How to Cook Baby Back Ribs in a Crockpot

Updated on July 11th, 2023

Suppose you enjoy flavorful fall off the bone tender ribs. In that case, the crockpot method is the best thing for you, baby back ribs are commonly associated with grilling because is it the most popular method for making finger-licking crispy-tender ribs, but once you try the crockpot method, I’m sure you’d be rushing for your slow cooker each time.

The crockpot method for baby back ribs produces tasty results and is convenient and easy to do. This recipe is perfect for any season and could be eaten on its own, brushed with sauce glaze, or paired with other dishes like Coleslaw Recipe, baked french fries, and corn on the cob.

In this article, we will be talking about the perfect method for making crockpot baby back ribs and the correct cooking time to follow so you’d get great results each time.

Ribs Nutrition Facts

Tips to Consider When Making Crockpot Baby Back Ribs

Baby back ribs in a crockpot is an easy cooking method to follow, and when you have these tips discussed below at the back of your mind, you’d be able to make perfect results each time.

Remove the membrane from the meat; you could easily remove the silver membrane from the meat by using a small knife to pull it from underneath; use paper towels or a clean towel for a better grip on the membrane and pull it out with your hands. The meat would easily absorb the seasoning and sauce when you remove the membrane.

If you can’t find the membrane, chances are it has been removed by the butcher, try checking also for pieces of bones in the ribs and remove them.

Glaze and broil the baby back ribs after slow-cooking; the key to a delicious baby back rib lies in the caramelization step done after slow-cooking. You could choose to skip this, but I advise you not to because this additional step produces the most flavourful ribs.

You could add the sauce while the ribs are slow-cooking and also after slow-cooking the ribs, then place them in an oven or on a grill for extra delicious caramelization. You could wrap them in foil, grill them under high heat for about 3-5 minutes, and broil them in an oven for about 3-5 minutes.

Be generous with the seasoning; the key to delicious ribs lies in the seasoning; make a mix with your favorite spices and generously rub them thoroughly around the meat; make sure you remove the membrane, too, so the meat absorbs all that flavor.

Cut the racks into pieces that would fit your slow cooker; you’d want the ribs to fit well and cook evenly, so cut them evenly and into sizes that are convenient for your slow cooker. If you wish to cook them whole, then curl the ribs into the slow cooker.

Cook the ribs low and slow; you could either cook the ribs on high if you don’t have time on your hands or on low if you do, but for the best, buttery and juicy ribs, cook them on low. Plan for this recipe ahead of time, so you’d get enough time on your hands.

Use a marinade containing garlic; marinating the ribs is a great idea for tenderizing the meat before cooking. When you add garlic to the marinade mix, the ribs become more flavorful.

Use a crockpot liner for easy cleanup; instead of struggling with burnt or caramelized sauce at the end of cooking, use these crockpot liners so you can easily clean the pot after and save yourself some time and reduce stress.

These liners are sold in grocery stores near the aluminum foil, plastic bags, or parchment paper section.

Use some bbq sauce and liquid smoke; using bbq sauce on the ribs and broiling after helps with caramelization and texture. Adding a few teaspoons of liquid smoke to the recipe helps replicate that smoky flavor you’d normally get when you grill.

Cooking Time for Baby Back Ribs in a Crockpot

Crockpot baby back ribs are simple to make, and this table below contains information on the estimated cooking time for it.

Juicy crockpot baby back ribs ( 6 servings)

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• Author: Bobby

Ingredients

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• 3lb baby back ribs
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard or ketchup
• 2 cups barbeque sauce
• 2 tablespoon liquid smoke

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Instructions

1. Bring the baby back ribs to the kitchen counter and pat them dry with a paper towel if wet, then use a knife to carefully remove the membrane along with your hands and paper towels.
2. Take a medium-sized bowl and add 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 tablespoons liquid smoke, and 1 teaspoon ground mustard or ketchup.
3. Mix well and use it as a dry rub on the baby back ribs.
4. After that use a crockpot lining inside the pot if you wish (it would make cleanup easy) and place the ribs inside.
5. Pour about a cup and a half of barbeque sauce or homemade sauce on the ribs.
6. Cover the lid and cook on low for about 8 hours.
7. After the time’s up, (you could check for doneness with a meat thermometer) remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
8. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
9. Brush the remaining barbeque sauce and broil in an oven for about 4-5 minutes or grill for about 3-5 minutes. (You could wrap the ribs in a foil too if you’d like).
10. Remove when caramelized, let it rest for a few minutes, and serve with any topping or dish you like.

Baby back ribs in a crockpot are very easy to achieve, follow these steps above for a great result or if you’d still like to see more ideas on how to make crockpot baby back ribs, check out this video recipe