These Slow Cooker Spare Ribs are an easy way to make tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs for game day, BBQs or lazy weekends at home. They are cooked with a simple dry rub, smothered with BBQ sauce and then finished in the oven to give them delicious crispy edges.
The key to tender ribs is to cook them low and slow, making the slow cooker one of the best (and easiest) ways to do it. When you are ready to eat, serve this great recipe with your favorite BBQ side dishes like Baked Mac and Cheese, Easy Homemade Cornbread, Coleslaw, Baked Beans, and Oven-Roasted Asparagus.
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Slow Cooker Pork Spare Ribs
These Slow Cooked Pork Spare Ribs are about as stress-free as it gets. All you need to do is prep your pork ribs, coat them with a simple dry rub, cover in BBQ sauce, and let the crock pot do the work.
The other reason I like slow-cooking pork ribs is because that low and slow cooking time gives you the most juicy, tender meat. To finish, toss the slow-cooked ribs into a high oven for about 10 minutes to caramelize the sauce and get the edges crispy.
Key Ingredients
- Pork Spare Ribs - select spare ribs that have nicely marbled fat and those that aren’t cut too close to the bone (aka “shiners”). Sometimes at the grocery store you will find spare ribs sealed in packages. Those are perfectly fine—just try and avoid meat that you know has been frozen.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder add a nice sweet garlic and onion flavor to your dry rub. Other spices that taste great are smoked paprika, celery salt and even a little cayenne pepper.
- Salt and Pepper
- Barbecue Sauce - use your favorite brand of store-bought barbecue sauce. I like to use Sweet Baby Rays.
How to Cook Spare Ribs in a Slow Cooker
- Prepare ribs. To prepare the ribs, first remove the membrane. Pat dry with a paper towel, then cut the ribs in half.
- Rub with spices. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the dry rub on the spare ribs coating all sides, then place half of the ribs in the slow cooker.
- Cook. Add about ½ cup of BBQ sauce, spreading with a spoon to cover, then add the remaining ribs and another ½ cup of BBQ sauce to cover. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or 3-4 hours on high.
- Finish in the oven. When the ribs have almost finished cooking, preheat an oven to 425 degrees. Place the ribs onto a baking sheet and slather the rest of the BBQ sauce over the top. Bake ribs in the oven for 8-10 more minutes or until the BBQ sauce is caramelized and the ribs are crispy on the edges.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and serve with extra BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
While they are both pork ribs, the biggest differences between spare ribs and baby back ribs are where they come from on the animal and how fatty they are. Spare ribs are cut from the belly side and baby back ribs are cut from the upper ribs. Because of this, spare ribs - often known as St. Louis-style spare ribs - tend to be fattier and more flavorful.
Cooking spare ribs in a crock pot will take about 6-7 hours on low or about 3-4 hours on high heat. The cooking time will depend on how many you are cooking at a time and how big they are.
If you have followed the instructions and cooked your ribs for the recommended times and you notice they are tough, keep cooking for about 30-60 minutes and check again. Tough ribs usually indicate that they haven’t cooked long enough for the tougher cartilage to break down.
What to Serve with Ribs
- Coleslaw: Coleslaw is the ultimate side dish for BBQ ribs. The crisp texture and tangy flavor balances out the rich, smoky flavors of the meat.
- Baked beans: Slow-cooked, savory baked beans are a classic BBQ side dish that pairs perfectly with fall-off-the-bone ribs. The sweetness of the beans balances the heat of the spice rub, creating a perfect harmony of flavors.
- Garlicky mashed potatoes: Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes with a hint of garlic add a comforting, home-style touch to any BBQ spread.
- Mac and cheese: No BBQ meal is complete without a side of rich, creamy mac and cheese. The cheesy goodness of this classic comfort food is the perfect complement to smoky, saucy ribs.
- Grilled Veggie Kabobs: Grilled veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, and onions add a fresh, healthy touch to any BBQ spread.
- Grilled Pineapple- This can be served as a side dish or as a dessert topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Garlic bread: Crispy, buttery garlic bread is a delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with saucy, tender ribs. Its savory flavor and crunchy texture make it the ultimate comfort food.
- Sweet potato fries: Sweet potato fries are a healthy, delicious alternative to traditional fries that pair perfectly with flavorful, saucy ribs. Their sweet, caramelized flavor complements the savory meat perfectly.
Tips for Cooking Slow Cooker Pork Spare Ribs
- When cooking spare ribs in a slow cooker, it's important to select the right type of ribs. Look for well-marbled ribs that have a good balance of meat and fat. This will ensure tender and flavorful ribs.
- Before cooking the ribs, it's important to remove the membrane on the back of the rack. This can be done by gently sliding a knife under the membrane and then pulling it off.
- Slow cookers are designed to cook food at a low and steady temperature, so it's important to set the slow cooker to low heat. This will help to break down the collagen in the ribs, resulting in tender and juicy meat.
- For the most tender ribs, cook until the internal temperature is 190 degrees F or higher.
- Once the ribs are cooked in the slow cooker, you can give them a final touch of sauciness by finishing them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush them with more barbecue sauce and cook for a few minutes on each side, until they develop a nice char.
Storing and Reheating Pork Ribs
- Refrigerator: store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: freeze ribs along with some of the sauce in freezer bags for up to 2 months.
- To reheat on the stove: pull your Slow Cooker Spare Ribs out of the fridge about 30 minutes - 1 hour before you plan to serve and spoon any hardened fat off of the top. Place in a pot or skillet and simmer on low until warmed through.
- To reheat in the oven: transfer ribs to a dutch oven, cover and warm in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes - 1 hour, or until warmed through.
Slow Cooker Pork Spare Ribs Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Spare Ribs
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2-3 cups BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- To prepare the ribs, first remove the membrane. Pat dry with a paper towel, then cut the ribs in half.
- In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the dry rub on the spare ribs coating all sides, then place half of the ribs in the slow cooker.
- Add about ½ cup of BBQ sauce, spreading with a spoon to cover, then add the remaining ribs and another ½ cup of BBQ sauce to cover.
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- When the ribs have almost finished cooking, preheat an oven to 425 degrees. Place the ribs onto a baking sheet and slather the rest of the BBQ sauce over the top.
- Bake for 8-10 more minutes or until the BBQ sauce is caramelized and the ribs are crispy on the edges.
- Remove from the oven and serve with extra BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More of the Best Crock Pot Recipes
- Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
- Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs
- Crock Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Homemade Beef Stew
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
- Meat Sauce
- More Pork Recipes
- More Slow Cooker Recipes
- More Game Day Recipes
This stress-free recipe for Slow Cooker Spare Ribs is an easy way to make perfectly tender pork ribs. They are cooked with a simple dry rub, smothered with BBQ sauce and then finished in the oven to give them delicious crispy edges.
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