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Home » Recipes

Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs from 100 Days of Real Food #slowcooker #shortribs

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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! For more inspiration, check out this Takeout-Style Lo Mein.

Equipment Needed

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If you enjoyed this slow cooker Asian short rib recipe, please leave a rating and comment! For more inspiration, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, sign up to receive my free newsletter! In addition, check out these Dinner Recipes.

Asian short ribs on a plate with noddles and broccoli

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? Serve this on top of brown rice noodles, with some bok choy, then pour the homemade soy sauce glaze for a delicious, tasty dinner.
16 Reviews / 4.9 Average
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 9 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 9 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Method: Slow Cooker
Diet: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Peanut/Tree Nut-Free
Print Recipe
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients
  

Ribs

  • 1 ½ teaspoons 5-spice powder (a mixed spice found in the baking aisle of the supermarket)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 onion (peeled and quartered)
  • 5 cloves garlic (mashed)
  • 3 pounds short ribs (beef, preferably grass-fed)

Soy Sauce Glaze

  • ⅓ cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Recommended Side Items

  • brown rice noodles
  • bok choy

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!

Notes

*To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce.
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs (with Soy Sauce Glaze)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 481 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 147mg49%
Sodium 1825mg79%
Potassium 1016mg29%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 50g100%
Vitamin A 245IU5%
Vitamin C 3.5mg4%
Calcium 47mg5%
Iron 6.6mg37%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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8.9K shares

About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Claire says

    June 21, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  2. Megan says

    June 06, 2017 at 10:10 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  3. Stacy says

    December 13, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Is there another name for the 5 spice powder? I'm having trouble finding it.

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      December 19, 2016 at 4:23 pm

      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.

      Reply
  4. Megan says

    June 20, 2016 at 10:25 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  5. Rachel says

    June 08, 2016 at 10:17 am

    I am allergic to onions - any other alternative? Or will they cook fine on top of garlic?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      July 07, 2016 at 11:09 am

      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.

      Reply
  6. Jamie says

    April 16, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    Will this work if I double the recipe?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      April 18, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      If your crock pot is big enough! :)

      Reply
  7. Ali says

    April 26, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Are there nutritional values listed for any of these recipes?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      April 29, 2015 at 2:01 pm

      Hi Ali. We really don't focus on numbers. This post helps explain why we do not provide those details: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/.

      Reply
  8. Denise M. says

    April 26, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    Wow Wow Wow! We had these Asian Ribs last night and my husband won't stop talking about them. They were wonderful! We bought the grass fed beef ribs from Whole Foods. They cost a fortune but it was worth it! I used the recipe for Udon Noodles with Bok Choy that Amy Taylor (comment moderator) put the link on 10/7/14 in the comments. It went perfectly with the Asian ribs. I also quartered 2 onions instead of one to make sure the ribs were elevated off the bottom of the crock pot. This recipe is a keeper. Can't wait to have my kids over to try this. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Sarah C says

    April 17, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    We made the Asian short ribs for dinner tonight with steamed broccoli. This is dinner party worthy, AND, my 4 and 6 yo devoured it!

    Reply
  10. Leigh says

    February 06, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    Cooking this for a Chinese New Year party. 2 questions. Is this cooked as one layer in the crockpot or can I put a few layers on top of each other. I have 20 ribs to do. Can I freeze these?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      February 10, 2015 at 10:44 am

      Hi there. Sure, you can freeze them.

      Reply
  11. Karen says

    January 08, 2015 at 11:52 am

    5 stars
    My short ribs are in the crock pot right now. I'm going to have them with soba noodles and whatever organic green looks good at the market today. For those above with absolutely no imagination, http://www.pinterest.com literally has thousands of recipes for everything. I'm even providing the website link for all you lazy peeps.

    Reply
  12. Bonnie says

    October 15, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    I am new to this and will be doing the 'ten day clean eating pledge'. I will be using this site a lot for recipes as well as a few others. This is the first meal on my very first ever meal planing journey. Did you list the side dishes? I see in some comments people were asking questions about the book choy and Asian noodles. Do I just have to go to recipes to find side dishes. Thanks so much and I am glad I am here and looking forward to journey.

