Go Back

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

Ribs without a smoker or grill. The slow cooker does the heavy lifting, then a quick broil gives you that charred crust everyone fights over.
Pin Recipe Print Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Ribs

  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp table salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 racks pork spareribs trimmed St. Louis style and each rack cut in half

For the BBQ Sauce

  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 5 tbsp apple juice
  • 2 tbsp molasses
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp liquid smoke

Instructions

  • Mix paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Reserve 1 tbsp for sauce.
  • Pat ribs dry, coat thoroughly with spice rub.
  • Place ribs vertically in slow cooker, meaty sides against walls.
  • Cook on HIGH 5-6 hours until meat pulls back from bones.
  • Whisk sauce ingredients with reserved rub in saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes until thickened.
  • Transfer ribs to wire rack on foil-lined baking sheet. Rest 10 minutes.
  • Position rack 3 inches from broiler. Preheat broiler.
  • Brush ribs with half the sauce, broil 4 minutes until charred.
  • Brush with remaining sauce, tent with foil, rest 20 minutes.
  • Cut between bones and serve.