These Crockpot Honey BBQ Ribs are the ultimate homey, comforting meal. These ribs are fall-apart tender in the middle, crispy on the edges, and smothered in a sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce.
I. Love. My. Crockpot. How could you not love something that makes cooking delicious meals so darn easy?!
These Crockpot Honey BBQ Ribs are a new favorite recipe to make using my slow cooker. They’re made with basic ingredients, require just a few minutes of hands-on time, and everyone loves them!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Pantry staple ingredients – Just a few spices, honey, and BBQ sauce to give these crockpot ribs TONS of delicious flavor.
- The perfect make-ahead meal – Tasty and hearty, and so easy to whip up ahead of time.
- Mouthwatering flavor and texture – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…crockpot is KING when it comes to getting the juiciest, most tender meat.
Recipe Notes
This Crockpot Pork Ribs recipe is as simple as promised! Just a a few minutes of easy prep for a family friendly dinner.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Pork Ribs in the Crockpot to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Pork Ribs – I use baby back ribs for this recipe.
- Spice Rub – Our spice blend is made with a combination of chili powder, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and ground black pepper.
- BBQ Sauce – You can use your favorite store-bought variety OR make a batch of my Homemade BBQ Sauce.
- Honey
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Spice them up – Give your honey BBQ sauce a kick of heat by using hot honey in place of regular honey.
- Use another meat – Looking for another way to enjoy honey BBQ sauce? Try my Honey BBQ Meatballs, Honey BBQ Chicken Bites, or Crockpot Honey BBQ Wings!
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Easy Crockpot BBQ Ribs.
Combine all of your spices together in a small bowl to make your dry rub. Remove the membrane off your ribs, then season both sides with your prepared spice blend. Place into your slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
In a bowl, combine the BBQ sauce and honey to make your sauce. When the ribs are done cooking, transfer to a baking sheet and brush generously with sauce.
Bake at 425ºF until the edges are crispy and the sauce is bubbly, then serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Membrane removal: To remove the membrane from your pork, slide a knife under the edge, then pull it until it peels off down the length of the rack of ribs.
- Halve the rack – If you’re having trouble fitting the full rack of pork ribs into your crockpot, you can cut it in half to use your space more efficiently.
- No liquid needed! – While most crockpot recipes do require a liquid, this one doesn’t. As soon as the ribs start cooking, they will release juices and fats that will create plenty of moisture for them to cook just right.
- Adjust the amount as needed – I use 3 pounds of pork to feed my family of 5, but you can cook anywhere from 2-4 pounds depending on the amount you need. If you are cooking more than 4 pounds, you will need to cook longer or use two different slow cookers.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Cook on high – I love to cook low and slow for the juiciest ribs, but if you’re shorter on time, you can absolutely cook these ribs on high with delicious results.
- Pre-cook and store – Whip this recipe up in advance and store your rib leftovers in the fridge or freezer! They reheat great!
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Crockpot Pork Ribs recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to Freeze Honey BBQ Ribs After Cooking
- Let the ribs cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container.
- Store in the freezer for 2-3 months.
- When you’re ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat covered in the oven until warmed all the way through.
What to Serve with Honey BBQ Ribs
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of honey and BBQ, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes – What’s more comforting than baked potatoes? These Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are the perfect way to round out your crockpot ribs dinner. Just 5 minutes of prep!
- Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread – Add some southern comfort to your meal with this Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread. It’s moist, tender, light, soft, and delicious!
- Southern Squash Casserole – Take your meal to the next level with this Southern Squash Casserole. This dish features yellow squash, bell pepper, and onion baked with egg, butter, and sour cream, then finished with pecans, cheddar cheese, and croutons.
Crockpot Pork Ribs Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making these Slow Cooker Ribs, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-5 days
- in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Recipe FAQ’s
How long to cook honey BBQ ribs in a slow cooker?
That depends on the setting! I recommend 4-5 hours if you’re cooking on high OR 6-8 hours if you’re cooking on low.
Are ribs better in the crockopot or oven?
Both! This recipe starts with a few hours of crockpot cook time and finishes with a few minutes at a high temperature in the oven. The long, slow cooking time creates a moist and tender texture, while the brief time in the oven at high heat gives the ribs those delicious, crispy edges.
More EASY Crockpot Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy crockpot recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite slow cooker recipes below.
- Crockpot Cuban Style Mojo Pork
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
- Crockpot Salsa Chicken
- French Onion Pot Roast
Crockpot Honey BBQ Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 pounds pork ribs, (I used baby back ribs) see note 1
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Add the chili powder, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper to a small bowl, and mix to combine.
- Remove the membrane off the ribs by sliding a knife under the edge of it (on the bone side) then pulling until it peels off down the length of the rack of ribs.
- Season both sides of the ribs with the seasoning mix.Optional: Cut the rack in half. You don't have to do this, but I think it is easier to fit it in my crockpot this way.
- Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours, or low for 6-8 hours.Note: you do not need to add additional liquid to the crockpot. As soon as it starts cooking, the ribs will release juices and fats that it will cook in. (See note 2 for more detail)
- To make the Honey BBQ sauce, whisk together your barbecue sauce of choice with honey until smooth.
- Once done, preheat the oven to 425˚F.Transfer the ribs to a baking sheet and brush both sides with a generous amount of BBQ sauce. (see note 3)Bake meat side up for 8-12 minutes or until the sauce starts to bubble and the edges get crisp.
- You can serve ribs as a rack, or cut between them to make individual portions.
Recipe Notes
- I buy about 3 pounds for my family of 5. If you need to adjust, you can cook about 2-4 pounds using the same instructions and times. If you have more than 4 pounds you will probably need to cook longer in the slow cooker, or use 2 slow cookers.
- If your slow cooker has no liquid in it after an hour or so, the seal probably isn’t good. The lid likely needs to be readjusted, or replaced.
- I like to line the baking sheets with foil for easy clean up.
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