Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches with an amazing baby back rib meat topped with the classic McDonald’s bbq sauce, onions and pickles.
Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches are the best of both worlds. You get that amazing McDonalds McRib bbq sauce but with rib meat that is actual tender ribs instead of a pork patty in the shape of ribs. If what you’re hoping for is the actual patty flavor, Serious Eats has a pretty in depth copycat recipe. For me the idea I was getting ribs was exciting even if the patty was always a bit of a letdown. 
Enter the Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches, made from baby back ribs with the classic onion and pickle topping. The recipe is pretty darn easy and the bbq sauce is just a quick 15 minute simmer on the stovetop that you can do anytime. We also like to use the bbq sauce on chicken and slow cooker shredded beef here.
I use baby back ribs for the recipe for a few reasons. First, I think they’re the most tender and flavorful, second they fit best in the hoagie rolls. You can use any kind of ribs you prefer, but if you use a different cut, you may not get the same pretty rib “patty” look. 
Looking for more BBQ Recipes?
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
- Tony Roma’s Inspired Crispy Vidalia Sweet Onion Loaf with Original BBQ Sauce
- Tony Roma’s Inspired Coleslaw
- BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches and a 4th of July Party Menu!
- Honey Bacon Baked Beans
- Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Looking for more Slow Cooker Sandwich ideas?
- Slow Cooker Reuben Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
- Coming soon, Chicken Caesar, Chicken Bacon Ranch, French Dip, Italian Beef, BBQ Beef and more!
Tools used in the making of these Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches:
Slow Cooker: Love this slow cooker and how programmable it is, it has been a workhorse for me… until…
My New Slow Cooker: This recipe was made in this slow cooker. For larger roasts I also brown the meat in the insert and not lose a bunch of the flavor by transferring the meat and leaving the browned bits behind. If you’re thinking of a new slow cooker, consider it if your budget is open.
Spice Rack – I buy spices in bulk from local grocers and from Penzey’s. It’s less expensive and significantly higher quality than buying the jars individually but I ended up being left with tons of little bags of spices. Enter the spice rack.
Sheet Pan – This pan stands up to the high heat of broiling without warping and it is nonstick to boot.
Recipe
Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches
- Yield: 4 servings
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Course: Main
- Cuisine: American
- Author: Sabrina Snyder
Ingredients
For the Ribs:
- 1 rack of baby back ribs cut in half to fit the slow cooker
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
McDonalds BBQ Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
For Assembly:
- 4 hoagie rolls
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 12 pickles
- 1/2 cup chopped onions in a large 1" dice
Instructions
Note: click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
- Put the ribs in the slow cooker and top with salt and pepper.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
- While the ribs are cooking make your bbq sauce.
Add the McDonalds BBQ Sauce ingredients into a saucepan and cook on low for 15-18 minutes or until sauce is thickened enough to coat a spoon and leave a line when you swipe your finger across the spoon.
- When ribs are done remove them from the slow cooker and put them onto a sheet pan.
- Cover with bbq sauce.
Broil for 1-2 minutes on the top shelf of your oven.
- Spread butter on your hoagie rolls and toast.
- Slide the bones out of your ribs (they should come right out with a little twisting).
- Use 1/4 of the ribs on each hoagie, then top each one with three pickles and a sprinkling of onion.
Recipe Notes
McDonalds BBQ Sauce recipe from my hometown paper, the LA Times.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 4 servings, Amount per serving: 533 calories, Calories: 533g, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 2976mg, Potassium: 671mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 27g, Vitamin A: 1415g, Vitamin C: 6.7g, Calcium: 143g, Iron: 12.7g
All images and text © for Dinner, then Dessert.
Can I sear the meat in a skillet before I put it in the slow cooker? I always sear meat first before adding them to the slow cooker to seal in the juices.
Yes 🙂
How do I get the nutrition information?
I’ve been going through trying to update all of the older posts to show. Just finished this one for you.
What level do you put your slow cooker on medium or high
I cooked it on low for 7-8 hours. Enjoy 🙂
These look amazing!!!! I’m pinning this and will use on an RV trip this fall – if I can wait that long!
Thanks for posting.
These ribs were delicious! I did cook the ribs with a sliced onion, other seasonings and in a can of beer. Other than that, I followed the recipe by making the sauce, putting it on the ribs and broiling them in the oven. Absolutely my new favorite way to make ribs!
Thanks for dropping by to let me know! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Dana, got you ribs drunk, that is great everything is better with beer and bacon 🙂 This recipe looks great..
Can I do this recipe in a 4qt slow cooker and if so do I need to modify anything?
My only worry about using a smaller slow cooker is that it might take longer to cook or they might not cook evenly being a bit crowded. You may want to only make it as a half rack, depending on the size of the ribs otherwise no modifications.
Have you ever had issues with baby back ribs having little bones aside from the main bones? For some reason whenever I get ribs at like Texas Roadhouse I get little chunks of bones in their ribs, which I believe are baby back ribs.
That just means that the butcher cut the meat wrong and cut further down the rib cage and into another rib.
All in the meat dept, are not from failure, but sometimes they think they are. Great recipe..
Hi Sabrina,
These rib sandwich look great!
Do you put the baby back ribs in the slow cooker dry?
Don’t you always have to have liquid when cooker in the slow cooker?
Thanks.
Yes, I put them in dry. No need to add liquids as the fat will render down to help cook while still having a nice crisp on it. Enjoy!
Hi Sabrina! I just listened to your appearance on the Chopped podcast and had to stop by and tell you how much I enjoyed it! Also, these sandwiches look like something right up my husband’s alley! Can’t wait to try them. Thanks!
Aw, thank you!
My husband will be so excited about this! And I am because I am a sucker for anything in the slow cooker!
Oh, me too! Anything to make life easier!!
Love the idea of making McRibs at home!
Thanks Cathy! So much better than having to go out!
I’m a sucker for ribs, and this has me drooling!
My son loves these sandwiches! Can’t wait to try these for him.
You’ll have to let me know what he thinks! Enjoy!!
OMG, that top photo nearly did me in. These look WAY too good!
Thanks Valerie!
I love that you took a fast food classic and turned it into real food. Loving these homemade McRib sandwiches — this is something I can get behind for sure!
Thanks Erin! It’s so fun to recreate!
Wow! These are packed with flavor and all my favorite things! I love these sandwiches, I need one right now!
Definitely! I love that you know exactly how they’re made too. Enjoy!