat is tender and pulls away from bone with gentle pulling. Remove ribs when fully cooked and tent with foil for 10-15 minutes. Prep large baking sheet with cooking spray or parchment paper.

Broil and Finish

Cut ribs into individual pieces and arrange on baking sheet. Baste sauce onto ribs. Broil ribs at 500F, flipping once to prevent burning, about 5 minutes per side. When sauce has crisped and ribs have a crunchy bark, remove from oven and serve immediately with more sauce for dipping!

Kitchen notes

Remove Silver Skin from Ribs – Ribs come with a silver skin often over the ribs – trimming the most of this tough tendon off the rib will greatly improve the flavor of your oven baked ribs – so don't skip this step.

Our Pro Tip

How to Trim Your Ribs

Run a knife under the silver skin to separate the membrane from the rib meat.

If the silver skin resists in one spot, try another.

Once you have separated enough with a knife, grab silver skin tightly and pull to remove from the ribs.

If silver skin breaks in one spot, loosen it again with a knife to remove it completely.

Season baby back ribs well with rib dry rub – The dry rub brings a rich, smoky flavor to these ribs without all the sugar from sauce – and are then topped in sauce when ready to eat.

Layer ribs properly – Stack ribs with meaty sides facing out and add sauce between layers for even coating.

Cook low and slow – Low heat for 6–8 hours yields tender, juicy ribs that still hold their shape.

Use thick BBQ sauce – A rich, sticky sauce sticks better and won't get too thin in the cooker.

Try lining with foil – For easier cleanup and to lift the ribs out in one piece, line the cooker with foil.

Let them rest before serving – Allow ribs to sit for a few minutes after broiling to let the juices redistribute.

Crisp at the End – These ribs shine because after they come from the slow cooker, we're going to chop them into individual ribs, coat in sauce, and crisp in the broiler. This extra step is optional – but takes the flavor to new levels!

A few answers

How can we tell if the Ribs are Done Cooking?

After 8 hours in the slow cooker, ribs should be done – but to check, start around 7 hours into cook time and gently pull at a bit of meat around a rib with the tines of a fork. If the meat resists being pulled with a gentle twisting motion, ribs are not done. If the meat begins to pull away easily, ribs are done. Remove ribs from slow cooker when done, and tent for at least 15 minutes with foil.

What type of ribs work best in the slow cooker?

Pork baby back ribs or spare ribs are ideal—they cook down to tender, juicy perfection in the slow cooker.

Do we need to remove the membrane from the ribs?

Yes, removing the thin membrane on the back of the ribs helps the seasoning absorb better and improves texture.

Should we sear the ribs before slow cooking?

Searing is optional but can add extra flavor and color to the ribs before they go into the slow cooker.

Can we layer ribs in the slow cooker?

Yes, layer them with the thicker bones on the bottom and add extra BBQ sauce between layers for flavor.

Should we add liquid to the slow cooker?

No additional liquid is usually needed—ribs release moisture as they cook, and the BBQ sauce keeps them juicy.

Can we use homemade BBQ sauce?

Absolutely! Homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce both work—choose one with a flavor you love.

Do we need to broil or grill the ribs after slow cooking?

Broiling or grilling for 3–5 minutes after cooking caramelizes the sauce and adds a good charred finish.

How do we store leftover ribs?

Store cooled ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Can we make the ribs ahead of time?

Yes, cook them a day ahead and reheat in the oven or slow cooker with a fresh layer of BBQ sauce.

Serve it with

Our family loves these slow cooker ribs with sides like mashed potatoesgrilled potatoesparmesan salador family's favorite grilled jalapeno poppers!

Check out all our slow cooker recipes here!

When you are ready to try ribs another way you can make smoked baby back ribssticky Asian baked ribsor Instant Pot Asian BBQ ribs.

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Ingredients

• 8 lb pork ribs
• 1 tsp olive oil cooking spray
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp season salt
• 2 tbsp ground pepper
• 3 tbsp paprika
• 3 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 2 tbsp celery salt
• 2 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp cardamom
• 1 cup BBQ sauce, plus more for topping

Method

1. Trim silver skin from ribs.
2. Mix rib rub ingredients in a bowl.
3. Generously coat ribs in rub.
4. Prepare slow cooker by spraying with olive oil based cooking spray.
5. Cut ribs to fit into slow cooker.
6. Arrange in slow cooker and cook for 7-8 hours on low, until rib meat is tender and pulls away from bone with gentle pulling.
7. Remove ribs when fully cooked and tent with foil for 10-15 minutes.
8. Prep large baking sheet with cooking spray or parchment paper.
9. Cut ribs into individual pieces and arrange on baking sheet.
10. Baste sauce onto ribs.
11. Broil ribs at 500F, flipping once to prevent burning, about 5 minutes per side.
12. Watch ribs CLOSELY to make sure they do not burn under broiler!!
13. When sauce has crisped and ribs have a crunchy bark, remove from oven and serve immediately with more sauce for dipping!