For the first time ever I decided to experiment with 5-spice powder in this Asian short ribs recipe. And what better way to incorporate this flavor than in the slow cooker?! In case you haven’t heard me say it before – I LOVE making everything from soups to stocks to beans to dinners in my crock pot.
Preparing a delicious and nutritious meal in advance that is ready and waiting for you at dinner time, keeps your house smelling amazing all day long, and usually requires minimal cleanup after eating? I am sold. Especially on those nights when the kids have early evening extracurricular activities. Slow cooker dinners are the way to go in my opinion!
Another great thing about this recipe is that, for those who have an allergy or sensitivity, it does not contain any gluten or dairy (as long as a gluten-free soy sauce is used). You could also just omit (or replace) the soy sauce topping if someone in your family can’t eat soy. Oh, and while we are on the topic, there are no nuts in this recipe either. So there you go…this is officially an allergy-friendly dish that everyone can enjoy together!
Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs (with Soy Sauce Glaze)
For the first time I decided to experiment with 5-spice powder in this Asian short ribs recipe. And what better way to incorporate it than in the crock pot?
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the 5-spice powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Place the onion and garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Put the ribs on top of the onion and coat them evenly with the spice mixture. Keeping the ribs on top of the onions helps to keep them out of the juices and fat that will collect at the bottom during cooking.
- Turn slow cooker onto LOW and cook for 9 to 10 hours. (No need to add any water or liquid before starting.)
- Just before serving the ribs, combine the soy sauce and honey in a small pot on the stove. Bring to a light boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the ribs to a serving platter (on top of the brown rice noodles and bok choy if using – as pictured above) and pour the sauce over the top of the entire dish. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce.
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but 100 Days of Real Food will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us spread our message!
To Avoid GMOs – Go Organic
Can I make gravy or sauce from the leftover juices?
We have not tried to do so but I am sure you can.
Can you use boneless ribs? Does he cooking time or any liquid need to be added? They are in the crockpot now :-)
So sorry. We can rarely reply to recipe questions in real time. How did they turn out?
My husband’s absolute favorite meal! If you can’t find the 5-spice mix, it’s really good without. I’ve made it both ways. Just do extra paprika.
These are incredible. I’ve made them a few times – they’re my husbands favorite so I usually cook them as a special meal or date night for us! The flavor is so good especially with the sauce drizzled on top!
Is there another name for the 5 spice powder? I’m having trouble finding it.
Hi there. This will help if you can’t find the blend: http://www.thekitchn.com/inside-the-spice-cabinet-chinese-five-spice-powder-74672.
This dish is definitely a winner! I’m not a very experienced cook, but this is the most impressive thing to come out of my kitchen – and it was so easy! I followed instructions exactly, except cut the ingredients in half since I was just feeding two people. The glaze at the end is the icing on the – ribs! I served with white rice, sauteed bok choy (with ginger, garlic, soy sauce), and a cold asian cucumber salad (just googled one). My boyfriend was very impressed, and this will definitely be on rotation for dinner parties! Keep the slow cooker recipes coming… I also really like the pulled pork from this website.
I am allergic to onions – any other alternative? Or will they cook fine on top of garlic?
Hi. It will do fine with the garlic but will sit on the bottom of the pot. This might help, too: http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-best-substitute-for-onions-in-recipes-good-questions-211146.
Will this work if I double the recipe?
If your crock pot is big enough! :)