Braised Beef Back Ribs Slow Cooker

These slow cooker beef back ribs are cooked in a delicious red wine sauce with just a hint of spice from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. By the end of the cook time the rib meat slides off the bones and is full of flavor. The sauce is finished with sour cream and is similar in flavor to a beef Stroganoff.

An oval plate with egg noddles and shredded beef back ribs with sauce. — These slow cooker beef back ribs are served with a delicious chipotle red wine sauce.

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Ingredients needed:
How to prepare the ribs:
How to cook the ribs:
How to serve it:
Recipe notes & tips:
Frequently asked questions:
More hearty soups and stews:
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Ingredients needed:

For the ribs:

For the sauce:

Vegetables, broth and wine on a kitchen counter. — You need chipotle peppers, garlic, thyme, onion, vegetable oil, celery, carrot, dry red wine, chicken broth and water for the sauce.

How to prepare the ribs:

Closeup of a spatula slid underneath the membrane of beef ribs.

Step 1. Remove the membrane from the back of the raw beef ribs. You can do this by sliding a metal spatula underneath the membrane and pulling it up and off the ribs. Use a sharp boning knife to cut off the sections that won't pull off easily.

The photo below shows what the backside of the ribs looks like after the membrane has been removed.

How to cook the ribs:

See full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below!

Step 2. Cut the rack(s) into individual ribs and season with salt and pepper.

Step 3. Heat the vegetable oil in a cast iron pan until shimmering. Sear the ribs in the hot oil until they are lightly browned on all sides. Transfer to the slow cooker.

Cooked vegetables in a pan and beef, vegetables and liquid in a slow cooker.

Step 4. Add onion, carrot and celery to the pan you browned the ribs in and cook until starting to brown (8-10 minutes). Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Step 5. Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker, then addwine,hot chicken broth,hot water,chipotle peppers andthyme. Put on the lid and cook on low for 6 hours.

Sauce in a fat separator and in a cast iron pan.

Step 6. After the 6 hours, turn the slow cooker off and let cool for a few minutes. Ladle the liquid into a fat separator. (See recipe notes below for what to do if you don't have a fat separator.) Let sit for a few minutes to allow the liquid to separate, then drain the bottom layer into a large pan and discard the top (fat) layer.

Reduce the sauce:

Step 7. Cook the sauce uncovered on medium-high heat until reduced to a syrupy consistency (about 30 min.).

While the sauce is on the stovetop, transfer the ribs out of the slow cooker. Discard the vegetables. Pull the meat off the bones and shred using two forks or your fingers. Discard any pieces of fat and membrane. Make sure to remove any bone fragments there might be, then add the meat to the sauce.

How to serve it:

Stir in sour cream, then serve over egg noddles.

Recipe notes & tips:

Before you serve the dish, please make absolutely sure that there are no bone fragments left in it. Check the meat carefully.
Make sure to add the water and the chicken broth hot rather than cold. That way the contents of the slow cooker will come up to temperature much, much quicker.
If you don't have a fat separator, simply pour the liquid into a bowl, let it sit for a few minutes to allow the fat to rise to the top, then skim the fat off the surface using a large spoon.
To reduce the sauce, use a pan with a large surface area to make the process as fast as possible.

Frequently asked questions:

Can I make this dish without the chipotle peppers?

Yes, you can absolutely do that. It won't have the hint of spiciness but it will still taste delicious.

Can I store or freeze the dish?

Yes. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze them in a freezer bag.

More hearty soups and stews:

Chunky Chili
Homemade Gnocchi with Cinnamon Clove Beef Stroganoff
Broccoli Sausage Soup
Chicken Tikka Masala (Dutch Oven)

See all main course recipes →

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Full Printable Recipe

An oval plate with egg noddles and shredded beef back ribs with sauce.

Slow Cooker Beef Back Ribs

These slow cooker beef back ribs are cooked in a delicious red wine sauce with just a hint of spice from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 7 hrs

Total Time 7 hrs 30 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories (estimated) 1310 kcal

▢ 2 pounds beef back ribs, bone in
▢ 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
▢ 1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into chunks
▢ 1 large carrot, cut into chunks
▢ 2 celery ribs, cut into chunks
▢ 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or pressed through a garlic press
▢ 1 ½ cups dry red wine
▢ 3 cups hot chicken broth
▢ 1 cup hot water
▢ 2 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
▢ 1 teaspoon dried thyme
▢ 1-3 tablespoons sour cream, add to taste

Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs and discard.
Cut the rib rack into individual ribs, season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
Heat the oil in a cast iron pan until shimmering.
Sear the ribs on all sides until lightly browned, then transfer to the slow cooker.
Add onion, carrot and celery to the pan you seared the meat in and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until starting to brown.* Be careful not to burn the browned bits from the ribs that are in the pan. Turn the heat down if you need to.
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker, then pour in the wine, the hot chicken broth and the hot water.
Add the chipotle peppers and the thyme, then put on the lid and cook on low for 6 hours.
Turn the slow cooker off and let cool for a few minutes. Ladle the liquid into a fat separator.**
Let the liquid sit for a few minutes until separated, then drain the bottom layer into a large pan and discard the top (fat) layer.
Cook the sauce uncovered on medium-high heat until reduced to a syrupy consistency (about 30 min.).
Transfer the meat out of the slow cooker and pull it off the bones. Discard the bones and the vegetables. Shred the meat. (You can use two forks for that but I find it easiest to use my fingers.) Discard any pieces of fat and membrane.
Be sure to remove all bone fragments that might be hidden in the meat, then add the meat to the sauce.
Stir sour cream into the sauce, then serve over egg noodles.

*There will be enough fat in the pan from the ribs so you don't need to add any in this step.

**If you don't have a fat separator, pour the liquid into a bowl, let it sit for a few minutes to let the fat rise to the top, then skim off the fat layer using a large spoon.

Calories: 1310 kcal

Keywords: beef back ribs, slow cooker beef back ribs, slow cooker ribs

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