Slow Cooker Rice

I didn’t have a reason to make rice in a slow cooker. It was something that I just wanted to try it. I usually just make rice on the stove top and most times I get it right. I don’t have a fancy rice cooker.

My slow cooker was sitting there with that ‘use me’ look on it’s face so I fired it up, added the rice and a few other ingredients. In just over 6 hours, I had a big ole batch of cooked rice. I can’t imagine anything any easier!

Slow Cooker Rice

The No Boo-Boo Zone

It ain’t fancy, but slow cooker rice is exactly what I was looking for: a big batch of rice with no fuss and little chance of me making a boo-boo. I needed the rice for an upcoming dinner. Time would be tight and I knew that if I made the rice last minute, when the pressure was high, I might over or under cook it and I wouldn’t have time to re-make it. So I just cooked it a day in advance and kept it in the fridge overnight. It was just as good leftover.

Slow cooker rice is perfect served with chicken sauce piquante.

Slow Cooker Rice
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Rice

My slow cooker was sitting there with that ‘use me’ look on it’s face so I fired it up, added the rice and a few other ingredients. In just over 6 hours, I had a big ole batch of cooked rice. I can’t imagine anything any easier!
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, rice, slow cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 117kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups water
  • 1 cup rice
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions

  • Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Add all ingredients.
  • Stir and cook on low 6-8 hours until done. Start checking for doneness after 5 hours just in case.

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 69IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken

Cold crappy weather. All I wanted was something easy to throw into the slow cooker. Something tasty. Something with a Hawaiian twist. Slow cooker Hawaiian pineapple chicken fit the bill perfectly.  It had a wonderfully sweet combination of honey, brown sugar and pineapple. Crunchy veggies and plenty of salty soy sauce. The chicken was tender and packed with flavors. It wasn’t fancy but it was good. I’m a pineapple addict, and this dish satisfied my craving and then some!

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken

Searing For Success

I’m kind of a stickler about texture when it comes to meat in a crockpot. Searing gives this slow cooker Hawaiian pineapple chicken that texture I was hoping for. Whenever possible I sear the meat first. I need that contrast, a little crunch, a little char along the edges. Not fully cooked through, but seared just enough. You can skip it if you prefer to just add the chicken directly to your cooker.

I used boneless skinless chicken thighs but you can substitute boneless chicken breasts instead. If you prefer to sear them like I did the thighs, I recommend that you butterfly them first so they have the same thickness throughout for more even cooking.

Also try my slow cooker French onion soup.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken

A wonderfully sweet combination of honey, brown sugar and pineapple. Crunchy veggies and plenty of salty soy sauce. The chicken is tender and packed with flavors. It’s not fancy but it’s good.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 690kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Season thighs with salt and pepper.
  • Working in batches, heat oil in a large skillet and brown the thighs on both sides, 3-5 minutes. Remove to a plate.
  • Place the pineapple and honey into a slow cooker.
  • Add the honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and sesame seeds. Stir.
  • Add the chicken and any juices that have accumulated in the plate.
  • Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.
  • Stir in the bell peppers.
  • In a small bowl or glass combine the cornstarch with the water. Stir into the slow cooker and cook another 30 minutes.
  • Serve over cooked rice garnished with parsley or green onions, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 690kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 688mg | Potassium: 648mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 1109IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

The Best Slow Cooker Recipes

I’m a huge fan of my slow cooker. Nothing boring here, just great easy recipes!

Slow Cooker Gumbo Joes
1
Slow Cooker Kielbasa sauerkraut and Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potato Soup
You can leave out the caraway seeds if they aren't your favorite.
Check out this recipe
2
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Incredibly delicious comfort food!
Check out this recipe
3
Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder
Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder
This slow cooker New England clam chowder was much. much better than I ever expected. 
Check out this recipe
4
Slow Cooker Down-Home Chili Dogs
Slow Cooker Down-Home Chili Dogs
Slow cooker down-home chili dogs are perfect for those lovers of sloppy, dripping, great dogs.
Check out this recipe
5
Slow Cooker Ranch Corn Chips
Slow Cooker Ranch Corn Chips
Packed with Ranch flavor, you can't beat this simple snack recipe.
Check out this recipe
6
Slow Cooker Kid's Sloppy Joe
Slow Cooker Kid’s Sloppy Joe
I like to keep these simple, like I remember as a kid.
Check out this recipe
7
Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Chili
Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Chili
Three meats to satisfy any carnivore’s desires. The perfect combination of spices and heat. This is the perfect chili for a cold day.
Check out this recipe
8
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Perfect on a cold day, this soup is packed with fantastic onion flavor.
Check out this recipe
9
Slow Cooker Beans 'n Wieners
Slow Cooker Beans ‘n Wieners
When I was a kid bean n’ wieners were one of my favorites. Here I am many years later and well, nothing much has changed because I still love them. 
Check out this recipe
10
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
Yummy meatballs in a flavorful sauce, with the pasta already mixed in. It really doesn’t get any easier.
Check out this recipe
11
Slow Cooker Holiday Green Bean Casserole
Slow Cooker Holiday Green Bean Casserole
We’ve all had it. The traditional holiday green bean casserole. Well, scrap that and move on to this slow cooker holiday green bean casserole. Same idea, but oh, so much better.
Check out this recipe
12
Slow Cooker Party Shrimp
Slow Cooker Party Shrimp
This is absolutely the easiest way to cook up a big batch of shrimp for a party.
Check out this recipe
13
Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
It was a cold day. The kind of day that screams stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. These slow cooker stuffed cabbage rolls hit the spot and then some.
Check out this recipe
14
Slow Cooker Chopped Corned Beef Reuben
Slow Cooker Chopped Corned Beef Reuben
There’s nothing fancy about this Reuben. It’s your standard fare. Slow-cooked corned beef, tender, and then chopped. Mixed in with well-rinsed and drained kraut. Easy dressing, cheese, and rye. Done.
Check out this recipe
15
Slow Cooker Delta Sausage
Slow Cooker Delta Sausage
Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you find  Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal. 
Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Chili