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      October 16, 2014 at 4:56 pm

      Hi Bonnie. For most of the recipes, just one dish is featured. You can mix and match, however, throughout the recipe index: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/. Have you accessed the meal plans: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/our-free-meal-plans/? ~Amy

      Reply
  13. Krishell says

    October 07, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    4 stars
    Someone earlier in the comments mentioned throwing the bok choy in the crockpot on top of the ribs, so I did that an hour before it was done cooking. Turned out fine. I thought the dish was a tad salty (and one kid wasn't a huge fan of the bok choy, but ate most of it) overall my family liked it. My husband has been on board with clean eating for a while now and Lisa's recipes are making him a big fan. Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Krishell says

    October 05, 2014 at 11:28 am

    So the noodles and bok choy are plain? It would be nice if the recipe included directions for these items as well.

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      October 07, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      Hi Krishell. Here is a favorite of mine: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/stir-fried-udon-noodles-with-bok-choy/. :)

      Reply
  15. Holly W. says

    September 29, 2014 at 12:04 am

    5 stars
    Another winner! Thank you! I needed this done in about 6 hours, so I started it on high for an hour then switched to low for the remaining time and they were perfect. I took a bite before adding the soy sauce and honey mixture and thought they were equally as tasty without it. This will definitely become a regular in my menu rotation. I love the idea of trying this with chicken, cannot wait!

    Thanks again!

    Holly
    Portland, OR

    Reply
  16. Tammy says

    September 23, 2014 at 8:19 pm

    How long should it cook if you use chicken?

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      October 09, 2014 at 9:08 pm

      For a whole chicken I'd cook it for about 4 to 5 hours on high. For chicken legs I would cook it for 3 to 4 hours on high.

      Reply
  17. Susan says

    September 19, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Lisa said she used chicken instead of ribs.......did she use a whole chicken, or what? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      September 23, 2014 at 5:24 pm

      I used chicken legs, but a whole chicken would be great!

      Reply
  18. Cara says

    September 12, 2014 at 10:57 am

    What is the brand of the spice? I am having trouble finding that or the things that go in it!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      September 15, 2014 at 3:58 pm

      Hi Cara. McCormick makes one.

      Reply
  19. Sandy Rieder says

    July 10, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    5 stars
    I invited my parents over and we had this along with the Asian coleslaw and they were both delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
  20. Nicole Hartnell says

    June 08, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    I can't find the five spice blend… Can you tell me what spices are in it? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      June 09, 2014 at 2:19 pm

      Here ya go:
      ground cinnamon
      ground cloves
      fennel seed
      ground star anise
      Szechuan peppercorns

      Reply
  21. Elizabeth says

    April 16, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    How do you prepare the bok choy?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      April 20, 2014 at 3:34 pm

      Hi Elizabeth. I think think Lisa sauteed this. Here is a look at some options: http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/5-ways-with-bok-choy/. ~Amy

      Reply
  22. Roxy says

    April 07, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    Check out my blog at http://healthyandhappywellness.blogspot.com :)

    Reply
  23. Carly says

    April 01, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    Made this tonight. Delicious! Thank you for posting this recipe!

    Reply
  24. Diana Cripe says

    March 13, 2014 at 11:53 pm

    5 stars
    I made this on Monday, oh my, I was glad I was at work while it was cooking because it smelled so good. It was very tasty and the meat just fell off the bones. We had Jasmine rice and sautéed bok choy with it.

    I have now made 2 of your recipes and I will be trying more. Thank you.

    Reply
  25. Michele says

    March 13, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    These ribs were fabulous. Thank you for the recipe. However, should the sauce have been thick or thin?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      March 22, 2014 at 1:03 pm

      Hi Michele. It should be like a thin syrup. ~Amy

      Reply
  26. Susan says

    March 11, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Our store was sold out of short ribs so I bought beef slices with no bones. Do you think this will turn out similar or should I not cook it for so long?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      March 22, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Hi Susan. How did it turn out?

