Sweet-and-Sour Sticky Ribs (Slow Cooker) – ATK

  • 4½ TSP garlic powder
  • 3 TSP ground ginger
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3 1½-2 LB baby back ribs (trimmed)
  • 1 C apricot preserves
  • 6 TBS ketchup
  • 6 TBS soy sauce
  • 6 TBS rice vinegar
  • 3 TBS chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

NOTE: Avoid racks of baby back ribs that are larger than 2 pounds; they will be difficult to maneuver into the slow cooker.

  1. Lightly coat slow cooker with vegetable oil spray. Combine garlic powder, ginger, 3 teaspoon salt, and 3 teaspoon pepper in bowl. Pat ribs dry with paper towels and rub with spice mixture.
  2. Arrange ribs meaty side down along bottom of prepared slow cooker. Cover and cook until ribs are just tender, 5 to 6 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high.
  3. Adjust oven rack 4 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Set wire rack in aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and coat with vegetable oil spray. Transfer ribs meaty side up to prepared rack; let sit until surface is dry, about 10 minutes.
  4. Whisk preserves, ketchup, soy sauce, and vinegar together in bowl. Brush ribs with half of sauce and broil until sauce is bubbling and beginning to char, about 5 minutes. Brush ribs with remaining sauce, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut ribs in between bones to separate. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Yields 6 servings.