Sticky sweet and savory, these Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Ribs are perfectly tender and absolutely irresistible. The meat is infused with bold flavors thanks to soy sauce, garlic, and honey.
You'll love the balance of sweet and tangy ingredients in this easy recipe - a hearty and satisfying dish that's the peak of indulgent comfort food.
Jump to:
💚 About This Recipe
Tender and juicy, these slow cooker pork ribs are packed with sweet and savory flavors! So easy to cook to perfection in the slow cooker, this recipe is perfect to feed a crowd or prep meals for the week.
With a homemade dry rub and a flavorful but simple sauce, this is one of my favorite ways to prepare pork spare ribs. You'll love how quick it is to put this dish together, and the whole family will love how these ribs fall right off the bone!
Best of all, this recipe doesn't require you to broil at the end or reduce down the sauce in a separate saucepan! It all cooks right in the slow cooker, so the only dish you'll need to clean is the slow cooker insert.
Serve this alongside a fresh and flavorful Green Apple Salad for a delicious dinner your family will love. Or really jazz up your meal with a side of these savory and flavorful Air Fryer Peppers and Onions!
And if you can't get enough pork recipes in the slow cooker, try my 2 Ingredient Pulled Pork or a crock pot full of hearty Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Hash Browns!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- seasonings - a combination of paprika, cumin, and onion powder form the base of flavor for these sweet and savory ribs.
- spare ribs - tender and juicy ribs are so easy to cook to perfection in the slow cooker.
- garlic - I like to use cloves of fresh garlic for this dish, but you can also use jarred minced garlic for a shortcut.
- soy sauce - use both sweet soy sauce and dark soy sauce for a nice complex umami flavor.
- honey - adds a delicious sticky sweetness that complements the savory ribs.
🔪 Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the onion powder, paprika, and cumin, then rub the seasonings all over the ribs.
- In another mixing bowl, combine the garlic with both kinds of soy sauce and the honey. Brush all over the ribs and save any additional sauce.
- Place the pork ribs bone sides down in a large slow cooker (cut the rib rack in half to fit properly). Cook for 6 to 7 hours on low heat or 3 to 4 hours on high heat, brushing the ribs every hour or so with the reserved marinade.
❔ FAQs
This cut of pork ribs comes from the lower part of a pig and typically includes 11 to 13 long bones. The term "spare ribs" actually comes from a German phrase that refers to roasting meat by turning it on a spit.
Spare ribs come from pigs, whereas short ribs are beef and come from cows. They're both taken from the same general area of each animal and yield similar results when cooked.
It's not necessary, but browning can enhance flavor. If time allows, sear them quickly in a hot pan.
No, the marinade brushed on the ribs plus the fat and juices the ribs release are enough! Adding any more liquid dilutes the glaze and leaves a thin, watery sauce instead of a sticky one.
Lifting the lid to check will release heat, so every little peek adds cooking time! Other mistakes include adding extra liquid or pulling the ribs early. The meat should pull away from the bone easily. If it resists, it needs longer in the slow cooker, not higher heat.
The slow cooker wins on effort for sure! With just ten minutes of prep, nothing to watch, and only one dish to wash, it's absolutely the winner when it comes to convenience. The oven gets you a more caramelized crusty exterior. If you want that crust, you'll need the traditional broiler finish after the slow cooker, but it isn't needed for tender ribs.
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- The meat is done cooking when it pulls easily away from the bone and has a tender texture. You can also use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature between 190 and 200 degrees F.
- Choose high-quality ribs for the best result. You'll want to look for a good amount of marbling for the best flavor and texture.
- Once the ribs have finished cooking, allow them to sit for a few minutes so the juices can redistribute. This will lead to a more tender and juicy result.
- Use a slow cooker liner and line the walls of the slow cooker for easier cleanup.
- If your honey is crystallized, you can easily refresh it and still use it in this recipe. Learn how to decrystallize honey quickly and easily!
📌 Sweet and savory, these sticky slow cooker ribs combine honey and soy sauce with warm spices for a satisfying and comforting meal!
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Add some sesame oil or ground ginger for additional depth of flavor in the marinade.
- Jarred garlic or even garlic paste can be an easy shortcut instead of fresh garlic cloves.
- For more nutrition, layer some chopped bell peppers and onions at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Use other seasonings like chili powder, red pepper flakes, or smoked paprika for some smoky flavor.