      Reply
  27. Kathryn says

    March 02, 2014 at 8:09 am

    When you use soy sauce, do you use sodium free?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      March 04, 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Hi there. No, we don't. ~Amy

      Reply
  28. Allison says

    February 19, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    So good. I made this last night, and everyone loved it. The leftovers were fought over by my oldest and husband tonight!

    Reply
  29. Joanne says

    February 15, 2014 at 7:22 pm

    I made this tonight and it is delicious! The whole family enjoyed it!

    Reply
  30. Annermano says

    February 06, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    I was going to make this and I thought I have short ribs at home, only to find out it was ribeye and I already defrosted it. Can I use that ? Or do u have any rib eye recipe?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 22, 2014 at 8:05 am

      Hi there. Sorry that I am so late getting to this. What did you do? ~Amy

      Reply
  31. Colleen says

    January 29, 2014 at 6:21 am

    Hi,
    My family loves ribs, I am always looking for a new recipe. However my daughter is highly allergic to honey. Will this taste really different without the honey or is there a substitute I could use? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 03, 2014 at 7:57 am

      Hi Colleen. We often substitute honey with maple syrup though we've not tried it in this recipe. ~Amy

      Reply
  32. dao says

    January 28, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    This did not turn out good for me. Short ribs had no taste, and I didn't know 5-spice powder is the same spice used in Vietnamese pho dish, it wasn't good to eat pho beef over rice. Most likely will not try this recipe again.

    Reply
  33. Maggie Crawford says

    January 09, 2014 at 1:07 am

    Fantastic! We at Little Green Pouch are taking the 10 day real food pledge, and I made this for breakfast on day one. It was a hit, and my husband asked me to add it to our regular rotation :-)

    Reply
  34. froggii says

    December 30, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    Hi. Do you have recommendations for doubling the recipe? I actually don't know what 3-1/2 pounds of short ribs looks like, but know that i'd like to make enough for 6-8 people, so hoping i can fit more in crockpot. Do you think it's ok to proportionally increase the recipe for additional servings? or is it not recommended? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      January 02, 2014 at 2:45 pm

      Hello. I think the recipe will work fine when doubled. The issue might be your crock pot size. ~Amy

      Reply
  35. Ryan says

    December 25, 2013 at 3:07 am

    5 stars
    Outstanding (and ridiculously easy) recipe. We found this googling a crock-pot recipe for some beef spare ribs that didn't involve BBQ sauce. This was just the ticket. Can't wait to check out the rest of your site.

    Reply
  36. Ana says

    December 19, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    I served with broccoli that I steamed over the rice noodles as they boiled, and garnished with a bit of sesame oil, sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. So amazing and comforting, especially in the colder months. The meat had a great char on the outside yet stayed tender inside; it fell right off the bone. I am attempting a stock in the slow cooker with the bones and leftover braising liquid- I'm sure it will be delicious as well!

    Reply
  37. Erin says

    December 19, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    This sounds so good, but I don't eat beef. Do you think this would work with a pork loin?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      December 23, 2013 at 11:54 am

      Hi Erin. We've not tried this with pork. If you do, you might want to choose a cut with more fat (maybe a shoulder with bone in) or it may come out dry. ~Amy

      Reply
  38. Maria says

    December 07, 2013 at 12:45 pm

    5 stars
    Made these ribs for my family and they loved it. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
  39. Gigi says

    December 04, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Quick question- why not coat the ribs in the spices and other things before putting them in the crock pot? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      December 06, 2013 at 4:27 pm

      Hello Gigi. You could totally do that. :) ~Amy

      Reply
  40. Nick F. says

    November 30, 2013 at 1:41 am

    I made this the other day. Followed the recipe exactlly. My family really liked it. I don't even think I would do anything differently were I to make it again. If only short ribs were cheaper, this one would go into regular rotation.

    Reply
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