Easy Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs Recipe for All

Slow cooker sticky ribs transform ordinary meals into memorable feasts with minimal kitchen effort.

These mouthwatering ribs promise a culinary adventure that delights taste buds and simplifies meal preparation.

Tender meat infused with complex, sweet-tangy flavors falls effortlessly from the bone, creating an irresistible dining experience.

Rich marinades penetrate deep into the protein, ensuring each bite bursts with incredible taste sensations.

Home cooks can elevate their dinner game without spending hours hovering near the stove.

Guaranteed crowd-pleasers, these ribs offer a perfect balance of convenience and gourmet quality.

You’ll appreciate how such straightforward ingredients combine to create an impressive main course: get ready to impress.

Why Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs Will Blow Your Mind

• Unlock Mouthwatering Flavor Fusion: The recipe blends sweet apricot preserves, tangy mustard, and smoky chipotle peppers to create an incredibly complex and irresistible taste profile that dances across your palate.
• Effortless Slow Cooking Magic: This hands-off method allows the ribs to become incredibly tender and infused with rich flavors, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality results without constant monitoring.
• Guaranteed Crowd-Pleasing Texture: The slow cooking process followed by the caramelizing oven finish ensures ribs that are fall-apart tender on the inside and gloriously sticky-glazed on the outside, delivering a sensational eating experience.
• Weekend Feast Perfection: These ribs transform an ordinary meal into a special occasion, ideal for family gatherings, game day celebrations, or when you want to impress guests with minimal culinary effort.

What You Need for Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs

• Pork Ribs: Classic cut for a tender and flavorful main dish, choose baby back or St. Louis style ribs for best results.

• Apricot Preserves, Ketchup: Sweet and tangy base for the sticky sauce, provides rich depth of flavor.
• Mustard, Soy Sauce: Adds complex savory undertones and helps balance the sweetness.
• Chipotle Peppers: Brings smoky heat and robust spiciness to the sauce.
• Hot Sauce: Enhances overall spice level and adds extra kick.

• Garlic, Fresh Ginger: Provides aromatic depth and traditional flavor complexity.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning for enhancing the meat's natural taste.

• Cornstarch: Helps create a glossy, clingy sauce texture for better coating.
• Water: Used to create cornstarch slurry for smooth sauce thickening.

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs

Step 1: Prepare Juicy Ribs

Slice pork ribs into 2-rib sections using a sharp knife. Season generously with salt and pepper, covering all surfaces. Place seasoned ribs into slow cooker.

• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 2: Create Flavor-Packed Sauce

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients until smooth and well combined.

• Apricot preserves
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 chipotle peppers, chopped
• Fresh ginger, grated
• Hot sauce

Step 3: Slow Cook Tender Ribs

Pour entire sauce mixture over ribs in slow cooker, ensuring complete coverage. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until meat is fall-apart tender.

Step 4: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.

Step 5: Transfer and Skim

Remove ribs from slow cooker and place on prepared baking sheet. Skim excess fat from cooking liquid and pour into a saucepan.

Step 6: Thicken Sauce

Create cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with water. Stir into simmering cooking liquid until sauce becomes thick and glossy.

Step 7: Glaze and Caramelize

Brush ribs with thickened sauce. Bake for 45 minutes, reapplying sauce every 10 to 15 minutes to create sticky, caramelized exterior. Serve with extra sauce on side.

Pro Tips for Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs

• Boost Flavor Depth: Refrigerate sauce overnight to allow ingredients to mingle and intensify taste profiles.
• Trim Fat Smartly: Cool cooking juices briefly, letting fat layer solidify for effortless removal and cleaner sauce.
• Dial Down Spiciness: Minimize chipotle peppers or hot sauce to create a gentler, more balanced heat level.
• Pick Premium Ribs: Select cuts featuring robust meat portions and minimal fat for optimal texture and taste.
• Monitor Sauce Consistency: Watch closely after adding cornstarch slurry, ensuring perfect thickness within 2-3 minutes.

How to Store Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs

• Vacuum Seal Method: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer to remove air completely. Carefully place cooled ribs in specialized vacuum bags, ensuring no sauce leaks during the sealing process. This technique preserves flavor and prevents freezer burn for up to 2 months.
• Glass Container Storage: Transfer ribs to thick-walled glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Stack pieces carefully without crushing the meat, allowing each rib to maintain its delicious coating. Refrigerate immediately after cooling to maintain optimal taste and texture.
• Quick Portion Wrap: Individually wrap ribs in parchment paper before placing in storage containers. Separate layers prevent ribs from sticking together and make reheating smaller portions easier. Use within 3-4 days for maximum flavor and tenderness.

