My recipe for Smithfield BBQ Ribs involves a two-step process that result in tender, fall off the bone, juicy ribs perfect every time. This is an easy grilling recipe perfect for summer your whole family will love.
Stop over-thinking how to make ribs and follow these easy instructions..
This recipe was originally a sponsored post. It has been updated since it first appeared in 2016 with new photos and new informationI hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
The best part about Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs is that they fit for any time…any season. Slow coking ribs breaks down the connective tissue in the meat making them fall-apart, tender.
Cooking Smithfield BBQ Ribs first in the slow cooker helps break down the tissue that's on the back of the ribs. That in turn helps make the ribs fall apart and become really tender.
And...you can enjoy barbecue ribs any time of year. Which is exactly what we do.
Table of Contents
Smithfield Baby Back Ribs
Smithfield® Ribs are extra-tender and juicy and are your secret weapon for making great ribs on the grill! There's no need to be afraid that the ribs are going to be tough or tasteless! I'm going to share with you my secret to having ribs turn out tender and juicy every time!
How do you Cook BBQ Ribs in a Crock Pot
Growing up my mother used to first boil the ribs in a large pot of water on top of the stove. Then she would place them on our charcoal grill in the backyard of our house in Queens, NY.
I never enjoyed ribs the way my mother made them...sorry mom. They weren't tender.
So a few years ago, I decided to try cooking them first in the slow cooker and then finishing them off on the grill. And they were amazing. The meat really did fall off the bone. My husband and son loved them.
The beauty of cooking ribs this way is you can prep them ahead the day before a big party. Which really helps with cleanup too.
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Main Ingredients Needed
Exact measurements are listed below in the recipe card. Make sure you scroll down to print and save the recipe for later!
- Your favorite BBQ rub
- 1 can of Coke soda
- 1 package Smithfield® Extra Tender Ribs
- BBQ sauce
If you would like detailed steps on how to remove the back membrane from the ribs, please read my Oven-Baked Barbecue Ribs recipe.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: How to make Tender Ribs in Crock Pot
- Sprinkle the seasoned salt or your favorite BBQ rub all over the ribs.
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker. Slice the ribs to fit into your crock pot. I cut my rack of ribs into 3 pieces.
- Empty the can of soda on top of the ribs.
- Cook on low 6 hours or on high 4 hours or until the ribs are fork tender.
- The ribs can now be placed directly on the grill to finish cooking. You can also refrigerate them overnight and finish cooking the next day.
Step 2: Add Smithfield's BBQ Sauce
- Baste the ribs with Smithfield BBQ sauce or your favorite sauce.
- You can even use a homemade barbecue sauce recipe.
- Place them on the grill for about 8 to ten minutes on each side; longer if they were refrigerated overnight.
Step 3: Grilling Instructions
- Grill on both sides until they're slightly charred.
- Remove from the grill and add more sauce just before serving.
Tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to rate it!
FREQUENTLY ASKED RECIPE QUESTION
Baby back ribs come from the part of the ribs that are connected to the backbone. They're called "baby" ribs because they’re shorter than spare ribs which are cut from the ends of baby back ribs. Baby back ribs are more tender than spare ribs.
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Smithfield BBQ Ribs Recipe
My recipe for Smithfield BBQ Ribs involves a two-step process that result in tender, fall off the bone, juicy ribs perfect every time.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons seasoned salt or your favorite BBQ rub
- 1 can cola soda
- 1 package Smithfield® Extra Tender Ribs
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Sprinkle the seasoned salt or your favorite BBQ rub all over the ribs.
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker. Cut them if you need to for them to fit properly. I cut my rack into 3 pieces.
- Empty the can of soda on top of the ribs.
- Cook on low 6 hours or on high 4 hours or until the ribs are fork tender.
- The ribs can now be placed directly on the grill to finish cooking. You can also refrigerate them overnight and finish cooking the next day.
- Baste the ribs with barbecue sauce.
- Place them on the grill for about 8 to ten minutes on each side; longer if they were refrigerated overnight.
- Grill until warmed through and slightly charred.
- Remove from the grill and add more sauce just before serving.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 335Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 3505mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 2gSugar: 44gProtein: 13g
The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.
Maren Daley says
You don’t mention removal of the membrane. Isn’t the membrane still attached to the Smithfield racks of ribs? Removing this is important to the tenderness. When and to what size (how may bones) do you cut the racks into? There’s no way you could stuff a single rack into a crock pot. Details like these are important to newbie rib cookers. Please help.
Lois says
For this recipe, I didn't remove the membrane. I talk about removing the membrane and how to do that in the following post: https://walkingonsunshinerecipes.com/oven-baked-barbecue-ribs/
I did cut the rack of ribs into 3 pieces to fit into my crock pot. There was about 12 ribs in the full rack. You can see they were cut when I add them to the barbecue grill.
I updated the post to include these steps that you suggested. Thank you for your input!
S. Meredith says
My husband and I could eat loads of these! Gosh, they look so good! Thanks for linking up with Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!
David Dial says
It's supposed to be a sunny weekend up here in New York, and I think it's time to get some ribs on the grill! Thanks for sharing! #client
Joanne DiPalo says
Oh, this is the best recipe. I love that you prepare in the slow cooker and then grill when you're ready. Ribs are my favorite.
Tracy Iseminger says
Looks delish! Ribs are my girls favorite meal too. I might need to try this recipe sometimes 🙂