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.
Theresa says
I stopped making ribs because it was so messy to make them in the oven. I love that you can make them in the slow cooker and they will turn out just as delicious without all the sheet pan mess. The cookbook sounds very handy to have in the kitchen!
Toni Dash says
You will LOVE this recipe then! Because the insert is sprayed with non-stick spray, it’s completely easy to clean out!
Shelly Maynard says
My son walked by as I was reading this and when he saw the pictures, he said, “Uh, is that what we’re having for supper tomorrow night?”. So guess who has to go shopping tomorrow. These look delicious!
Toni Dash says
High five from me to him! I need to recruit more sons to get people cooking from my website it seems!
Amy says
We just made slow cooked roast beef today. I bet these ribs were so good too! I need to buy some next week to try the recipe.
Mama to 6 Blessings says
Oh my goodness I am drooling! I could even have this recipe on Paleo minus the cornstarch. What a yummy family meal this would be in my home!
Toni Dash says
I’m not sure about the finer details of paleo recipes but could you have arrowroot starch? I often substitute that when cornstarch won’t work for certain eating needs.
Kathy says
These look so good. I haven’t had ribs in such a long time. It’s one of my favorites too. I need to make your recipe soon.
Maria Carbone says
I LOVE that you added in a sweet side to this recipe. I love eating my ribs usually with a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. Sounds delish!
Michelle Goth says
Looks like it is time to get the cooker back out. This is a must have!
Marissa Zurfluh says
This is so mouth watering! They ribs look absolutely perfect.
Sara Welch says
I am all about the baby back ribs. I have to get my slow cooker out!
Dawn Lopez says
My entire family would really enjoy this recipe for Sweet Sesame Ribs! It’s like combining some of our favorite dishes with the Asian flavors and the delicious ribs. I’m totally interested in trying this.
Toni Dash says
That’s a perfect description Dawn! It tastes exactly as you described.