BBQ Rib Sandwich

Who doesn’t love a fresh BBQ Rib Sandwich with sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, tender rib meat, pickles and onion? These are so good! We love serving them with classic summer picnic sides like creamy coleslaw, French fries, and fresh watermelon slices.

Try this easy slow cooker ribs recipe for the perfect rib sandwich! You’ll place a thick, generous slab of pork rib meat glazed with barbecue sauce on a soft hamburger bun and add crunchy pickles and onions. This recipe is similar to a McRib sandwich at McDonald's, but way better because all of the ingredients are fresh!

If you like easy barbecue recipes, you’ll love my other Crock Pot BBQ recipes including BBQ Chicken, BBQ Pulled Pork, and these savory BBQ Beef Sandwiches!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Incredible Flavor: The spice rub on these ribs is so flavorful and it’s the perfect mix of savory, sweet, and tangy.
• Tender Rib Meat: Cooking the pork ribs low and slow gives you tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone meat for the best pork rib sandwich.
• Effortless Cooking: You don’t have to be a grill master to perfect this Crock Pot recipe! It has only a few simple pork rib sandwich ingredients and doesn’t take much work.
• Customizable: You can adjust the spice mix, barbecue sauce, and toppings to your liking for this boneless rib sandwich recipe. 

Ingredients

• Pork Baby Back Ribs: Baby back ribs are shorter than spare ribs, making them a good fit for the size of a 6-quart slow cooker. They're tender and lean and just right for this barbecue rib sandwich recipe. You can look for any style of rib that’s on sale at the butcher or deli including country style or St. Louis ribs.
• Barbecue Sauce: You can use any flavor of BBQ sauce for this recipe, whether it’s more sweet or tangy. So whether you're a fan of Kansas City style BBQ, North Carolina style BBQ, Memphis style BBQ or Texas style BBQ, go with the flavors you love the most!
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds some notes of molasses and makes for great caramelization when you broil the ribs at the end.
• Seasonings: The sauce for this recipe includes garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and ground mustard for the perfect mix of savory flavors.
• Pickles: Look for sliced pickles to go on your sandwich. I love dill pickles for this recipe but a bread and butter pickle or other sweet variety works great, too!
• Onion: Slices of crispy white onion add a nice crisp and flavorful bite to your BBQ pork rib sandwich. You can also grill the onions if you prefer cooked onions over raw, or just leave them off if you're not a fan of onions. 
• Hamburger Buns: Fluffy, soft, white hamburger buns are perfect for a BBQ sandwich, whether they’re plain or have sesame seeds on top. You can get them fresh from the bakery or the bread aisle.  

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Gluten-Free: Choose gluten-free buns and confirm that your barbecue sauce is gluten-free. 
• Spicy Version: Add chipotle powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes to your dry rub. Add spicy BBQ sauce or top with jalapenos instead of regular pickles for extra heat.
• Carolina-Style BBQ: Using a mustard-based sauce instead of traditional sauce can add a more tangy, vinegar-based flavor. 

How to Make BBQ Rib Sandwich

Here’s how to make a barbecue sandwich using the power of the Crock Pot for easy cooking! Start by lining a baking sheet with aluminum foil. You’ll use it towards the end when broiling the ribs. 

1. Step 1: Remove the Membrane from the Ribs. This will result in more flavorful ribs and the best tender texture. Pull up a corner of the membrane at one edge of the slab of ribs. Slide the point of a blunt knife underneath to get it started. Use a paper towel to get a good grip and then peel it off. 

2. Step 2: Make the Rub. Mix together the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and ground mustard.

3. Step 3: Coat the Ribs. Divide the ribs into 4 equal pieces and coat them with the dry rub. Massage the spice mix in and be sure to use a generous amount to give the best flavor.

4. Step 4: Prep the slow cooker. Place the ribs in the slow cooker and top with one cup of barbecue sauce.

5. Step 5: Cook the Ribs. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

6. Step 6: Broil the Ribs. Remove the ribs from the Crock Pot and put them on the prepared baking sheet. Coat the top of the ribs with the remaining barbecue sauce. Broil them for 3-5 minutes until the barbecue sauce thickens and bubbles.

7. Step 7: Remove the Bones. Push the bones out from the rib meat.

8. Step 8: Assemble the Sandwiches. Place the rib meat on a bun. Top with pickles, sliced onions, and any other favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy!

Storage Directions 

• Storing: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. You can freeze the leftover ribs for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: If the meat is frozen defrost it first. Then place it in a baking dish and warm it in a 350° F oven for 10-15 minutes or reheat in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through.
• Make Ahead: You can make the rib meat ahead of time and wait to assemble the sandwiches. All you’ll need to do is warm up the meat and put everything together.

Serving Suggestions

These BBQ rib sandwiches are great for a weekend gathering, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day get-together, game day meal, or summer cookout. Here are some ideas for how to serve them.

• Garnish with all of your favorite BBQ rib sandwich toppings. I love serving these with mayo, mustard, garlic aioli, sliced onions, lettuce, tomato, crispy fried onions, pickled jalapeños, and pickled pepperoncini. 
• Have a summer backyard BBQ feast with coleslaw, slow cooked cowboy beans, crockpot corn casserole, and sweet potato fries.
• Serve a barbeque sandwich with potato salad and corn on the cob.
• Keep them warm in the slow cooker if you're at a game day gathering and bring other appetizers like artichoke dip and crockpot little smokies.