Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs are Country Style Pork Ribs, slow cooked in Dr. Pepper, then baked to caramelize the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce. Only 3 ingredients!
I am what you would call a fair weather winter person. Growing up in the Midwest, it doesn’t seem right to NOT have snow on the ground at Christmastime, but by the time mid-January hits, I am tired of the dreary grey skies and the cold and the white stuff that has now turned a not so pretty white.
I long for long summer days with sunshine and patio sitting and GRILLING.
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My son has been home from college for the last month, and he returns this weekend. I have been letting him get in his dinner requests this week. Yesterday though, I thought I would wing it. I had some boneless country style pork ribs in the freezer, so I defrosted them and decided to have barbecue. My family NEVER argues about barbecue, it’s something I know that everyone will be happy about.
I typically boil my ribs in beer before I grill them. You can find my recipe for those pork ribs HERE. Yesterday though, more white stuff was falling from the winter sky, and I decided dinner would not be getting made on the patio. I tossed the ribs in my slow cooker, and dumped a can of Dr. Pepper over the top.
After they cooked slow all day, becoming so tender I could barely move them to my baking rack, I knew they would be awesome. I transferred them to a rack over a cookie sheet, and brushed them with a combination of BBQ sauce and more Dr. Pepper. The sauce was super yummy! I baked them for 30 minutes to caramelize the sauce, flipping them once and adding more sauce.
Cheesy Cornbread Drop Biscuits – A fluffy and slightly sweet in the middle biscuit, full of flavor with a crisp exterior. They make the perfect pairing to soups and salads.
They were sensational. I served them with hash browns, cheesy cornbread drop biscuits and sweet corn. My husband said “This is the best dinner you have made in a long time!” (He’s partial to the entire menu, so I had no doubt he would be thrilled!) I love making him and his tummy happy!
Did I mention this recipe only requires three ingredients?
What three ingredients do I need to make these Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Ribs?
- Boneless Country Style Pork Ribs
- Dr. Pepper Soda (Cherry Dr. Pepper is good, too!)
- Barbecue Sauce
Yep! That’s it! The crock pot does all of the work making them tender then you bake them to caramelize the sauce on them before you eat them. You could also do that step on the grill if you aren’t suffering through a freezing January like we are.
I like to buy the boneless ribs. If you prefer the ones with the bone, they work, too! I prefer pork ribs over beef, as I think they just have so much more meat. Plus, pork is seriously economical!
Place the ribs in your slow cooker, and pour a can of Dr. Pepper over the top.
The lid goes on, and you can either cook them on low all day, or you can cook them on high in half the time.
When they are nice and tender, carefully remove them from the crock pot and place them on a wire rack over a foil covered cookie sheet.
Combine your favorite BBQ sauce with some more Dr. Pepper. We love our Sweet Baby Rays!
Brush BBQ sauce on them and bake them for 15 minutes. Flip them and do the same to the other side.
Find the FULL printable recipe at the bottom of this post!!
All set!! Don’t they look amazing?
Dig in!!
Don’t want to wait all day?? Make these delicious ribs in your Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot!
INSTANT POT DR. PEPPER BBQ PORK RIBS Fall apart tender, Instant Pot Dr. Pepper BBQ Pork Ribs are ready to eat in about an hour. Boneless country Style Pork Ribs, prepared in your pressure cooker, then glazed with Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce on your grill or in your oven. Grab the napkins and dig in!
If you love Dr. Pepper and you love BBQ Ribs — here are a couple more recipes you need to try!
DR. PEPPER BBQ PORK SANDWICHES Make these mouthwatering BBQ Pork Sandwiches right in your crockpot. Pork loin roast, slow-cooked all day, making its very own Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce. Make sure you grab a napkin!
BBQ Pork Ribs – Boiled in beer until tender, grilled and covered in homemade sauce, these Country Style Pork Loin Ribs are fall-apart, finger-licking delicious!
CRAZY ABOUT BARBECUE! Grab a napkin, a cold brew and dig into some All-American Barbecue! Here are 20+ recipes you can make with a bottle of BBQ Sauce!
A Few Other Great Dr. Pepper Recipes:
Let’s Dig in! 
Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs
Boneless Country Style Pork Ribs, slow cooked in Dr. Pepper, then baked to caramelize the Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
- 4.5 pounds boneless country style pork ribs
- 2 cans Dr. Pepper soda, divided
- 3/4 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite, we love our Sweet Baby Ray's!)
