Crock Pot Barbecued Country-Style Pork Ribs

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 01/15/21
Crockpot barbecued style ribs recipe

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 7 hrs
Total: 7 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
844 Calories
36g Fat
52g Carbs
74g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 844
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g 46%
Saturated Fat 13g 63%
Cholesterol 230mg 77%
Sodium 1136mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Protein 74g
Calcium 136mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Boneless country-style pork ribs are an excellent choice for the slow cooker, and your favorite barbecue sauce, along with a little apple juice and garlic, make these ribs even more flavorful.

Contrary to their name, country-style ribs don't necessarily come from the ribs of the animal. They are generally cut from the sirloin or rib end of the loin, but they might also come from the shoulder. They are a budget-friendly cut, and great for the grill, stovetop, oven, and slow cooker because they are meatier than other rib cuts.

In this recipe, the country-style ribs are slow-cooked with brown sugar, onions, apple juice, garlic, and other seasonings, and then they're finished with store-bought barbecue sauce. Feel free to use your favorite.

Serve the pork with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and corn or a green vegetable for a satisfying family dinner.

1:41

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil or other neutral oil
  • 3 to 4 pounds boneless country-style pork ribs
  • 1 large onion (halved and thinly sliced)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 cup apple juice (or apple cider)
  • 1 (16-ounce) bottle barbecue sauce (or about 1 1/2 cups homemade bbq sauce)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for barbecued country-style pork ribs
    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn 

  2. Lightly grease the crockery insert of a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker.

    Crockpot
    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Trim and discard any excess fat from the ribs and pat dry with paper towels.

    Trim meat
    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Scatter the sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker, then place ribs on top.

    Sliced onions in crockpot
    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Sprinkle the pork with salt and pepper, brown sugar, and minced garlic; turn the pork ribs to coat all pieces. Pour apple juice evenly over the pork. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or until almost fork-tender (start checking doneness at 5 hours).

    Pork ribs in slowcooker
    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Drain liquids from the pork and discard. Pour barbecue sauce over the pork and stir slightly to distribute the sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 1 hour longer. Serve and Enjoy!

    Pour barbecue sauce on
    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

How to Store and Freeze Barbecue Ribs

  • Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, wrapped well in foil or in an airtight container.
  • For longer storage, wrap them in foil and freeze them in zip-close freezer bags for 3 to 6 months.

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