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Tender Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Baby Back Ribs Recipe Easy Perfect Sweet BBQ

slow cooker honey garlic baby back ribs - featured image
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This slow cooker recipe produces tender, flavorful baby back ribs with a sweet honey garlic glaze that melts off the bone. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 racks baby back ribs (about 2.5–3 lbs), trimmed of excess fat and membrane removed
  • 1/3 cup honey (113 g)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (60 ml) (use tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup (120 ml)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (15 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (25 g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 cup water (60 ml)

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat from the baby back ribs and remove the silver skin membrane on the bone side (about 10 minutes).
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, ketchup, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and water until well combined and slightly thick.
  3. Cut each rack into halves or thirds to fit your slow cooker.
  4. Place one layer of ribs bone-side down at the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour about half of the sauce over this layer, coating the ribs well.
  5. Layer the remaining ribs on top, bone-side down with the meatier side facing up. Pour the rest of the sauce evenly over the top.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours until ribs are tender and pull away easily from the bone. Alternatively, cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  7. Optional: Transfer ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush with remaining sauce, and broil in the oven for 3-5 minutes until bubbling and slightly charred. Watch closely to avoid burning.
  8. Let ribs rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.

Notes

Remove the silver skin membrane for tender ribs. Stir sauce halfway through cooking to redistribute flavors. For thicker sauce, remove lid near end and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes. Broiling after slow cooking adds a caramelized finish but is optional. Use gluten-free soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce for gluten-free adaptation. Leftovers reheat well in oven covered with foil.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker ribs, honey garlic ribs, baby back ribs, easy BBQ ribs, sweet ribs, crockpot ribs, tender ribs, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/tender-slow-cooker-honey-garlic-baby-back-ribs-recipe-easy-perfect-sweet-bbq/