Instructions
- Place ribs in the bottom of your slow cooker, pour 1 can of soda over them. Cover and slow cook for 7 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with foil then place a wire rack over the top.
- Combine 3/4 cup BBQ sauce with 1/2 cup Dr. Pepper soda.
- Carefully remove the ribs from the slow cooker, placing on rack. Brush tops with sauce. Bake for 15 minutes, flip and brush other side. Bake 15 minutes more.
- Serve remaining sauce at the table.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
11 ouncesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 1029Total Fat: 63gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 37gCholesterol: 327mgSodium: 619mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 0gSugar: 25gProtein: 90g
Nutrition isn't always accurate.
This recipe has been updated from its original post … if you followed this old photo here, you are still in the right place! 🙂
If you make this recipe, I’d love to know! Snap a picture, share the photo on social media with the hashtag #AnAffairFromTheHeart – I’d love to see what you made! – Michaela
Jenna says
Never thought about putting BBQ sauce and Dr. Pepper together! These are making me so hungry. Saving for an upcoming BBQ party.
Amy | The Cook Report says
I’m really not a fan of the weather this time of year either, these ribs look like the perfect thing to warm you up!
Katie says
I’ve heard of using Coca Cola in something like this before, but Dr. Pepper sounds good too- with the extra flavors. Great idea!
Rae says
These ribs seem almost to easy to be real life. Next time I find Dr Pepper in the house I will certainly try this great recipe! The meat looks so tender and delicious.
Edyta at Eating European says
My husband would love this recipe. He loves both Dr. Pepper and ribs. You can’t go wrong with that 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
These ribs look crazy delicious! And super easy with only 3 ingredients! This would be great for game day eats!
Chichi says
This is absolutely delicious. My hubby would love this recipe. So yummy! Will try it.
Saima says
Wow! Just three ingredients can make such a beautiful dish! Your photos are very helpful too!
Monica | Nourish + Fete says
Yum, no wonder your family was so thrilled with these, they look delicious, and so easy to make! Lucky son, eating like this on his break from college! 🙂
TIsha says
These look absolutely perfect for game day!!!
Natalie says
Looks so tempting and delicious! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
These look so mouthwateringly delicious! I love the use of Dr Pepper for maximum taste sensation!
Pat Overackefr says
I made the ribs for my family and they loved them. Will definitely make them again
Michaela Kenkel says
So happy you liked them!
Mary Hansen says
Can these be done using diet Dr Pepper? I don’t do sugar.
Michaela Kenkel says
Sure thing!
Teresa says
could you use beef ribs in place of pork? BF doesn’t like pork very much. thank you
Michaela Kenkel says
You can. Beef ribs don’t have near as much meat, that’s why I buy pork. But they will still be good!
Brigitta Barnes says
Could you add a little BBQ sauce in the slow cooker to merge with the Dr Pepper to allow the BBQ flavor to soak into the meat during the cooking phase?
Michaela Kenkel says
You sure can — but it isn’t necessary!! Feel free to customize it however you like! 🙂
Susan says
Easy…simple and oh so yummy.
Susan says
Easy, simple and oh so delicious!!
Joseph Stamboni says
Michaela ; I made this today for dinner . Everyone liked it , A Lot ! Think next time I”ll skip oven step though. I prefer meat extremely moist and juicy . Thank You for this recipe , Will make again !
Michaela Kenkel says
I am so happy you liked them, Joseph! I like the way the oven or the grill caramelizes the BBQ sauce, but you could sure skip that part! They are 100% cooked, so why not!? 🙂
Meghan says
Absolutely delicious! The only “issue” that I had was the meat was soooo tender, it fell off the bone…literally ha! I ended up with little riblets that were too small to bake on a wire rack. But it turned out just as wonderful on a baking sheet. Thanks for the idea! ?
Michaela Kenkel says
Meghan – that sounds like a fairly “good problem” to have! LOL!! Maybe less time in the crock pot will help next time! I always buy the boneless country style ribs — If you get the meatier ones, that could help, too! Thanks for the feedback, it’s always welcomed!
