Sweet and Sour Crockpot Ribs

Introduction

When you’re seeking a dinner that delivers bold flavor with minimal prep, Sweet and Sour Crockpot Ribs are your answer. Succulent, fall-off-the-bone pork is bathed in a tangy, sticky-sweet sauce that caramelizes as it cooks, guaranteeing each bite is irresistible. This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser—ideal for family dinners or entertaining guests—thanks to its harmonious balance of savory, sweet, and vinegary notes.

Why Sweet and Sour Crockpot Ribs Are a Must-Try

This dish stands out because it achieves restaurant-quality results using simple, pantry-friendly ingredients and your slow cooker. The extended cook time allows the flavors to meld, the sauce to thicken, and the ribs to become mouthwateringly tender—with almost no hands-on effort.

The Secret to an Unforgettable Sauce

The key to authentic sweet and sour flavor is the right balance of ketchup and vinegar, paired with brown sugar and a splash of soy sauce. Pineapple juice or crushed pineapple adds a subtle burst of fruitiness that rounds out the sauce, making it cling lovingly to each rib. Just pour the sauce over your ribs in the crockpot, and let time do the heavy lifting.

Serving Suggestions for Sweet and Sour Crockpot Ribs

Serve these ribs hot, garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for visual appeal and a bit of crunch. They shine alongside steamed jasmine rice, sautéed greens, or stir-fried vegetables to soak up extra sauce. For gatherings, serve on a platter with each rib separated for easy sharing.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 generous servings, with each portion providing approximately 450–550 calories, depending on how fatty your ribs are and the sauce you use. Sweet and Sour Crockpot Ribs are meant to be a delicious indulgence, perfect for those special occasions or a well-deserved treat.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an easy, organized shopping list—sorted by store department for efficient grocery trips and stress-free planning!

Instructions

1. Pat ribs dry and season generously with salt and pepper. If needed, cut racks into smaller sections to fit your crockpot.
2. In a bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, and pineapple juice or crushed pineapple until well combined.
3. Arrange ribs in the crockpot. Pour sauce evenly over the top, making sure all ribs are coated.
4. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours or on high for 4–5 hours, until ribs are tender and easily pull apart.
5. Optional: For caramelized, sticky edges, transfer cooked ribs to a foil-lined baking sheet, brush with thickened sauce from the crockpot, and broil for 3–4 minutes until slightly charred.
6. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot with extra sauce spooned over the top.

Weekly Meal Planning

Sweet and Sour Crockpot Ribs are ideal for weekly meal planning and batch cooking. Save and schedule this recipe to organize this dish alongside other weekly meals. CookifyAI automatically creates consolidated shopping lists from your planned menu, grouping items by category and calculating total ingredient amounts.

Planning Benefits:

• No more forgetting ingredients—every item from every planned recipe is counted
• Shopping lists are organized by produce, dairy, pantry, and more for faster trips
• Plan several meals at once—CookifyAI totals overlapping ingredients to simplify your shop
• Adjust servings on the fly and see ingredient quantities update instantly

Pro tip: Schedule your recipes for the week and spot overlapping ingredients—buy in bulk to save time, money, and cut down on food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 7–8 hours (low) or 4–5 hours (high)
Total Time: Up to 8 hours 15 minutes (mostly hands-off)

Enjoy the sweet and tangy comfort of crockpot ribs—your new favorite set-and-forget meal!