Description
Slow-cooker baby back ribs from Pioneer Woman offer a mouthwatering journey through tender, fall-apart meat infused with rich barbecue flavors. Southern comfort meets simple preparation, delivering irresistible ribs that melt in your palate and bring smiles around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 5–6 pounds (2.3–2.7 kg) baby back ribs (approximately 2 racks, each about 2.5 to 3 pounds or 1.1–1.4 kg)
Aromatics and Seasoning:
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 12 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) black pepper
Sauces and Preserves:
- 1 cup (320 g) plum preserves
- ½ cup (120 ml) ketchup
- ½ cup (120 ml) barbecue sauce
- A few dashes of hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the ribs by carefully peeling away the tough membrane from the back of each rack using a sharp knife. This crucial step ensures maximum tenderness and flavor absorption. Slice each rack in half to facilitate easier handling and compact placement in the slow cooker.
- Arrange the halved rib racks in the slow cooker, layering thinly sliced onions and crushed garlic cloves across the top. Generously season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, creating an aromatic base for the meat.
- Cover the slow cooker tightly and set to low temperature. Allow the ribs to cook slowly for 8 hours, maintaining a consistent heat that will transform the meat into melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Resist the temptation to lift the lid during cooking to preserve heat and moisture.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the ribs and transfer to a clean platter. Strain the cooking liquid, reserving the caramelized onions and garlic for additional flavor enhancement.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together plum preserves, tomato ketchup, tangy barbecue sauce, and a few dashes of hot sauce until smooth and well-integrated. This vibrant sauce will provide a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Return the ribs to the slow cooker and generously coat each piece with the prepared sauce. Use tongs to ensure even coverage, allowing the sauce to cling to every crevice of the meat.
- Set the slow cooker to warm setting for an additional 20 minutes. This final stage allows the flavors to meld harmoniously and creates a glossy, sticky glaze that will make the ribs irresistibly appetizing.
Notes
- Minimal prep work transforms tough meat into a crowd-pleasing meal that tastes like it came from a professional kitchen.
- Versatile cooking method works perfectly in slow cooker, making meal preparation stress-free and convenient.
- Homemade sauce delivers complex flavor profiles that elevate these ribs from ordinary weeknight dinner to memorable feast.
- Low temperature ensures meat becomes incredibly tender, literally falling off the bone with each delicious bite.
- Draining excess liquid concentrates rich flavors, creating a glossy, mouthwatering coating that guests will absolutely love.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hour
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg