Fall off the bone Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe! {Video} (2024)

Here’s a Fall-off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe! You will not believe how easy it is to make these delicious CrockPot Ribs!

Slow Cooker Ribs

This Slow Cooker Rib recipe is so easy and turned out fantastic! I cooked the ribs overnight in the slow cooker for 10 hours.

One of John's favorite restaurants is Texas Roadhouse. He loves their ribs. Every time we are there, he talks about how they fall off the bone and are just plain delicious.

The closest Texas Roadhouse is 45 minutes from us. I have a hard time driving 45 minutes for dinner. I decided to make fall-off-the-bone ribs at home.

We also made Texas Roadhouse Butter and loaded sweet potatoes for a proper restaurant meal at home. LOL

After researching, I decided to try them in the slow cooker. I figured the low and slow heat would make the meat more apt to fall off the bone, and I was right!

John said I had to show everyone how nicely the ribs fell off the bone. This recipe will be my go-to rib recipe from now on.

Ingredients

Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making epic Fall-off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Ribs! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.

• Ribs
• Water
• Cooking Sherry
• Worcestershire Sauce
• BBQ Sauce

Optional dry rub seasonings - onion powder, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, apple cider vinegar, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, brown sugar

Equipment Needed

• CrockPot: We suggest using a 6-quart crockpot with a digital timer that automatically switches the slow cooker to warm after a set time to ensure your dinner cooks perfectly without stressing about cooking time.
• Knife - You will want to remove the membrane from the ribs.

How to Make Fall-off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Ribs

I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.

1. Place ribs upright in the slow cooker.
2. Pour ingredients over the ribs. I poured the barbecue sauce last and added some more right before serving.
3. Cook low and slow in the slow cooker

John said I had to show everyone just how nicely the rack of ribs fell off the bone. He was in awe of these slow cooker ribs and said they were amazing. We had his Mom over for lunch and they both raved about the slow cooker ribs. This will definitely be my go-to rib recipe from now on.

Preparation and Storage

Make-Ahead: This baby back ribs recipe takes ten hours to cook in your CrockPot once you set the timer, making it the perfect make-ahead entree that gives you plenty of buffer time!

They can be finished off on the grill or in the oven if you want to broil them. They are bone tender so be prepared for them to fall apart coming out of the slow cooker.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them within three days.

Freezing/How to Freeze: Freeze your leftover Crock Pot Ribs in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy them within three months. You can wrap them snugly in plastic or aluminum foil for extra insulation against freezer burn.

How to Reheat: Check out Southern Living’s guide to reheating ribs for expert tips for handling leftovers. Thaw any leftover portions overnight in the fridge to ensure they reheat evenly.

Recipe Variations

Substitutions:

We used Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce, but you can use any high-quality barbecue sauce you enjoy.

Vegetarian + Vegan Option: You won’t be able to use this recipe for slow cooker ribs, as it’s written for meat. However, all it takes is some online research to uncover recipes for meat-free eaters who want vegetarian or vegan ribs.

Gluten-Free: Sweet Baby Ray’s confirms that many of its products are gluten-free and will be labeled accordingly.

Alcohol-Free Option: We don’t use alcohol in this recipe, and Sweet Baby Ray’s Original also contains none. However, whiskey and bourbon are common additions that you can try if you want to infuse your slow-cooker ribs with boozy flavor.

Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: We used three pounds of ribs to yield six servings. Scale the written recipe up or down to your desired yield, working in batches as needed if you scale up.

Make It Spicy: If you want to use the same brand, look for Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet ‘n Spicy Barbecue Sauce to spice up CrockPot Ribs. Otherwise, any spicy BBQ sauce works!

Sugar-Free: Use Sweet Baby Ray’s No Sugar Added Original or any other sugar-free BBQ sauce to make this recipe sugar-free.

Tips for the Best Crock Pot Ribs

• Don't be surprised that the ribs sink into the slow cooker. I like to set them on their side first to ensure the ingredients coat both sides of the ribs. They get so tender with slow cooking.
• How much barbecue sauce you put over the ribs is up to you. I like adding a bunch at the beginning and then coating them right before cooking.
• I use kitchen tongs to remove the ribs from the slow cooker. Be prepared for them to fall apart and drop back into the slow cooker. Having a kitchen rag near you helps to wipe up sauce splatters.
• If you want your ribs even saucier, you can serve extra sauce on the side in a bowl.

What to Serve with Fall-off-the-Bone Slow Cooker Ribs

These CrockPot Ribs are tender, flavorful, easy to make, and perfect for any occasion needing a standout meat entree! Here are some menu pairing suggestions.

Sides: Broccoli Casserole, Apple Stuffing, Carrot Soufflé, BLT Pasta Salad, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Air Fryer Baked Potato, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, Sweet Potato Casserole with Candied Yams, Southern Style Green Beans, CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans

Main Dishes: CrockPot Chili Mac and Cheese, CrockPot Bacon Mac and Cheese, , CrockPot Beer Chili, CrockPot Cuban Pork Sandwiches, Buffalo Chicken Wontons, CrockPot Bacon Ranch Chicken, CrockPot Buffalo Sloppy Joes

Desserts: Red Velvet Brownies, Chocolate Coconut 5 Layer Bars, CrockPot Mixed Berry Cobbler, Black Bean Brownies, Easy Homemade Banana Bread, , Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies, Molasses Cookies

Drinks: co*ke Slushie, Kool-Aid Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, Brazilian Lemonade, Sonic Ocean Water, CopyCat McDonald's Sweet Tea, Watermelon Agua Fresca

When to Serve

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Potlucks
• Family and Friends Gatherings

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Recipe originally shared on January 23, 2013. Updated October 2020.