Easy to make Slow Cooker Sweet Sesame Baby Back Ribs are cooked to perfection in a thick sweet orange Asian sauce. Unique and irresistible from a new slow cooker essentials cookbook!
Football playoffs are the buzz right now with social media on fire with 'football food porn'. You know the recipes I mean; fantastic dips, juicy burgers piled high with toppings, finger-licking wings recipes, taco bars and any other comfort food that food fantasies are made of. I'm jumping on the pile-up with Slow Cooker Sweet Sesame Baby Back Ribs!
I was recently sent a new cookbook to review: Essential Slow Cooker Recipes: 103 Fuss-Free Slow Cooker Meals Everyone Will Love Essential Slow Cooker Recipes: 103 Fuss-Free Slow Cooker Meals Everyone Will Loveby Addie Gundry. I'll admit I was dubious.
I get the 'essential' part but at this stage of slow cookers, which were birthed last century, how NEW could the content really be? I'm delighted to share it is an exciting cookbook with loads of unique (read: original and inspired) recipes for everything you could imagine making in your slow cooker.
To begin, Gundry's credentials speak for themselves. Schooled at the Auguste Escoffier in France, she's worked with culinary luminaries such as Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Martha Stewart in a variety of capacities. She won Food Network's 'Cutthroat Kitchen' in 2015 and has written numerous cookbooks.
The cookbook strives to tackle dishes too time-consuming and work-intensive for every day (examples French onion soup or chicken cordon bleu). Sign me up. We all use our crock pots for soups and stews, right? But what about making something REALLY exciting with no more effort?
The cookbook includes recipes for every meal, starting with appetizers (Bacon Cheeseburger Dip, anyone?) through desserts. There are numerous breakfast recipes that caught my eye (Banana French Toast, Cinnamon Rolls, Monkey Bread), none of which I imagined were possible in a slow cooker.
There are 'classic recipes' from lasagna to smothered pork chops. Soups and stews, but not just the mainstream recipes you might have made. But it was the loads of dinner recipes that really struck my fancy. I'm always up for dinner made easier but also more delicious.
How to make Slow Cooker Sweet Sesame Baby Back Ribs – Step by Step
My maiden voyage was making Slow Cooker Sweet Sesame Baby Back Ribs. Baby back ribs marinate in a gorgeous sweet Asian sauce then cook for 6 hours. After cooking the pan juices are transferred into a saucepan to be thickened and tossed back with the ribs.
COOKING TIP: Cutting the rib rack in half allows smaller portions to rotate through the sauce when cooking (see photo in slow cooker). Also rotating the ribs on the bottom to the top once or twice while cooking helps ensure all ribs will soak in the sauce equally!
What do Slow Cooker Sweet Seasame Baby Back Ribs Taste Like?
The ribs have a wonderful orange Asian flavor from soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, chili sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, garlic and honey. All ingredients are easy to find and available in gluten-free varieties. These sweet sesame ribs are messy, gooey ribs you'll love! Easy to serve on a large platter with loads of paper napkins (and maybe individually packaged hand wipes!). They got rave reviews from my family.
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Sweet Sesame Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 large Oranges
- 1/2 cup Soy Sauce or gluten-free Tamari/soy sauce
- 1/2 cup Hoisin Sauce use gluten-free Hoisin if needed
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup bottled Sweet Chili Sauce
- 3 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 tablespoon Minced Fresh Garlic
- 4-5 pounds Baby Back Ribs *see summary notes
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 6-7 quart slow cooker
Instructions
- Zest and juice 1 of the oranges. Place the zest and juice in a large ziptop plastic bag and add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, sweet chili sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic. Mix well and add the baby back ribs (note: rib rack may need to be cut in half; see photo). Close the bag and shake to coat the ribs completely. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
- Spray the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Transfer the ribs and marinade from the bag into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours. NOTE: if ribs are not in the sauce, rotate the top ribs to the bottom of the slow cooker 1-2 times during cooking.
- Transfer the ribs to a warm platter and put the juices in a small saucepan over medium heat. 5. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water to make a smooth paste. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the pot with the juices from the ribs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Cut the ribs into chunks and toss with the sauce. Garnish with the orange zest from the second orange and serve with the orange slices on the side.
Melissa Chapman says
I absolutely adore any recipe that includes sesame seeds and this one is no exception- looks like it would make the perfecr sunday supper! Thanks for sharing!
Sinisa says
I love ribs. This is such an interesting flavor.
Pam Wattenbarger says
These look like such delicious ribs. My husband and son have always loved a good rib recipe.
Allison Cooper says
Yum! So glad I came across this recipe because I’ve honestly never thought to make these in the slow cooker and wow – so much time would be saved in the kitchen!
Toni Dash says
Once you do you may never go back to cooking them in the oven! They are delicious, moist, and there really is little to clean up.
Melissa Chapman says
You always make so many great meals and this fall off the bone rib recipe fits right in place. This is a game day meal that will work at any party..
Jeanette says
I love ribs anyway that you can give them to you. I would totally wolf these down in a heart beat! I have never considered putting them in the slow cooker but I am definitely going to try it.
Toni Dash says
It’s a great way to cook them for a tender, flavorful result and little effort on your part (my favorite part!).
Maureen says
I love using the slow cooker for busy days, this sweet sesame baby back ribs option looks like a great option to try for the family one night. I am going to save it to try asap!
Shell says
Those look amazing! I haven’t tried baby back ribs on the slow cooker but I’ll have to give this a shot.
Pam Wattenbarger says
I haven’t tried baby back ribs in the slow cooker either. They look good though!
Colleen Cayes says
Oh, boy, I think I could eat these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I just need to find a couple of other people to share them with. I’ll bet they’d make great “takeout” for older friends who don’t cook as much. Perfect timing for Super Bowl, Grammies, and Oscars!
Toni Dash says
Yes, yes and Y.E.S.! I agree with everything you’ve said.
robin rue says
Those ribs sound so delicious and mouth-watering. I NEED to make these right away.