Treat yourself to a mouthwatering meal with these slow-cooked beef spare ribs. This recipe brings out the rich, tender flavors of the ribs by slow-cooking them to perfection. The beef practically falls off the bone, absorbing a sweet and savory sauce as it cooks. Perfect for a weekend dinner or special occasion, this recipe requires minimal hands-on time while delivering maximum flavor.
Beef Spare Ribs Slow Cooker Recipe
4
servings15
minutes8
hours632
kcal8
hours15
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
- For the Ribs:
2 kg 4 2/5 lb beef spare ribs
1 1 onion
3 3 garlic cloves
240 ml 1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
- For the Sauce:
240 ml 1 cup BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Equipment
Slow cooker- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Tongs
- Mixing bowl
Directions
- Season the ribs generously with salt and black pepper on all sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the ribs for 2-3 minutes per side until browned. This step locks in flavor but can be skipped if you’re short on time.
- Place the sliced onions and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Arrange the seared ribs on top of the onions.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the ribs.
- Pour the beef broth around the edges of the ribs, being careful not to wash away the sauce.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until the ribs are tender and the meat is falling off the bone.
- Once cooked, carefully remove the ribs from the slow cooker with tongs. Let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve with your favorite side dishes like mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or corn on the cob.
Notes
- For extra saucy ribs, remove the ribs after cooking and let the sauce reduce in a pan over medium heat until it thickens.
Can I cook the ribs on high instead of low?
Yes, you can cook the ribs on HIGH for 4–5 hours. However, cooking them on low for 8 hours yields the best tender, fall-off-the-bone texture.
