Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork Ribs are tender, fall-off-the bone pork ribs. The Hawaiian sauce is sweet and tangy and a great addition to ribs. Garnish these with green onions and fresh pineapple and serve over coconut rice for the perfect meal.
Have you tried making pork ribs in the slow cooker? If you haven’t, you need to change that!
A few years ago I made these Crock Pot Ribs and just fell in love with how easy they are to make.
Today’s version is similar but uses a sweet and tangy Hawaiian style sauce for the ribs. It is the easiest way to make tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs. The meat literally just falls off of the bone when you pull them out of the crockpot.
And, the clean-up couldn’t be easier! You add the ingredients to the slow cooker, cook on low for 6 to 8 hours and serve with fresh green onion and pineapple over rice.
If you like pork you also might like this Easy Pork Chili, Mediterranean Baked Pork Tenderloin, Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin or this Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin.
Why I Love These Crockpot Ribs
- Year-Round Favorite: People often think ribs are best in the summer when you can cook them on the grill but with the crockpot you can cook these any month of the year! They are great for game-day or tailgating too!
- Easy to Make: With just a few simple ingredients, these ribs are super easy to make! And the crockpot ensures that you have very little clean-up.
- Tender: The crockpot cooks ribs low and slow which helps create a tender, fall-off-the-bone meat.
Recipe Ingredients
For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.
- Ribs: I used 3 to 4 pounds of baby back ribs, which is about 2 racks. You also can use boneless pork ribs.
- Ginger: The ginger helps add flavor to the sauce. You can use fresh or dried ginger.
- Brown Sugar: The brown sugar helps to sweeten the sauce. You can also sub in honey or maple syrup.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is added for a savory unami flavor. I try to use low-sodium when possible to help control the salt in the recipe.
- Sriracha Sauce: For a hint of spice you can add sriracha. It is optional. You also can use cayenne red pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The vinegar helps to balance the sweet and savory flavors. You could also use red wine vinegar.
- Fresh Pineapple: Pineapple is great with these ribs. You can use fresh or canned pineapple. Just make sure to drain the pineapple if you use canned.
How do you Make Crockpot Hawaiian Ribs
Step 1: Remove Silver Skin: Remove the silver membrane from the back of the pork ribs.
Step 2: Add Ribs to Crockpot: Spread sliced onions evenly in the bottom of the crock pot. Place ribs on top of the onion.
Step 3: Create Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, Sriracha, and apple cider vinegar. Pour mixture evenly over the ribs.
Pour mixture evenly over the ribs.
Step 4: Cook on Low: Cook on low for 7 hours. Add pineapple to the crock pot and stir slightly so the pineapple is coated in the crock pot liquid. Continue to cook for one more hour.
Step 5: Cover: Remove and cover with foil to keep warm.
Step 6: Create Sauce: Pour remaining liquid that is in the crockpot into a small saucepan. Skim excess fat from the surface of the sauce. Bring to a boil and cook until liquid is reduced by half and slightly thickened.
Brush reduced liquid over the ribs.
Spoon pineapple and onions over rice to serve. Garnish with fresh pineapple and green onions. Serve with extra BBQ if you like.
Recipe Tips
- No Peaking: Remember not to lift the lid once the ribs start cooking or it will add time to the total cook time. When cooking on low it should take about 8 hours and on high about 4 hours. I like to cook them low and slow because it helps them become more tender. If you want the meat to literally fall-off-the-bone I suggest cooking it on low for 9 hours.
- Broil: When you are done cooking the ribs in the slow cooker you can finish them off in the broiler for that extra crispy, charred outer layer. To do this remove the ribs and place them on a baking sheet with foil placed on it. Baste the ribs with some extra BBQ sauce and then broil for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove Membrane: Before you cook ribs I suggest that you remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. This helps the sauce and spices absorb into the ribs better when they are cooking. You can see how to do that here.
Storage Tips
Store the leftover ribs in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat you can heat slowly in the oven or a microwave.
More Pork Recipes
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Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork Ribs
Ingredients
- 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch slices
- 3 to 4 pounds baby back ribs, trimmed of the silver skin {about 2 racks}
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon ginger, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups pineapple, diced
- Green onion, for garnish
- pineapple, for garnish
- BBQ sauce , for garnish
Instructions
- Remove the silver membrane from the back of the pork ribs.
- Spread sliced onions evenly in the bottom of the crock pot. Place ribs on top of the onion.
- In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, Sriracha, and apple cider vinegar. Pour mixture evenly over the ribs. Cook on low for 7 hours.
- Open the lid and add pineapple to the crock pot and stir slightly so the pineapple is coated in the crock pot liquid. Continue to cook for one more hour.
- Carefully remove ribs, pineapple and onions from crock pot. Cover with foil to keep warm.
- Pour remaining liquid from crockpot into a small saucepan. Skim excess fat from the surface of the sauce. Bring to a boil and cook until liquid is reduced by half and slightly thickened. Brush reduced liquid over the ribs.
- Spoon pineapple and onions over rice to serve. Garnish with fresh pineapple and green onions and extra BBQ sauce.
Notes
- When you are done cooking the ribs in the slow cooker you can finish them off in the broiler for that extra crispy, charred outer layer. To do this remove the ribs and place them on a baking sheet with foil placed on it.
- Baste the ribs with some extra BBQ sauce and then broil for 5-10 minutes.
- Before you cook ribs I suggest that you remove the membrane from the back of the ribs. This helps the sauce and spices absorb into the ribs better when they are cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can this recipe be made using boneless pork ribs?
Yes! That would work. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Hope you like them.