Mouthwatering Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ribs – If you’ve never tried making ribs in your slow cooker, prepare to be amazed. These Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ribs are the perfect combination of tender, juicy pork and sticky, flavorful BBQ sauce, all cooked low and slow to perfection. The best part? You don’t have to babysit them the whole time. Set it, forget it, and come back to a plate full of fall-off-the-bone goodness. Trust me—these will quickly become a go-to recipe for family dinners, weekend BBQs, or whenever you’re craving something indulgent with minimal effort.
All you need are four ingredients to make these slow-cooker Coca-Cola ribs. A fall-off-the-bone ender rib hat is flavored with a sticky BBQ and cola-flavored sauce. Toss your ribs in the slow cooker and allow your ribs to be bathed and slow simmered all day for juicy ribs that win over a crowd.
This is a fantastic summer slow cooker recipe for busy nights when you don’t want to fire up the grill. Pair it with coleslaw, potato salad, or any other favorite sides. It’s a surefire way to get your family excited for dinner.
Now, you might be wondering if it is suitable for pork or beef ribs. The answer is either! Grab any of your favorite types of ribs to make this BBQ rib recipe.
Reasons To Try This Slow Cooker Coca-Cola Ribs Recipe…
- The slow cooker allows for a tender texture to the ribs. If you grill or oven bake, you can get a tougher result than the slow cooker method.
- An easy prep and hands-off cooking approach. Great for newbies in the kitchen or nights when you are busy and can’t be in the kitchen as long prepping dinner.
- Minimal ingredients are needed for this flavor-loaded rib recipe.
- Family-friendly and kid-approved. You will find this recipe is even great for serving a crowd.
- You can make as much or as little as you like. This recipe is great for doubling and serving a larger group.
Ingredients Needed
Ribs: For this recipe, I used baby back pork ribs. They are a great cut because they become super tender and fall off the bone as they slow cook. They also have a pretty good meat-to-bone ratio.
BBQ Sauce: You can use any barbecue sauce, from a Kansas City style to a homemade sauce. Pick what you would like or what is on sale at the store.
Cola: Coke is the perfect soda to add depth and flavor and help tenderize the meat. The carbonation is a huge tenderizer that helps create tons of flavor.
Spices: Onion powder, salt, and pepper are the last few ingredients to help deepen the flavors.
Variations to Recipe
Here are a handful of ways to change up the flavors of this recipe. Pick and choose what fits you best, or leave the recipe as is.
Ribs: Use any ribs you want. The biggest thing is to remember that the ribs are cooked low and slow, so they will tenderize nicely as they slow cook.
Spice: To spice up the ribs a bit, add some red pepper flakes or even your favorite hot sauce. Use as much as you like.
Smoky: Add a few drops of liquid smoke to give the meat a more smoky flavor, giving it more of an outdoor grilling flavor.
Sweet: Add some chunks of pineapple or even a splash of juice to sweeten the BBQ sauce mixture.
Maple: Here, you can add 1/4 cup maple syrup to sweeten the ribs up and add more depth of flavor.
Tips For Success
Trimming
Trim the pork ribs before placing them in the slow cooker. Remove any silverskin or fat you see on the ribs. This will help the result of serving them up.
Low and Slow
Ribs are best when cooked on a low setting, so they cook nice and slow. Otherwise, the meat can become a bit tough and chewy.
Size of Slow Cooker
Make sure you are using the right size slow cooker. Overfilling the slow cooker will affect the cooking of the ribs. So make sure to use the proper size or use more than one slow cooker if needed.
Opening The Lid
Try not to open the lid of the slow cooker. If you do, it will allow all the heat to be released, which will cause the cooking time to take longer. When you open the lid, it can take an additional 30 minutes each time to the cooking time.
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerate the ribs that you do not eat right away. Place them in a sealed, airtight container for 3-4 days. Then, eat them cold or warm them up in the microwave or oven.
You can also freeze any of the ribs for 2-3 months. Just place them in a freezer-friendly container. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat straight from the freezer.
What to Serve With Coca-Cola Ribs
Here are a few of our favorite things to pair with these finger-licking good ribs!
- Brown Sugar Baked Beans
- Bacon Green Beans
- Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
- Roasted Potatoes with Onions
- Macaroni Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad
- Etc.
The Magic of Coca Cola in BBQ Ribs
You might be wondering, “Coca Cola in ribs?” Yes! The sugar and acidity in the cola help to tenderize the meat while adding a slight sweetness that pairs perfectly with BBQ sauce. It’s a little unexpected but totally game-changing.
Slow cooking the ribs with both BBQ sauce and Coca Cola results in a sticky glaze that coats the ribs perfectly, and as it simmers, it breaks down the meat so it becomes fall-apart tender. The cola’s sweetness balances the savory depth of the BBQ sauce, creating a flavor explosion with each bite.
FAQs
What liquid should I use in the slow cooker with the ribs?
The liquid will be the barbecue sauce and the cola used. You won’t use as much liquid as some recipes.
Should I add barbecue sauce to the ribs before or after cooking them in the slow cooker?
You will add the sauce when you are cooking the ribs. Then, if you want, you can baste them with more sauce at the end of cooking.
After cooking them in the slow cooker, can I finish the ribs on the grill?
Yes. Feel free to fire up the grill and toss the ribs to finish the last 15-30 minutes. This will create a nice texture to the meat. The biggest thing is you don’t want your meat to fall off the bone as you are grilling, as it can fall through the grates.
Making ribs at home doesn’t have to be a long, complicated affair. With your trusty slow cooker and a little Coca Cola, you can create ribs that are full of flavor, tender, and absolutely mouthwatering. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or treating yourself to a special dinner, this recipe will become your new go-to for ribs that taste like they’ve been cooking for hours—without the fuss.
Craving More Slow-Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker Coca Cola Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 ½ – 4 lbs baby back pork ribs
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce used Baby Ray’s, divided
- 1 ¼ cup Coca Cola divided
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Carefully remove the sinew (thin membrane layer) from the back of the pork ribs and discard.
- Season the front and back of your rack of ribs with the onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Fold sideways or slice the ribs into 3 or 4 pieces and add ribs to the bottom of a 6 quart or larger slow cooker.
- Baste the ribs with half of the BBQ sauce and pour 1 cup Cola around the ribs in the slow cooker.
- Cover and set the slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours, or until the pork ribs are fully cooked through and tender.
- Optional: Place cooked ribs onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Mix together the remaining BBQ sauce and Coca Cola until well combined. Baste the ribs with the remaining sauce and place under a broiler for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce on the ribs thickens and becomes caramelized.
- Serve immediately, enjoy!
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