Delicious Twists on Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs

• Honey BBQ Spin: Replace apricot preserves with honey and add smoky BBQ sauce for a classic American flavor profile that brings sweet and tangy notes to the ribs.
• Asian-Inspired Version: Swap chipotle peppers with sriracha, use rice vinegar instead of hot sauce, and add five-spice powder for an authentic Chinese-style sticky rib experience.
• Spicy Caribbean Remix: Incorporate rum, scotch bonnet peppers, and orange marmalade to create a tropical heat-infused sauce that transforms the original recipe with vibrant Caribbean flavors.
• Mediterranean Herb Variation: Mix in fresh rosemary, thyme, and red wine, replacing some soy sauce with balsamic vinegar to introduce a Mediterranean herb-inspired richness to the tender ribs.

Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs: A Tender, Flavorful Feast

Sticky ribs embody pure culinary magic, transforming ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences.

Pioneer Woman’s recipe blends sweet, tangy, and spicy notes into one irresistible dish.

Slow cookers unlock deep flavor profiles that traditional cooking methods cannot match.

Chipotle and apricot preserves create a complex sauce guaranteed to impress dinner guests.

Home cooks can master this restaurant-quality recipe with simple ingredients and minimal preparation.

Ribs emerge tender, glossy, and packed with incredible flavor – so grab your ingredients, rally friends around the table, and dive into this mouthwatering adventure that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs promise a mouthwatering journey through Southern comfort cuisine. Tender pork ribs dripping with a sweet and tangy sauce deliver pure culinary bliss that will make you crave seconds.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 racks of pork ribs

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 tablespoon (15g) kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon (2g) freshly ground black pepper
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) hot sauce or to taste

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 13-ounce jar of apricot preserves
• 1 cup (240ml) ketchup
• ¼ cup (60ml) yellow mustard
• ¼ cup (60ml) soy sauce
• 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons (45ml) cornstarch

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Segment the rack of pork ribs into 2-rib portions, ensuring uniform size for consistent cooking. Liberally season each piece with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Create a robust sauce by whisking together apricot preserves, tomato ketchup, Dijon mustard, low-sodium soy sauce, minced fresh garlic, finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobo, grated fresh ginger, and your preferred hot sauce until smooth and well-integrated.
3. Nestle seasoned ribs into the slow cooker, then drench completely with prepared sauce, making certain every surface is thoroughly coated.
4. Cover slow cooker and allow ribs to cook on low temperature (200 degrees Fahrenheit / 93 degrees Celsius) for 6 to 7 hours, or on high temperature (275 degrees Fahrenheit / 135 degrees Celsius) for 3 to 4 hours until meat becomes exceptionally tender and begins separating from bones.
5. Preheat conventional oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for convenient cleanup and effortless sauce management.
6. Carefully transfer slow-cooked ribs onto prepared baking sheet. Strain remaining cooking liquid, skimming excess fat, and pour into a saucepan over medium heat.
7. Whisk cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water to create a smooth slurry, then incorporate into simmering liquid. Continuously stir until sauce thickens and reaches a glossy, coat-the-back-of-a-spoon consistency.
8. Generously brush ribs with thickened sauce, returning to oven. Repeat glazing process every 10 to 15 minutes until ribs develop a deep, caramelized exterior, approximately 40 to 45 minutes.
9. Remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes, then serve with additional sauce alongside for extra indulgence.

Notes

• Transforming tough meat cuts into tender, melt-in-your-mouth dishes becomes effortless with slow cookers.
• Breaking ribs into smaller sections promotes even cooking and maximizes sauce absorption.
• Developing a complex sauce profile happens by blending sweet apricot preserves with tangy mustard and spicy chipotle.
• Melting connective tissues through low and slow cooking guarantees incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs.
• Removing excess fat prevents greasy results and allows sauce flavors to dominate the final dish.
• Thickening sauce naturally occurs with cornstarch slurry, creating a glossy, restaurant-quality consistency.
• Caramelizing sauce during post-slow cooking baking generates those addictive, sticky rib edges.
• Providing extra sauce alongside the meal enables personalized dining experiences.
• Lining with aluminum foil simplifies cleanup, letting you enjoy your delicious meal without dreading dish washing.
• Elevating sauce complexity comes from incorporating fresh ingredients like garlic and ginger.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 557 kcal
• Sugar: 37 g
• Sodium: 1412 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 55 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 98 mg