Fall Off the Bone Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

15 minute prep Fall-Off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs that everyone will go crazy for! Super easy, flavorful, and so touchdown tender you will be making them again and again!

I keep a running bucket list of different types of food/recipes I want to make. Ribs have long been one of them. After making these Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs, I am kicking myself for not rushing them to the top of the list sooner! As in years and years sooner so I could have been chowing down on their juicy, tender, barbecue smothered bliss this whole time.

At least I made them three times in one week to partially make up for it. So please don’t lose years and year of deliciousness and make these super easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs ASAP!

If you have never made ribs, or never made them in the slow cooker, prepare for your mind to be blown with this easy method for moist, literally falling of the bone BBQ ribs, every single time. Our minds were blow. And our stomachs rejoiced.

Aside from the fall-off-the-bone tender factor, these ribs are heads above the rest because they are slathered in the most incredible rub and barbecue sauce to create layers of restaurant (or better than restaurant says Patrick) flavor. The Spice Rub is an intoxicating blend of paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, chipotle powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. The rub recipe makes quite a bit but you are going to want to use all of the blend for perfect flavor packed ribs. Not too spicy, not too sweet, but just right – or so said my parents who dropped by and polished off the leftovers.

After you spice rub your ribs, you bake them for 15 minutes on each side to seal in the juices and render some of the fat. Meanwhile, whisk up your tantalizing barbecue sauce that is sweet and tangy and just right which is a simple mixture of ketchup, molasses, brown sugar and my secret ingredient, blackberry preserves which balances out the acidity with subtle sweetness.

Let the ribs cruise on low for 7-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours or until they are fall apart tender. And they will be fall apart tender.

So even if your team doesn’t win on Sunday, you can still have game winning Fall-Off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs that everyone will cheer for! And repeatedly beg for.

Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

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Prep time 15 mins
Cook time 5 hours
Total time 5 hours 15 mins
Author: [email protected] Serves: 6-8 servings
Ingredients

4 pounds baby back pork ribs
Spice Rub
1 1/2 Tablespoons paprika
1 1/2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for more heat)
Barbecue Sauce
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup seedless blackberry preserves
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoons reserved Spice Rub (from above)
1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)*

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F Line a baking sheet with sides with parchment paper. Set aside.
Cut ribs into 6 sections then rinse and pat dry.
In a medium bowl, whisk together Spice Rub ingredients. Remove 1 tablespoon Spice Rub to use in your barbecue sauce. Rub all remaining Spice Rub evenly all over the meat then place ribs on prepared baking sheet. Bake ribs for 15 minutes ON EACH SIDE (30 minutes total) to sear meat.
Meanwhile, add all of the Barbecue Sauce ingredients to a medium saucepan and gently simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce and refrigerate to use after ribs are cooked.
Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray then add a thin layer of remaining barbecue sauce, followed by ribs. Layer sauce then ribs until complete, tossing to coat as needed to ensure ribs are evenly coated in barbecue sauce.
Cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours or on LOW for 7-9 hours OR cook until ribs are fall apart tender. Rotate ribs once during cooking so they cook evenly. Cooking time may vary between slow cookers.
When ribs are tender, remove from slow cooker and brush with some Reserved Barbecue Sauce if desired or use sauce for dipping. Enjoy!

Notes *Liquid smoke can be found next to the barbecue sauce in most grocery stores. It adds a wonderfully smoky flavor.
**I like to dip each rib piece in the spice mix, front and back, then rub the mix all over with my hands.
**It might like seem like a lot of seasoning, but you should use all of the Spice Rub for 4 pounds of meat for optimal flavor.
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