Skip the Grill: 30 Pork Ribs in Crockpot Recipes That Just as Good as the Grilled Versions! 

October 22, 2024
Written by Kristy J. Norton

Do you love pork ribs but hate the fuss that comes with grilling them? Well, these pork ribs in crockpot recipes are here to save the day! Here, you will learn how to whip up the most delicious and tender ribs you have ever tasted. Go ahead and check out these recipes now! 

pork ribs in the crockpot

1. BBQ Pork Ribs

It really doesn’t get any easier than this recipe and you end up with the most delicious ribs too! It is just a matter of lightly seasoning the ribs, browning them, placing them on a bed of onions before smothering them in barbecue sauce and slow cooking to perfection! 

Get the recipe here

BBQ Pork Ribs

2. Country Style Pork Ribs

Savory, tender, and saucy – these ribs are everything you could hope for! The pork ribs are drizzled in a yummy rub and then simmered in aromatics, broth, and barbecue sauce until they are just about falling apart. Then, you reduce the sauce and brush it onto the ribs before serving!   

Get the recipe here

Country Style Pork Ribs

3. Honey Garlic Pork Ribs

If you are looking for something light that is perfectly balanced between sweet and savory, then this is a great recipe to try! The pork ribs are coated in paprika and chili powder and then cooked low and slow in garlic, honey, and soy sauce. For added flavor, serve the ribs with a side of their cooking sauce! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Garlic Pork Ribs

4. Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs

All about the flavor and want to try something different with your ribs? Well, then this is the recipe for you! The pork ribs start off by being slow cooked in brown sugar, sriracha, and aromatics. When it is nearly done, pineapple is poured in for an extra burst of sweetness and tang! 

Get the recipe here

Sweet and Spicy Pork Ribs

5. Teriyaki Pork Ribs

This is a great recipe if you want ribs that will taste like they have been cooked on a grill! Here, the pork ribs are tossed in a savory rub and then slow cooked until tender. They are then brushed with a layer of teriyaki sauce and broiled – this step is repeated to get a gorgeous caramelized and sticky crust on top! 

Get the recipe here

Teriyaki Pork Ribs

6. Coca Cola Pork Ribs 

If you have never tried cooking ribs in coca cola before, you should certainly give it a shot now! The coke works to tenderize the meat and add a lovely caramel-like flavor to the ribs. In addition to the soda, the ribs are also simmered in barbecue sauce and seasonings. Once tender, the ribs are basted with more sauce and broiled! 

Get the recipe here

Coca Cola Pork Ribs

7. Maple Whiskey Pork Ribs

These pork ribs are truly incredible – just what you need if you want to experiment with more complex flavors! The ribs are slow cooked in maple syrup, whisky, and dijon mustard. It is super simple but guaranteed to take your ribs to a whole new level. For extra crunch and flavor, baste and broil the ribs with more maple whiskey sauce. 

Get the recipe here

Maple Whiskey Pork Ribs

8. Tropical Pork Ribs

Sweet yet tangy, these are the perfect ribs for a summer party! The ribs are cooked low and slow in a sauce made of barbecue sauce, orange juice and zest, and lime juice and zest. Make sure to serve the ribs with the delicious cooking sauce! 

Get the recipe here

Tropical Pork Ribs

9. Bourbon Pork Ribs

These pork ribs are sure to knock your socks off – the flavor is just so incredible! The ribs are cooked in bourbon and a homemade barbecue sauce for those taste bud tingly flavors. Just remember to baste the ribs during the cooking process to ensure that they absorb all that tastiness!

Get the recipe here

Bourbon Pork Ribs

10. Sticky Asian Pork Ribs

These ribs pack a flavor and texture punch that you are going to love! The ribs are dusted in a dry rub and then slow cooked in yummy ingredients like brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and sweet chili sauce. The ribs are then broiled, basted in even more of that lovely sauce as a finishing touch! 

Get the recipe here

Sticky Asian Pork Ribs

11. Maple Peach Bourbon Pork Ribs  

Looking for a Southern take on your pork ribs? Then your search stops here! There is a little bit of prep work involved here – you have to make up the maple bourbon peach sauce on the stovetop – but it is well worth the effort! 

Get the recipe here

Maple Peach Bourbon Pork Ribs

12. Hot Honey Pork Ribs

These ribs are a gorgeous balance of sweet and spicy, with a hint of tang. The honey is spiced up with chilies and the lime juice and apple cider vinegar add another layer of flavor into the mix. The pork ribs are dusted in a smoky rub and then slow cooked until tender. They are then brushed with hot honey and broiled to perfection!  

Get the recipe here

Hot Honey Pork Ribs

13. Bourbon Barbecue Pork Ribs

There are so many yummy elements in this recipe, all working together! The rub is spicy with a bit of instant coffee to add even more complexity to it. The sauce is sweet, with some warmth and kick thanks to the bourbon. Broiling the ribs with more sauce adds even more depth to the meat! 

Get the recipe here

Bourbon Barbecue Pork Ribs

14. Sriracha Cranberry Pork Ribs

If you have ever wanted to include ribs in your holiday menu, here is one way to do it! Seasoned pork ribs are simmered in sriracha ketchup and jellied cranberry sauce until tender. They are then broiled, with the spicy cranberry sauce acting as a baste! 

Get the recipe here

Sriracha Cranberry Pork Ribs

15. Chipotle Pork Ribs with Honey Lime Glaze

The smoky, refreshing flavors of these pork ribs are sure to make them favorites with everyone in your family! The pork ribs are tossed in a sweet chipotle rub and then slow cooked for 3 hours. Once done, the ribs are thoroughly coated in the honey lime sauce and broiled until it sets as a glaze! 