Harold DeWayne says
Hi Michela —
I am a recently widowed single grandfather and I made these ribs… VERY good (and I haven’t cooked in over 20 years!). One thind I did differently though was since I was eating an orange while I was cooking, I threw the orange peel in the slow cooker along with the meat. Quite good and the orange peel added some color to the dish after I got through baking the bbs sauce on the ribs… served it with asparagus…. my problem was that I didn’t make enough… I only used about 1 1/2 pounds of ribs for myself and a 13 year old grandson. Looked REALLY yummy when I put it all together with the orange peel on top of the ribs and surrounded by the asparagus.
Thank you for posting this recipe. My wife was a great cook (as testified by my waistline) but even she never made this.
Michaela Kenkel says
Harold – you just melted my heart with your comment. Thank you for taking the time to let me know that you and your grandson liked the recipe. I think the addition of the orange was pure brilliance! I am trying that next time. I bet it did make for a pretty presentation! Next time you’ll have to double the amount of ribs, right? 😉 I am sure your wife was smiling down on you two while you enjoyed them. Michaela
Becky Compton says
These are the Best Ribs! Second time we have made them! Thank you!
Michaela Kenkel says
Becky – Thank you so much for telling me you loved them!! I hope they are a longtime favorite!
May Jerzak says
I found this recipe on Pinterest and omg is it fall off the bone good! I followed the recipe exactly as written and I wouldn’t change a thing!!
Michaela Kenkel says
So happy you enjoyed them, May!
Linda says
Hi! These look wonderful! One question. I’d like to double the recipe. Is it ok to layer the ribs then? Thx for your reply!
Michaela Kenkel says
In your crock pot, yes!! Just make sure they are in a single layer when you bake them!
Kaylin says
I am in LOVE with this recipe!!! I left them in the crock pot while I was at work and baked them when I got home!! Super easy and oh so delicious!!!!!
Ken says
Bake at what temp?
Michaela Kenkel says
I had to double check it was in the step-by-step recipe here, and it is. Whew! 400 degrees!
Bud says
Can I use root beer instead of dr pepper ?
Michaela Kenkel says
Yes!! It works great!!
Sue says
Can you use diet dr pepper? I’m a diabetic. Is there another option for the soda?
Michaela Kenkel says
Sure you can!! Root beer works too!
Jamie says
These look so delicious! I can’t believe you can use Dr. Pepper like that.
Patty says
Would love to try this recipe. Can it be halved and if so, do I use only 1 can of Dr. Pepper?
Michaela Kenkel says
Sure you can halve it – basically it almost covers them in the pot.
Deb says
OMG!!!! I Just tried it today. My ribs didn’t make it to the cookie sheet. Not a bad thing, let me tell you. I tried it with Cherry Dr. Pepper and I put 2 Vidalia onions in along with it. I put the barbecue sauce in with the juices that was created from the slow cooker. And I’m just eating it like this. So yummy!!
Michaela Kenkel says
So happy that you enjoyed them, Deb!!
Sarah says
What if I don’t have a wire rack?
Michaela Kenkel says
You can do it without, just more cleanup.
Ibelka says
Hi! I’m planning on doing this on the weekend for my hubby… quick question, what about salt and pepper? Don’t you need to add that first?
Michaela Kenkel says
I have never used any. They are fine without it, but if you’d like to add some, I think it’s all a matter of taste. I wouldn’t get too carried away with salt though! 😉
Zanae says
Hi !
Can I season the ribs before adding the soda ? Will the seasoning mess up the taste ?
Michaela Kenkel says
I never have seasoned them. I know some have — I can’t imagine it will mess anything up, but it may alter the flavor. Maybe try to make them without the first time and decide if you tastebuds think they need a little something?
Glen Hope says
Great idea for a recipe, can you replace the dr pepper with coke?
Michaela Kenkel says
You sure can!
Monika says
Fantastic recipe! Last weekend at BBQ party, I tried out your recipe as it can be prepared so quickly. Everyone there loved the recipe and appreciated me for the recipe. It was really super yummy. Thanks much for sharing!
Michaela Kenkel says
I am so happy that you enjoyed them!
Autumn says
What can you do instead if you don’t have a wire rack?
Michaela Kenkel says
Line the pan with foil. That should be okay, too!
Leslie says
Hi! I loved this recipe, however after I put them in the oven, they seemed to be over cooked. I’m not sure what I did wrong.
