Crock Pot Ribs with Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

Introduction

These Crock Pot Ribs are the perfect combination of tender and flavorful, slow-cooked to fall-off-the-bone perfection. With a rich homemade rub and a tangy barbecue glaze, they offer an easy, hands-off way to enjoy ribs any day of the week.

Ingredients

• 2 racks baby back ribs (about 3 to 4 pounds)
• 1 onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• ½ cup water
• 2 to 3 tablespoons rib rub (or homemade rib rub, see notes)
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ½ cup chili sauce
• ½ cup barbecue sauce (of your choice)

Instructions

1. Step 1: If making homemade rib rub, combine all rub ingredients according to your favorite recipe.
2. Step 2: Remove the silver membrane from the back of the ribs. Rub both the front and back of the ribs evenly with the spice mixture.
3. Step 3: Place the whole onion, sliced garlic, water, and ribs into the slow cooker.
4. Step 4: Cook the ribs on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, until they are fork tender.
5. Step 5: Preheat your broiler. In a bowl, combine the ketchup, chili sauce, and barbecue sauce to make the glaze.
6. Step 6: Brush the ribs generously with the sauce mixture. Broil or grill for 3-5 minutes, until the ribs are nicely charred and caramelized. Serve hot.

Tips & Variations

• For extra flavor, marinate the ribs with the rub overnight in the fridge before cooking.
• Try using different barbecue sauces like smoky, spicy, or sweet to customize the glaze.
• If you don’t have a broiler, finishing the ribs on a hot grill works just as well for that charred effect.
• Leftover ribs can be sliced and added to sandwiches or salads the next day.

Storage

Store any leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave to keep them moist. You can also freeze cooked ribs wrapped tightly for up to 2 months—thaw and reheat before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Do I need to remove the silver membrane from the ribs?

Yes, removing the silver membrane helps the ribs absorb the rub better and makes them more tender when cooked.

Can I cook the ribs longer in the slow cooker?

Yes, cooking on low for up to 10 hours is fine, but avoid cooking much longer to prevent the ribs from becoming too mushy.

Crock Pot Ribs with Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

---

★★★★★

4.5 from 87 reviews

• Author: lilan
• Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes (high) or 8 hours 20 minutes (low)
• Yield: Serves 4 to 6 1x

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

Description

Tender and flavorful baby back ribs cooked slowly in a crock pot and finished under the broiler with a tangy BBQ sauce glaze for a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and savory tastes.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Ribs

• 2 racks baby back ribs (about 3 to 4 pounds)
• 1 onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• ½ cup water
• 2 to 3 tablespoons rib rub (or homemade rib rub in the notes)

Sauce

• ¼ cup ketchup
• ½ cup chili sauce
• ½ cup barbecue sauce (of choice)

---

Instructions

1. Prepare homemade rub (optional): If making the homemade rib rub, combine all the ingredients as described in the notes section to create the spice mixture for the ribs.
2. Remove membrane and apply rub: Carefully remove the silver membrane from the back of the ribs to ensure tenderness. Then, evenly rub the spice mixture on both the front and back sides of the ribs to coat thoroughly.
3. Arrange ribs in slow cooker: Place sliced onion, garlic cloves, water, and the rubbed ribs inside the slow cooker, making sure ribs are positioned evenly for consistent cooking.
4. Slow cook the ribs: Cook the ribs on high heat for 4 hours or on low heat for 8 hours until they become fork-tender and easy to pull apart.
5. Preheat the broiler and prepare sauce: Preheat your oven’s broiler. Mix together ketchup, chili sauce, and barbecue sauce in a bowl to create a flavorful glaze.
6. Broil ribs with sauce glaze: Brush the cooked ribs generously with the sauce mixture and place them under the broiler for 3 to 5 minutes, or until charred and caramelized on the edges, watching carefully to avoid burning.

Notes

• To remove the silver membrane from ribs, slide a knife under the thin layer on the back and pull it off with a paper towel for grip.
• Homemade rib rub typically consists of paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder.
• You can substitute the broiling step with grilling for a smoky finish if preferred.
• Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week and used as a dip or additional glaze.
• Ensure ribs are fully cooked and tender before broiling to avoid toughness.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours (high) or 8 hours (low) plus 5 minutes broiling
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Crock Pot ribs, slow cooker ribs, baby back ribs, BBQ ribs, easy ribs, slow cooked ribs, oven broiled ribs