🍖 Crockpot Barbecue Ribs (Fall-Apart Tender)
Ingredients
2–3 lbs pork ribs (baby back or spare ribs)
Salt & pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika (optional, but awesome)
1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite)
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Optional: ½ tsp chili powder or cayenne (for a little kick)
How to Make It
Prep the ribs
Cut ribs into sections (3–4 ribs per piece so they fit). Pat dry. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Mix the sauce
In a bowl, stir together barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and optional spice.
Load the crockpot
Layer ribs in the slow cooker (stacking is fine). Pour sauce all over and use tongs to coat everything.
Slow cook
Low: 6–8 hours (best texture)
High: 3–4 hours
The ribs should be super tender and pulling away from the bone.
Optional broil for sticky edges (highly recommend)
Transfer ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush with extra sauce, and broil 3–5 minutes until caramelized. Watch closely so they don’t burn.
Pro Tips
Too much liquid in the crockpot? Totally normal. The ribs release juices. Just broil at the end to get that BBQ stickiness.
Want smoky flavor without a grill? Add ½ tsp liquid smoke to the sauce.
No broiler? Finish in a hot pan for a minute per side to get a little char.
Good Sides
Coleslaw
Cornbread
Mac & cheese
Roasted or mashed potatoes
If you want, I can tweak this for oven-only, spicy ribs, or honey-garlic ribs next 🔥
