Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

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One of the easiest recipes I make is ribs in the crock pot. My boys ask for them all the time, and really… how often do you see ribs at holiday parties? I think people assume they’re not easy to cook, but this recipe changes that. Here’s our family recipe for slow cooker baby back ribs.

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients for slow cooker ribs on a cutting board: pork ribs, bbq sauce, a basting brush, and onions.

Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe Directions:

Step 1: Slice the onion(s) into thick slices.

Thick sliced onions for slow cooker ribs on a cutting board with a knife and a whole onion.

Step 2: Place sliced onions in a layer on the bottom of your crock pot.

Thick sliced onions at the bottom of a crockpot.

Step 3: Pour applesauce on top of the onions–enough to cover them.

Thick sliced onions and applesauce at the bottom of a crockpot.

This will be the only liquid in the crockpot, so be generous.

Thick sliced onions and a layer of applesauce at the bottom of a crockpot.

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Step 4: Slice the ribs into sections of 4-5 so they fit into the crockpot.

Package of pork ribs and a knife on a cutting board.
Pork ribs and a knife on a cutting board. The ribs are being trimmed for cooking.

The trick to even heating with crockpot ribs is to stagger the ribs. So, two on the bottom, three on top of them, two on top of them… it’s tough to get a picture of that.

Pork ribs in a slow cooker, face down on top of onions and applesauce.

Step 5: Cook 6-8 hours on low. I usually watch for them to begin falling off the bone, then remove them.

When you remove the ribs, they’re not going to look pretty. That’s the one downside of cooking them in a crockpot. But that’s ok–we’ll make them pretty.

Cooked crockpot ribs on a white platter with BBQ sauce and a basting brush nearby.

Step 6: Pull out the ribs and get your barbecue sauce ready. For a great tasting homemade recipe, check out this low carb BBQ Sauce.

slow-cooker-baby-back-rib-recipe

Brush your barbecue sauce on, and add some color–green onions, maybe?

Serve and enjoy. I told you they were easy!

Baby back ribs with BBQ sauce and garnished with sliced green onion.
5 from 2 ratings
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Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Created by: Becca Ludlum
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings 4
These Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs are the easiest dinner you’ll make all week–promise! Making ribs in the crock pot is the perfect answer to a busy week. 

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Ingredients 

  • 1 rack pork ribs
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 2 onion
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Slice the onion(s) into thick slices.
  • Place sliced onions in a layer on the bottom of your crock pot.
  • Pour applesauce on top of the onions–enough to cover them. This will be the only liquid in the crockpot, so be generous.
  • Slice the ribs into sections of 4-5 so they fit into the crockpot.
  • Cook 6-8 hours on low. I usually watch for them to begin falling off the bone, then remove them.
  • When you remove the ribs, they’re not going to look pretty. That’s the one downside of cooking them in a crockpot. But that’s ok–we’ll make them pretty.
  • Pull out the ribs and get your barbecue sauce ready.
  • Brush your barbecue sauce on, and add some color–green onions, maybe?
  • Serve and enjoy. I told you they were easy!

Notes

The trick to even heating with crockpot ribs is to stagger the ribs. So, two on the bottom, three on top of them, two on top of them.

Nutrition

Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 641mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 209IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg
How we calculate nutrition and diet information on My Crazy Good Life

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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