Tender BBQ Easy Crockpot Ribs

You’ve got to try this easy crockpot ribs recipe for fall off the bone juicy ribs! If you’ve never made beef or pork ribs in your slow cooker they taste amazing with no effort on your part. A little time in the oven with this dry rub makes them one of our favorite dinners.

Let me share our recipe for easy crockpot ribs with you!  With a schedule like mine (and probably yours too) I love finding and sharing great kitchen “hacks”! A special thanks goes out to Fresh & Easy for sponsoring this post.  Here’s how you make one of our favorite crockpot recipes. (originally published 10/14, affiliate links present)

Ok…..I know I’m not the only one who is super busy!

I’m always looking for a good kitchen “hack” that makes my life easier AND creates a meal that everyone loves.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. If you just want to serve a few appetizers you should get this one that sit side by side one another.
3. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Crockpot Pork Ribs Recipe 

We buy the juice you see here often because it’s super yummy and free of artificial colors and flavors. There’s an apple cider version you can find in the refrigerated section too. Both are good and work quite well for this recipe.

The cider style leaves more of an applewood flavor to the ribs. Either way though you can’t go wrong.

So as you may have figured out, the key to this quick and easy meal is the apple juice. Simple kitchen “hack” right??!!!

If you ask my kids what they’d choose for dinner, they’d say ribs all day long. Ok, and sushi. I know, totally odd for kids but what can I say…they have expensive and out of the box tastebuds.

Crock Pot Ribs

• In the morning, just throw the ribs in your crockpot (I use the largest one I have, the 8.5 quart you can find here is the best)
• Then pour apple juice or apple cider on top so that they are fully submerged into that liquid.
• Cook ribs on low for 6-8 hours until you can tell they are fall apart tender.
  • Timing will vary depending on how much meat you put in, how thick they are, and what type of meat you use.
  • Keep in mind that pork ribs will always become more tender, quicker than beef will.
  • I only show 1 rack here but if you wanted to double the amount you could as long as your pot is large enough. You will just need more liquid so they’re all submerged.

This meal is a perfect kitchen “hack” if you work all day, the majority of the “cooking” is done while you’re away!

• When you get home you’ll immediately smell the goodness!!
• Just turn your slow cooker off, and carefully place the racks of ribs on a baking sheet.
  • Use tongs and grip as many as possible at a time because they will immediately fall apart as you move them…..yummmmm.
• Use the seasonings we suggest below to make a dry rub to sprinkle on OR brush with barbecue sauce generously.
  • Another option is to keep it simple and lower carb, just sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake. Chili powder will add a bit of heat too.
• I put them in the oven for just about 20 min. at 300, or under your broiler for 3-5 minutes. Just until they’re the desired crispness for you!

Enjoy!! I threw the bag of green beans in the microwave as our veggie (totally the way to go as they have already snipped the ends off and prepared them.

All you do is pop them in and cook for 4 minutes. You can top the ribs off with BBQ sauce if you want.

Crockpot BBQ Ribs

1. Rack of ribs – we prefer pork
   1. What are the different types of ribs?
      1. Baby back pork ribs don’t have as much meat to me
   2. What kind of ribs are the meatiest? Country Style pork ribs are my all time favorite, more meat and very tender
   3. St. Louis isn’t my favorite
   4. Pork spare ribs
   5. Baby back beef or short ribs would be at the bottom of my list of choices personally
2. Apple juice or apple cider
3. Brown sugar, garlic salt and salt if you want to make a dry rub
   1. We use this method on our barbecue ribs and smoked ribs recipes, everyone raves about those.
4. OR use barbecue sauce before crisping in the oven

Baking sheet and small bowl of barbecue sauce if you want to crisp them up once they’re done

I know, they look amazing right??!! Add more sauce at the end or enjoy as is with some air fryer corn on the cob and salad.

I have a few other easy crockpot recipes as well once you’ve enjoyed our ribs:

• Slow cooking Korean beef turns out fabulous if you’ve never tried that before
• Braised short ribs are pretty amazing too
• Our Crockpot ham recipe we love during the holidays for sure
• Chicken soup in the crockpot is a healthy choice all kids enjoy

Below you can print recipe and see nutritional facts like saturated fat, etc.. Those will vary according to the weight of your meat and sauce you use though. Get ready for the most amazing fall apart tender meat ever.

Easy Peasy and so Fresh & Easy. 😉 Tell me your secrets…….come on, you know you have a kitchen “hack” too. Please share below, this busy Mama wants to know!