Print

Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 119 reviews

These Slow Cooker BBQ Baby Back Ribs are tender, flavorful, and easy to make. The ribs are rubbed with a blend of spices, slow-cooked to perfection, then finished under the broiler with a sticky BBQ sauce glaze for that perfect caramelized crust.

Ingredients

Scale

Ribs and Rub

  • 3 to 3 ½ pounds pork baby back ribs (3.25 lbs recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cumin

BBQ Sauce

  • 2 ½ cups BBQ sauce, divided (your favorite brand)

Instructions

  1. Remove membrane: Carefully lift the corner of the opaque membrane on the underside of the ribs using a small sharp kitchen knife and slide the knife underneath while lifting. Once loosened, use your fingers to pull the membrane off completely. This improves the texture and flavor of the ribs.
  2. Make the rub: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, kosher salt, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and cumin, stirring well to mix all the spices evenly.
  3. Apply the rub: Spread two thirds of the rub evenly over the meaty side of the ribs, then apply the remaining rub on the underside where the membrane was removed, ensuring full coverage.
  4. Prepare slow cooker: Spray a 6 to 7 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  5. Apply first BBQ sauce layer: Use a spoon or basting brush to spread 1 cup of BBQ sauce over the meaty side of the ribs for flavor and moisture.
  6. Place ribs in slow cooker: Position the ribs with the meaty side against the slow cooker sides to maximize cooking surface contact.
  7. Apply more BBQ sauce: Spread ½ cup of BBQ sauce on the inside surfaces of the rib curve.
  8. Top with BBQ sauce: Pour ½ cup of BBQ sauce over the top ridge of the ribs. Reserve the remaining ½ cup for finishing under the broiler.
  9. Slow cook: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low for 5 hours until ribs are tender.
  10. Preheat broiler: About 10 minutes before the ribs finish cooking, preheat your oven broiler. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  11. Transfer ribs to baking sheet: Using tongs or a large spatula, carefully transfer the ribs (in sections if needed) from the slow cooker to the prepared baking sheet.
  12. Baste and broil: Brush the ribs with the reserved ½ cup BBQ sauce and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce bubbles and caramelizes. Watch closely as broilers vary in intensity and can burn the sauce quickly.
  13. Serve: Remove from broiler and serve ribs hot with your favorite sides.

Notes

  • Removing the membrane from the ribs significantly enhances texture and flavor by removing toughness.
  • Wearing disposable gloves when handling raw meat is recommended for hygiene.
  • Monitor the ribs closely during broiling as BBQ sauce can burn quickly under high heat.
  • Choose your favorite BBQ sauce to tailor flavor to your preference.
  • If your slow cooker is smaller, you may need to cut ribs into smaller sections to fit.

Keywords: Slow Cooker Ribs, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Slow Cooker BBQ, Tender Ribs Recipe, Easy BBQ Ribs

Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/slow-cooker-bbq-baby-back-ribs-recipe/