Crockpot BBQ Ribs – Break out your slow cooker for these easy, fall-apart, baby back ribs! Made with a homemade rub, sliced onions, and barbecue sauce, these are seriously finger-lickin’ good!
This is going to be a kinda photo-heavy post today, my friends. I just couldn’t help myself. I looooooooved photographing these yummy ribs, and when it came time to narrow down my photo choices, I became terribly indecisive. So… more is better, right?!
This all starts out with an amazing homemade rub. We use it all the time in our house, especially when my hubby is cooking up something good on his Big Green Egg. He uses it when he smokes a pork butt, which I later use to make Brunswick Stew. Major YUM, by the way!
The rub recipe comes from an awesome cookbook called Smoking Meat that my hubby received as a gift from my sister and brother-in-law. I adjust the spice level a bit, since the full amount of cayenne makes it a bit spicier.
It makes a TON of rub, which is nice, because I just store it in a container and pull it out anytime I need to season some meat for barbecuing or grilling. You can always halve or quarter the recipe if you don’t want to have a lot left over. Though, I bet you will like it and want to have more!
I love to slice ours up and serve it with the onions and leftover sauce from the crockpot. It’s SO GOOD! But if you’re not big on onions, you can totally leave them out. Or you can just use them for flavoring the meat while it cooks, and then remove them when it’s time to eat. Totally flexible. 
Enjoy!
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup paprika
- 2 TB coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 TB lemon pepper
- 2 TB kosher salt
- 2 TB chili powder
- 2 TB garlic powder
- 2 TB onion powder
- 1 TB cayenne pepper
- 3-5 pounds of baby back ribs
- ½ large onion, sliced
- 2-3 cups your favorite barbecue sauce
- Combine rub ingredients and mix well. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for later use.
- Liberally sprinkle all sides of the ribs with the rub and push it into the meat. Place ribs in the crockpot, standing up, with the meaty side against the wall of the crockpot. Place sliced onions in the open center of the crockpot. Pour barbecue sauce over both sides of the ribs.
- Cook ribs for 4 hours on high heat, or for 6-7 hours on low. Slice ribs and serve with onions and sauce from crockpot. Enjoy!
I’m always happy to break out the slow cooker and would absolutely do that for these beautiful ribs! My mama will be proud!
Haha! I bet she would be, girl!
Oh my goodness. I NEED to make ribs in the slow cooker. . .like NOW. These look lip-smackin’ incredible. I love that you can see the onion on the top. YUM!
Thank you, Sara! And YES the onion is SO GOOD!
I never thought to make ribs in the crock pot- but these look finger- licking good! Love all the spices in that rub too!
Thank you, Sherri!
These ribs are calling my name. They looks so juicy and delicious! I love the homemade rub too. That’s awesome!! 😉
You’re the best, Cyndi! Thank you!
These are making my mouth water! I need to surprise my hubby with these!
Yes! I bet he would love them, Jaren!
Why these have to be photos and not my real lunch? Hahah, thanks for sharing!
Haha thank you, Lily!
Making ribs in the slow cooker are my favorite! They always turn out so tender and totally delicious.
I know! Just love that slow cooker.
mercy! These ribs are the only thing my husband will request once we make them!
They are definitely a man-approved food! 😉
I don’t blame you for not being able to resist photos of these ribs. They are gorgeous! I need to try your rub too.
Thank you so much, Andi!