Michaela Kenkel says
I’m not sure? Did you have the same amount of ribs? Maybe they were thinner? The oven part is only to glaze the BBQ sauce on them, maybe next time shorten that time?
Kelly says
Can I cook them in crock pot without having to put in oven?
Michaela Kenkel says
When you place them in the oven or on the grill you are basically just caramelizing the BBQ sauce on them before you serve them. When they come out of the crock pot, they are already cooked, but won’t have that BBQ sauce look to them. I guess if that doesn’t bother you, you could just serve them with BBQ sauce?
Donna. says
Has anyone made these in an Instant Pot, so they’d be done faster??
Michaela Kenkel says
I have a recipe for the Instant Pot, too! https://anaffairfromtheheart.com/instant-pot-dr-pepper-bbq-pork-ribs/
Diane says
Are there no seasonings required? What about salt? Do you taste the Dr. Pepper because I’m not a fan?
Michaela Kenkel says
No seasoning required. And it doesn’t taste like you’re drinking a can of Dr. Pepper – it just does magical things to the taste, and they are fall apart tender!
Tarah says
Can you use frozen ribs in the slow cooker? Or do they have to be thawed? I have made this 3 times already & my family loves it! But normally my meat is thawed. Today is not that day.
Michaela Kenkel says
I would imagine you could? You will most likely need to increase the cooking time.
Sarah says
Bake at what temP?
Michaela Kenkel says
Hi, Sarah. My guess is that you scrolled past the printable recipe card with all of the instructions, measurements and oven temperatures? You bake them at 400 degrees. That card will give you baking times, too. I hope this helps!
Beverly says
I made these tonight – I do not eat pork but I happily cook it for my hubby, who loves ribs. I used a boneless pork side loin and it weighed over 6 lbs. I just increased the amount of Dr. Pepper to 2 cups in the slow cooker and used a bit more BBQ sauce (I did use the Baby Ray’s original) and Dr. Pepper indicated. The pork was fall apart tender when I removed it from the slow cooker and it looked amazing when I took it out of the oven after glazing it. The entire time he was eating it, he kept saying “This is SO GOOD”. It was so tender, he ended up making it pulled pork.
This was such an easy recipe and there are lots of left overs for additional meals. Definitely a keeper that we will do again.
Michaela Kenkel says
I am so happy to hear that your hubby loved the recipe! Thank you for coming back to share the “yums” with me!
Skeet says
What size slow cooker is best for this recipe? I have a 2.5 quart cooker.
Michaela Kenkel says
As long as your ribs fit in the cooker, any size will work!
Karen Girolamo says
How’s long would I cook 1.5 pounds of ribs in the crock pot?
Michaela Kenkel says
It will take the same amount of time.
Bonnie says
Can you use bone-in ribs?
Michaela Kenkel says
Absolutely!
Jenni says
I accidentally got ‘bone in’ ribs!! I’m serving them tonight…do i need to modify anything?
Michaela Kenkel says
You will be just fine! 🙂
Amy says
Do you think this bbq flavor would be good over a can of pinto beans ?
Michaela Kenkel says
I might be the wrong person to ask, because I think BBQ is perfect over anything! 😉 Pinto beans sound great!
Ken says
You are an absolute genius. My best friend is English and visited me once a year before covid, and this next year will be the first time he can come to the USA since. He loves EVERYTHING America, so I linked him this and said, we’re doing this. Thanks so much!!!
Michaela Kenkel says
Aw!! Have SO MUCH fun when he visits!! I hope you have a great time and enjoy the ribs!
Lisa says
Delicious! Made these for my family. They were so tender, no knife needed. It melts in your mouth and is soooo tasty! Definitely will make this again! Thank you!
Michaela Kenkel says
I am thrilled you loved them!!
Meghan G. says
Would definitely recommend!! I made a lesser batch, about 1.5lbs because it was just me and my son. He LOVED them….almost didn’t share! Because we made only 1.5lbs our cooking time was a little less, they started falling apart at about 3 hours and then we moved them to the oven for about 10/10. Thank you for this recipe, we will be trying more in the future!
Michaela Kenkel says
So happy to hear that you both enjoyed them!! Next time, if you make the full amount, try shredding the leftovers for sandwiches another night! 😉 Then you get two meals out of them!
Ann says
These ribs look fabulous! I’m so amazed that you can make something SO good with just three basic ingredients.