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Asian Sticky Slow Cooker Ribs

These tender ribs cook in the slow cooker. A dry rub for the ribs is made with brown sugar, paprika, chili powder and garlic powder. Next a sticky sauce is made with ginger, onion powder, garlic, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and honey. Half of the sauce is poured over the ribs. Then second half of the sticky sauce is cooked on the stovetop until thickened. Then the ribs are removed from the slow cooker and brushed with the thickened sauce and broiled in the oven.
Course Entree
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  • 2 racks pork baby back ribs

Dry rub

  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp salt

Sticky sauce

  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
  • ⅔ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • ⅔ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup honey
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, whisk together the ginger, pepper and onion powder.
  2. Add the garlic and mix again.
  3. Add the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and honey. Whisk to combine.
  4. Pour half of the sticky sauce into a separate bowl. Set aside.
  5. Add the remaining half of the sticky sauce to a saucepan. Heat to medium and bring the sauce to a boil.
  6. Once the sauce starts boiling, whisk the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl and add 1 tbsp of the hot liquid. While whisking the sauce continuously, slowly drizzle in the cornstarch mixture. Whisk until it comes back to a boil.
  7. Turn the heat to medium-low and allow it to simmer until it begins to reduce and thicken. This can take up to 10 minutes or little as 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Ribs

  1. Place the dry rub ingredients into a small bowl and mix together.
  2. Make sure the membrane has been removed from the underside of the ribs, and then message the dry rub onto both sides.
  3. Curl the ribs into the slow cooker, going around the sides.
  4. Pour the uncooked half of the sticky sauce mixture over the ribs.
  5. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook at low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender. (8 hours is best.)
  6. Remove the ribs from the slow cooker and place them on a foil lined broil pan, meaty side up.
  7. Brush on some of the sauce from the saucepan and leave the rest for serving.
  8. Place the meat under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes, or until sticky and broiled.
  9. Tent with foil for 3-5 minutes and then cut and serve.