- Give these easy honey garlic slow cooker ribs some extra heat by adding your favorite hot sauce to the marinade.
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Allow your slow cooker honey garlic ribs to cool, then transfer to an airtight container or a large plastic bag. Your ribs will last in the fridge for several days or in the freezer for 3 months or longer. Squeeze out any excess air in the ziploc bag to preserve the ribs for longer.
Reheat the ribs in the oven or in smaller portions in the microwave. From frozen, allow them to thaw first before reheating.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
These tender ribs pair well with some rice, mashed sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries, a side salad, an easy veggie side, or your favorite pasta.
Serve with Air Fryer Broccoli, Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Cilantro Lime Rice, or a crowd favorite Cornbread Casserole!
✔️ More Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love
- Garlic Herb Slow Cooker Potatoes - Making tender roasted potatoes is so easy in the crock pot!
- Crock Pot Chicken Thighs in Honey Beer Sauce - This chicken dish combines sweet and savory flavors.
- Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake - You can also use your slow cooker to make tasty desserts, like this dump cake that's perfect for fall.
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli - This recipe from Butter Your Biscuit is the perfect substitute to takeout with a healthy and affordable twist!
Honey Garlic Spare Ribs
Love this recipe? Awesome! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
⭐ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ⭐
📋 Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Ribs
Equipment
- 1 Slow cooker
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 spare rib rack (1 ½ to 2 pounds)
- 4 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup dark soy sauce
- ¼ cup sweet soy sauce
- ¼ cup raw honey
Instructions
- Combine the onion powder, paprika, and cumin, and rub the ribs with dry rub.½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon paprika powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, 1 spare rib rack
- Mince the garlic and combine with the dark soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, and honey. Brush over the ribs. Save some of the marinade.4 garlic cloves, ¼ cup dark soy sauce, ¼ cup sweet soy sauce, ¼ cup raw honey
- Cut the ribs in half and place them in the slow cooker. Cook for 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
- Brush the rack of ribs every hour with the remaining marinade. Check for doneness by ensuring the meat is tender and easily pulls away from the bone.
Notes
Prep Tips:
- Look for well-marbled spare ribs, which will become especially tender and flavorful during the long, slow cooking time. Baby back ribs also work well if you prefer them.
- For a quick prep shortcut, use jarred minced garlic or garlic paste instead of mincing fresh garlic cloves.
- Cut the rack in half before putting it in the slow cooker so the ribs fit comfortably without being tightly packed.
- Reserve some of the honey garlic mixture before brushing the raw ribs so you'll have uncontaminated sauce available for basting during cooking.
- Let the ribs rest for a few minutes after cooking before serving to help the juices redistribute.
Variations:
- Add 1 teaspoon ground ginger to the spice rub for another layer of warm, savory flavor.
- Stir a small amount of sesame oil into the honey garlic marinade for a richer, slightly nutty flavor.
- Layer sliced onions or bell peppers on the bottom of the slow cooker before adding the ribs. They'll add flavor as they cook and give you some vegetables to serve alongside the meat.
- For a little heat to balance the sweet honey, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve the ribs with steamed rice to soak up the sweet and savory honey garlic sauce.
- Pair them with stir-fried vegetables for an easy, Asian-inspired meal.
- A crisp, fresh salad makes a nice contrast to the rich, sticky ribs.
- Sprinkle chopped green onions or sesame seeds over the ribs just before serving for extra flavor and a pretty finishing touch.
- For a more traditional barbecue-style meal, pair the ribs with coleslaw, corn on the cob, or roasted potatoes.
Storage:
- Store leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Keep any leftover sauce with the ribs to help keep the meat moist while it is stored and reheated.
- Reheat the ribs gently in the oven, microwave, or air fryer until heated through. Brushing them with a little of the leftover sauce before reheating can help keep them moist.
- For longer storage, freeze the cooked ribs in an airtight freezer-safe container. Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.
And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!
Happy cooking!
Bella says
The perfect fall recipe. It was cozy and full of flavor!
Kristin King says
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂 It's definitely one of our favorites in the fall.
Cora says
So tender and delicious! The ribs turned out perfectly!
Kristin King says
So glad to hear that! This is actually our favorite way to enjoy ribs!
Gelliane says
My family loved this!