Crockpot Country Style Ribs are so flavorful. Cooked for hours in a slow cooker, these boneless country-style pork ribs are fork-tender and so easy to make. Your whole family will enjoy these deliciously simple pork ribs. Show
Ribs are a summertime staple, but sometimes it rains, and sometimes it's just too hot to turn on the oven. (If this doesn’t make sense to you, come to my house and it will make sense very quickly. We have an a-frame living room and once we heat up the kitchen, it takes hours to cool the whole house back down.) And honestly, cooking boneless ribs in a crockpot is just so easy. This is one of our favorite recipes because these ribs take seconds to get started - literally just slice up an onion, mix some seasoning with barbecue sauce, and rub it on the ribs - the rest of the long slow cooking time is hands-free. This honestly might be one of the easiest slow cooker recipes that we make. Table of Contents
🥘 Ingredient Notes
What cut of meat is Country Style Ribs?Surprisingly, country-style ribs aren’t actually ribs at all. They are a cut of pork that comes from the shoulder area of the pig. It’s a muscular part at the end of the loin that is fatty, which is what makes it a perfect candidate for cooking low and slow. Why are they called country-style ribs?Their name can be kind of confusing, but these "ribs" got their name because the flavor and consistency of the cut of meat are similar to actual ribs once it’s done cooking. (These are sometimes also called Western ribs.) How do you Season Country Ribs?Like anything good in life, country-style ribs need to be seasoned in layers and cooked for hours - they cook with a brown sugar dry rub that is mixed with sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. The pork is then shredded and tossed in a little more sauce. You can use a sweet or smoky sauce, depending on your family’s preferences. Sometimes I get so crazy that I even make homemade barbecue sauce for my ribs. For our dry rub, I love to use Homemade Cajun Seasoning - it is a combination of garlic powder, thyme, paprika, oregano, onion powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, chili powder, and black pepper. The flavors complement the pork so well. 🍽 Equipment Needed
🥣 How to Make ThemCountry Style Ribs could not be easier to make. Begin by slicing the onion into large thick slices, then line the bottom of the slow cooker with the onion slices. (Picture 1) In a small bowl, combine the Cajun Seasoning with the brown sugar. (Picture 2) Combine this mixture with ½ cup of barbecue sauce. (Picture 3) Coat the ribs on all sides with this seasoning mixture, then lay the ribs on top of the onions. (Pictures 4 - 5) I find it is easiest to use a basting brush to paint the barbecue sauce onto all of the exposed sides of the ribs, then lay them on top of the onions with the barbecue sauce side down. Then you can paint the bare side of the ribs with sauce so that they are completely covered. (Picture 6) Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours, or until the ribs are fork-tender. (Picture 7 - 9) (If the ribs don’t fall apart when you try to pick them up with a fork, they need to cook for longer.) I prefer the slower & lower cooking time, but if you don't have time, you can cook the ribs on high. When the ribs are done cooking, shred them up and move the onions and ribs to a bowl. You can serve them in big chunks or really tear them apart with a fork. I like to leave some big chunks unless we are making sandwiches or wraps. Mix some of the juices from the crockpot with the barbecue sauce and coat the ribs with it. I like to only use a small amount and then serve the remainder on the table for people to use as they please. Serve & enjoy! Note: There is no need for any extra liquid in this recipe (though there is when you make country-style ribs in an Instant Pot) as the ribs are very juicy. Recipe Variations
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked QuestionsCan you use frozen ribs for this recipe? You can - but if you have the time, I would let the ribs defrost. Frozen ribs will take a lot longer to cook and the seasoning won't penetrate the ribs as much. If you absolutely have to, give yourself a lot of time and don’t rush it - if the temperature is too high, you will just end up with tough meat, so the ribs still have to be cooked low and slow. If you are in a rush and your meat is frozen, I would cook the ribs in an Instant Pot instead and sear the outside of the ribs to lock in more flavor. Are country-style ribs tough? Country-style ribs are a cut of meat that can definitely be tough if they are not cooked properly, similar to a chuck roast, pork butt, or stew beef. They either need to be cooked for a long time at a low temperature or under pressure using a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot. They will be melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly delicious if cooked properly. (If you cook them using high heat for a short amount of time, they will be like chewing through leather.) Does cooking ribs longer make them more tender? Yes. For best results, boneless (and bone-in) ribs should be cooked at a low temperature - or they can be pressure cooked. The longer you cook pork ribs, the more tender they will become and the better they will be. Muscle and collagen in meat start to “break down” or denature when it hits 160°F and the longer it cooks, the softer and more tender it will get. When the meat hits around 190°F to 200°F, it will be so tender that it just melts in your mouth. Can you slow cook ribs for too long? I suppose you could, but you’re more likely to cook the ribs for so long that they start to disintegrate than anything else. That’s what is so amazing about cooking these on low in the slow cooker – you can cook them for a very long time without them drying out or overcooking. At what temperature are ribs cooked? The safe internal temperature for pork is 145°F, but for ribs to be “fall-off-the-bone” or “melt-in-your-mouth” tender, they need to cook slow and low for a long time to gradually reach an internal temperature of around 185/190°F. (Collagen is what makes meat tough and the collagen in the ribs will begin breaking down at around 160°F but needs to get to around 185/190°F to really tenderize.) How do you store leftover cooked ribs?Once cooled, leftover cooked ribs need to be refrigerated in an airtight container. We like to store the meat in the broth from the slow cooker to help keep the meat from drying out. (We reheat the meat in the broth as well.) The ribs will be good for 5 - 7 days or the meat can be frozen in the broth for an easy freezer meal for a busy night. ✏️ Helpful Tips
What do you serve with BBQ Country Style Ribs?
What can you do with leftover slow cooker pork ribs?This delicious recipe is a gateway dinner to so many other tasty meals. Use it as you would use pulled pork, pork shoulder, or carnitas.
Have You Tried This Recipe?Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!Crock Pot Country Style RibsCrockpot Country Style Ribs are so flavorful. Cooked for hours in a slow cooker, these boneless country-style pork ribs are fork-tender and so easy to make. Your whole family will enjoy these deliciously simple pork ribs. Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 6 hrs Total Time 6 hrs 5 mins Course Dinner, Main Course Cuisine Southern
Note: There is no need for any extra liquid in this recipe (though there is when you make country-style ribs in an Instant Pot) as the ribs are very juicy. Helpful Tips
Cajun Seasoning - Use ½ Cup for this recipe and check out this cajun seasoning post for ways to use the leftover seasoning!
Calories: 228kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 23gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 386mgPotassium: 544mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 2731IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 4mg Nutrition information is approximate and is automatically calculated, so should only be used as a guide. Keyword country-style ribs, crockpot country style ribs, slow cooker country style ribs How long do you cook boneless spare ribs in a crockpot?Lightly salt and pepper your boneless pork ribs on both sides. Add the ribs, onion, garlic, brown sugar, apple sauce and bbq sauce to your slow cooker. Gently mix it all up. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
Should ribs be submerged in slow cooker?Nestle the short ribs into the liquid, submerging it the best you can (but it's fine if they aren't completely submerged). Cook on high heat for 5 to 6 hours, until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
What temp do you slow cook countrySimply rub some of our Copycat Rib Tickler Rub all over your country-style pork ribs, then place them in a 9×13-inch pan or casserole dish. Cover the pan with a sheet of parchment paper, then a sheet of foil, and bake the ribs for four hours in a 250 degree F oven.
How long does it take to cook 2 lb of Country ribs?Preheat your oven to 300°F. Salt and pepper both sides of your ribs and place in a single layer in your pan, fattier side up. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 2 hours.
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