Slow Cooker Root Beer Ribs

This tender and flavorful Slow Cooker Root Beer Ribs recipe is an easy-to-follow crock pot favorite with a can of root beer.

Slow cooker ribs with root beer

If making spare ribs seems overwhelming, try this slow cooker method of preparing ribs and get ready for a new family favorite.

We like making spare ribs in the crock pot because they have a good balance of meat and fat, which works well with slow cooking.

The aroma as they cook will make your home smell amazing, and the tender ribs will likely disappear quickly as your friends and family enjoy every bite.

If you’re hosting a football watch party, these slow-cooker root beer ribs are a real crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

• St. Louis-style spare ribs
• dark brown sugar
• Seasoning: chili powder, salt, onion powder, and allspice
• Root beer (not diet)
• Cornstarch and cold water

Root Beer Ribs Recipe Tips

• Set the slow cooker to low heat and cook the ribs for 6-8 hours. This long cooking time ensures the meat becomes tender and flavorful.
• Do not use diet root beer. Trial and error has found that regular-calorie root beer gives better results in this recipe.
• Ribs should be tender enough to pull apart easily with a fork but not so tender that they fall apart completely. Adjust the cooking time if needed.

How to cook ribs in slow cooker with root beer

Combine sugar, chili powder, salt, onion powder and allspice in a medium bowl. Set aside half the spice mixture (about 1/3 cup.)

Sprinkle the rest of the spice mixture over both sides of the ribs.

Pour 1/2 cup root beer into the slow cooker and add ribs.

Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or high for 3 1/2-4 hours until ribs are very tender. 

When the ribs have about 10 minutes left, combine the remaining root beer and reserved spice mixture in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.

Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cornstarch mixture and stir until sauce thickens, just a few seconds.

Remove from heat; set aside. 

Remove ribs to the platter and cover.

Strain the cooking liquid and pour off the fat. Add 1/3 cup remaining liquid to the sauce and stir until smooth. 

Brush ribs with sauce and serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

Are spare ribs pork or beef?

Pork spare ribs come from the same place as short ribs on beef. Pork spare ribs are from the same belly region as bacon.

In both instances of pork and beef the longer they cook, the better. Slow cooking will make the ribs tender and fall off the bone.

At what temperature are pork ribs done?

Ribs are ready to eat between 195 degrees F and 203 degrees F. At this internal temperature, the fat and collagen throughout the meat has broken down and flavored the ribs.

Popular opinions will vary on ribs prepared using a smoker or grill.

Should I boil my Root Beer Ribs?

You do not need to boil your pork spare ribs using a slow cooker or crockpot.

The reason some recipes call for the ribs to be boiled before cooking them is to help tenderize the ribs.

The low and slow heat of the slow cooker will give you plenty of time for the meat to tenderize and absorb flavors.

How to remove membrane from pork ribs?

This How to Grill Ribs video from the National Pork Board shows how to remove the membrane from pork ribs.

Removing the membrane from pork ribs is important for the best eating experience.

Some people call the membrane silverskin.

Can you cook ribs too long in a crockpot?

Yes. Believe it or not, you can overcook ribs in a slow cooker. 

The meat will become mushy and lack the meaty consistency we all love when overcooked.

We recommend cooking them on low and checking that the ribs are not drying out. 5-6 hours on low is the preferred timing of our recipe.

Should ribs be submerged in slow cooker?

Ribs do not need to be completely submerged in liquid for this slow cooker recipe.

It is key to allow enough liquid to cover the base of the slow cooker as the meat will release liquid as they cook.

Is it better to cook pork ribs fast or slow?

Low and slow is the way to go to create the fall off the bone tenderness of ribs.

This is an instance in trying to increase heat to cook faster will backfire and possibly dry out the meat.

Do pork ribs get more tender the longer they cook?

Our kitchen testers agree that cooking pork ribs for longer at lower temperatures makes them perfectly tender.

The tough connective tissue in the meat will continue to break down as they cook, ensuring fall-off-the-bone goodness.

Other Recipes to Try

Perfect Crock Pot Pulled Pork is a tender and flavorful pork shoulder recipe made with a basic sweet rub that makes excellent sandwiches and great leftovers.

Grilled Country Style Ribs are juicy and tender boneless ribs perfect for the grill.

This Pulled Pork Chili is another great way to use your slow cooker.