Get the recipe here

Chipotle Pork Ribs with Honey Lime Glaze

16. Apple BBQ Ribs

Is there a cozier pairing than apples and pork? Since you don’t have to fire up the grill, these slow cooker ribs are perfect for those fall months! The ribs are arranged in the slow cooker with apple slices on top. They are then simmered in a sauce made from applesauce, brown sugar, and barbecue  sauce. Broil if you would like a bit more crunchiness to your ribs. 

Get the recipe here

Apple BBQ Ribs

17. Country-Style Pork Ribs with Peach Glaze 

Here is another delicious way to introduce fruit to your pork ribs! Here, the ribs are tossed in a sweet paprika rub and then slow cooked in peach soda and barbecue sauce. The ribs are then brushed with a mix of cooking sauce, peach preserves, and pickled cherry peppers before being broiled! 

Get the recipe here

Country-Style Pork Ribs with Peach Glaze

18. Orange Marmalade Pork Ribs

Tangy with a hint of sweetness, these pork ribs are ideal when you want a buzzy flavor to your ribs! The ribs are simmered in orange marmalade, brown sugar, and spices. They are then basted with barbecue sauce and broiled! 

Get the recipe here

Orange Marmalade Pork Ribs

19. Pork Ribs with Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce 

This recipe does things a little differently! Here, the ribs are tossed in a dry rub and then cooked in the oven for half an hour. In the meantime, make up a honey chipotle barbecue sauce. Add the ribs to the slow cooker, pour in the sauce, and cook until the ribs are tender! 

Get the recipe here

Pork Ribs with Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

20. Orange Marmalade BBQ Pork Ribs

This is another recipe where the ribs are first broiled in the oven and then transferred to the slow cooker. The ribs are tossed in an orange marmalade, molasses, and barbecue sauce mix before being cooked until they are practically falling off the bone. 

Get the recipe here

Orange Marmalade BBQ Pork Ribs

21. Sesame Country Style Ribs

If you like a little bit of extra crunch to your ribs, this is a recipe to consider! The ribs are simmered in a sweet, savory, and tangy sauce. Once the ribs are tender, the sauce is reduced and tossed over the ribs along with toasted sesame seeds! 

Get the recipe here

Sesame Country Style Ribs

22. Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs

These perfectly balanced ribs are incredibly delicious and easy to make! The cooking sauce gets its sweetness from brown sugar and tang from vinegar. The ribs are simmered in the sauce – the key to get a yummy flavor is to baste the ribs so often. Then, serve while warm! 

Get the recipe here

Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs

23. Country Ribs in Beer

Braising country ribs in beer and barbecue sauce give them such an amazing flavor! Not to mention, it is such a simple sauce to make! Once the ribs are nice and tender, reduce the sauce, and serve it drizzled over the ribs! 

Get the recipe here

Country Ribs in Beer

24. Ginger Beer Pork Ribs

Ginger beer is a great way to add a sweet yet tangy flavor to your pork ribs. The pork ribs are coated in Montreal seasoning before being cooked in ginger beer, barbecue sauce, and orange slices. After the ribs are all done, reduce the sauce and use it to baste the ribs as they are broiled. 

Get the recipe here

Ginger Beer Pork Ribs

25. Honey Balsamic Pork Ribs

The glaze on these pork ribs is incredible! The pork ribs are coated in a tangy marinade and are simmered until tender. You then add honey and balsamic vinegar to the cooking sauce and reduce it to form the basting sauce for the ribs as they broil. Make sure to serve the ribs with even more of that honey balsamic glaze! 

Get the recipe here

Honey Balsamic Pork Ribs

26. Sesame Ginger Pork Ribs

These Asian inspired pork ribs offer up flavor in every bite! The pork ribs are cooked in a yummy sauce that is made of ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and more! Make sure to reduce the sauce once the ribs are done cooking and serve with the ribs.   

Get the recipe here

Sesame Ginger Pork Ribs

27. Louisiana Pork Ribs

This recipe adds Creole flavoring to the ribs in the dry rub as well as the sauce, making sure you get an extra boost of flavor! Once the ribs are dusted in the herb and spice dry rub, they are then simmered in a Creole seasoned barbecue sauce until nice and tender! 

Get the recipe here

Louisiana Pork Ribs

28. Sweet Chili Pork Ribs

There is so much to love about these pork ribs! They are essentially slow cooked in sweet chili sauce, a homemade barbecue sauce, and aromatics. Once the ribs are cooked to perfection, they are drizzled with the reduced cooking sauce as well as sesame seeds and green onions. 

Get the recipe here

Sweet Chili Pork Ribs

29. Brown Sugar Pork Ribs

If you are all about keeping your pork ribs as simple as possible, then you are going to love this recipe! The brown sugar lends sweetness while the soy sauce and rice vinegar help to balance it out. Simply slow cook the ribs in the sauce until they are tender and they will be ready to serve!

Get the recipe here

Brown Sugar Pork Ribs

30. Habanero Apricot Pork Ribs

These pork ribs just keep bringing the flavor! The ribs are tossed in some smoky spices like chipotle and smoked paprika. The ribs are then slow cooked in beer. In the meantime, you make the fiery habanero apricot barbecue sauce. When the ribs are done cooking, they are brushed with the glaze and then grilled –  brush with more sauce and serve! 

Get the recipe here

Habanero Apricot Pork Ribs

There you have it – all the different ways that you can cook pork ribs in your crockpot! From simple and traditional to new and exciting, the options are endless. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give these recipes a try! 

By Kristy J. Norton
I'm Kristy – a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! You can find me either in my kitchen (or someone else's) or at a big outdoor barbecue surrounded by friends and family. In both my professional and personal life I’ve picked up more than a few tips and tricks for turning out delicious food. I consider it a privilege to share it with others!
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