Crock pot Texas style boneless beef ribs are slow cooked and are so easy, so tender, and full of flavor. The slow cooker ensures that the meat is super tender, cooked without the need to babysit it, and that classic sweet and spicy homemade BBQ sauce slathered all over them brings all the flavors home. It’s a fantastic recipe for almost any occasion, and because it’s cooked in the Crock Pot, you never have to pick “the right time” to make it.
When you think of barbecue, what’s the first thing you think of? Most likely, it was ribs, right? Of all the barbecued foods out there, ribs and brisket seem to be tied for first place in most people’s minds. We do love our brisket, but when I want to make an easy barbecue dinner, I go for these ribs because they’re just so darn easy. I mean, you’re not really going to fit a brisket into a Crock Pot, and even if you could, it just wouldn’t be the same.
The interesting thing about these Texas style beef ribs is that they work so well in the slow cooker. You’d never know that they weren’t cooked on the grill! That makes them the perfect barbecue dish to make any time of the year, but especially during the cold months or on rainy days. You’ll get all that delicious barbecue flavor without having to go outside.
Boneless Beef Ribs vs. Country Style Short Ribs
Although both boneless beef ribs and country style short ribs will work well in this recipe, I find the flavor better when I use boneless beef ribs. They just seem to be more tender. That might be because boneless beef ribs are actually ribs, while country style ribs aren’t.
Boneless beef ribs are exactly what the name says. They’re beef ribs that have had the bone and membrane removed, leaving only the delicious meat and marbling that will melt into the meat to make it super tender.
Country style ribs, on the other hand, aren’t actually ribs at all. They’re almost an exclusively American cut of beef that are taken from the chuck eye roll. Think of them as the beef equivalent of boneless wings. While they’re a bit less expensive than true beef ribs, they also don’t cook up quite as tender. That being said, they are definitely a serviceable alternative.
Texas Barbecue Sauce
Here’s where we get to the Texas style portion of this Texas style beef ribs recipe. The sauce is the boss for this one. You’ll find all kinds of barbecue sauces around the country. From super thick to thin, mild to hot, super sweet to far more savory. There are some quite famous regional favorites, and one of those is Texas barbecue sauce.
Texas barbecue sauce is a thin sauce, but it’s not anemic by any stretch of the imagination. This sauce is known for being both sweet and packing some heat, and it often features such ingredients as hot sauce, chili powder, cumin, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. My take on classic Texas barbecue sauce includes garlic, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar for some tartness, honey and brown sugar for some sweetness, and of course, red pepper flakes for that classic kick of heat that Texas barbecue sauce is known for.
Texas Style Beef Ribs – So Easy and So Good
Using boneless beef ribs in the Crock Pot leads to super tender beef that is a joy to eat while using Texas barbecue sauce gives these ribs that classic Texas flavor that is just so good. I’m a big fan of this recipe because I can simply set it and forget it, coming back to it in a few hours when it’s all cooked up and ready to be devoured. I’m a particularly big fan of this recipe for big family get-togethers in the summer because while someone else is out in the back grilling, I can have these ribs cooking in the kitchen. That way it’s so much easier to have a variety of delicious barbecue goodness for everyone.
If you’re a fan of beef and barbecue, then this is the recipe for you. I’ve never had anyone say anything about this recipe other than, “Do you have any more?” And leftovers? Not likely!
Variations
Unlike many of my other recipes, I don’t recommend changing anything about this recipe. It just works so well exactly as it is. The only thing – the ONLY thing – I might say is that you could use country style beef ribs in place of the boneless beef ribs if you want. But even then, I wouldn’t do it unless you simply cannot find ribs at the store.
Serving Texas Style Beef Ribs
Ribs are a classic barbecue favorite, and as such, they deserve the classic barbecue treatment. I love to serve my ribs with great barbecue sides like coleslaw, corn bread, barbecue baked beans, mac and cheese, and the like. When all those great flavors come together on your plate? Oh yeah, it’s barbecue heaven in every bite. There’s nothing better than a plate piled high with Texas style barbecue and all the fixings. Well, it’s actually better when you’re enjoying it with family and friends.
Storing the Ribs
You can store these ribs in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. For longer storage, you can freeze these ribs for up to three months. Simply allow the ribs to chill in the refrigerator, and then wrap them tightly in cling wrap and place them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags. To further ensure freshness, you can vacuum seal your ribs, as well.
Reheating the Ribs
Reheating these Texas style beef ribs is incredibly easy. Defrost your ribs in the refrigerator. After that, simply microwave them until they reach the desired temperature. That’s all there is to it!
Try These Crock Pot Texas Style Beef Ribs Yourself
These crock pot Texas style beef ribs are absolutely delicious, and they’re so easy to make. The slow cooker leaves these ribs so incredibly tender, and the Texas barbecue sauce adds sweet and heat in equal measure. When you put them together, what you get is super tender beef that packs a punch of flavor that everyone loves. Pile it high on a plate with all the classic barbecue sides, and you’ve got yourself the classic summer plate that everyone always clamors for.
Ingredients Needed To Make Crock Pot Texas Style Boneless Beef Ribs
- Texas style boneless beef ribs
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Red wine vinegar
- Honey
- Ground mustard
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Red pepper flakes
(Actual measurements are in the recipe card below.)
How To Make Crock Pot Texas Style Boneless Beef Ribs
- Spray a 6-8 quart crock pot with non stick spray. Set aside.
- Cut beef ribs in half, if needed, and remove any large pieces of fat.
- Place in crock pot and seasoned ribs with salt and pepper.
For The Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- In a small bowl, stir all ingredients together until combined.
- Pour barbecue sauce over ribs, cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours or until tender.
Try These Deliciously Tender Baked Beef Ribs Today
Here are a few more delicious rib recipes you can find on the blog:
- Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs
- Instant Pot Pork Baby Back Ribs
- BBQ Dry Rub Pork Ribs
- Crock Pot BBQ Pork Ribs
And here is the latest recipe from our second blog, Deliciously Seasoned.
Crock Pot Texas Style Boneless Beef Ribs
Ingredients
For The Beef Ribs
- 2½-3 lbs Texas style boneless beef ribs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
For The Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Spray a 6-8 quart crock pot with non stick spray. Set aside.
- Cut beef ribs in half, if needed, and remove any large pieces of fat.
- Place in crock pot and seasoned ribs with salt and pepper.
For The Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- In a small bowl, stir all ingredients together until combined.
- Pour barbecue sauce over ribs, cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours or until tender.
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.