My wife has declared this our ‘go to’ easy slow cooker ground beef chili and I definitely have to agree. It could only be easier (but certainly not as yummy) if it came out of a can. The southwestern flavors have lots of time to really carry through every ingredient as the chili cooks in the slow cooker for a few hours. I don’t consider it to be a spicy chili even with the addition of spicy V-8 juice and a jalapeno. If you prefer a spicier version, use a hotter pepper and use hot chili powder instead.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Chili

That Pasta Thing

My wife prefers her slow cooker ground beef chili served over cooked elbow macaroni. The first time I ever heard of such a thing I made a face. Who does that? Well apparently, everyone in Indiana and the surrounding area. But I have to admit, I’m coming around to the idea. I’m ok with chili ladled over pasta as long as I can still top it with sour cream, green onions, and sometimes a little shredded cheese.

If you prefer a thicker chili leave out the tomato sauce, but don’t omit the V-8 juice. It really adds great flavors to the chili.

Also try my slow cooker Sloppy Joes.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Chili
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4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Chili

My wife has declared this our ‘go to’ easy slow cooker ground beef chili and I definitely have to agree. It could only be easier (but certainly not as yummy) if it came out of a can. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beef, chili, crockpot, slow cooker
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 225kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until almost done.
  • Add the onion and cook until the beef is done. Drain.
  • Add remaining ingredients except for garnishes to a large slow cooker and stir to combine.
  • Stir in the cooked beef and onion.
  • Cook on low for 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve with desired garnishes.

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 269mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

Just because I’m throwing a bunch of stuff into the slow cooker doesn’t mean I don’t expect greatness in 8 hours or so. This slow cooker meatball Stroganoff really hit the spot on a cold day. Tender meatballs (you can use pre-cooked or make your own, whatever floats your boat!). Creamy sauce (I could’ve eaten a bowl of the sauce when no one was watching). Just what I wanted. Simple comfort food at its best.

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

Super Easy And Delicious

I used store-bought meatballs from the freezer section because, hey, they were on sale! That and I didn’t have time to make meatballs from scratch for this slow cooker meatball stroganoff. If you do use homemade meatballs make sure you cook them fully first. You do still want to get a bit of a sear on the outside. Texture is important when cooking in a slow cooker and that sear will give you just that. Plus the yum-yums leftover in the pan after browning the meatballs really makes the sauce taste fantastic. Don’t just throw the meatballs into the crockpot as is, brown them first!

Also try my slow cooker Mongolian beef.

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

Just because I’m throwing a bunch of stuff into the slow cooker doesn’t mean I don’t expect greatness in 8 hours or so. This slow cooker meatball Stroganoff really hit the spot on a cold day.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, meatballs, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 323kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the meatballs and brown on all sides to give the meatballs a little texture. Remove to a slow cooker sprayed with non-stick spray.
  • Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt and flour to the skillet. Scrape up any yum-yum bits that are on the bottom of the skillet and saute for 1 minute.
  • Stir in the broth and reduce the heat to medium and bring to a simmer.
  • Stir in the sherry.
  • Fold in the sour cream. Stir well and pour over the meatballs.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
  • Serve over hot cooked egg noodles.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 385mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potato Soup

It was cold. Darned cold. And windy. Just yucky out. But it was nice inside because I had a big ole batch of slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut and potato soup. Yeah it’s a mouthful to say, but it’s great German-inspired comfort food at its best. Nothing fancy. Great kraut flavor, but not so overpowering. Tender potatoes that soak up lots of flavor after hours and hours in the slow cooker. Kielbasa sausage.in every bite. Yes, every bite! Like I said, nothing fancy. Just good.

Slow Cooker Kielbasa sauerkraut and Potato Soup

Winter 0 Me 1

If you’re not a big fan of caraway seeds you can actually leave them out and still have a great tasting slow cooker kielbasa sauerkraut and potato soup. Trust me. My wife isn’t a fan of them, so I had to omit them. This despite the fact that it pained the German in me greatly.

I used Russet potatoes because they are my favorite and I always have a big bag of them on hand. You can substitute other potatoes. Just make sure that the potatoes are all about the same size so they cook in the same time. If you use smaller potatoes you might have to reduce the cook time a little.

Also try my slow cooker spicy kielbasa cabbage soup.

Slow Cooker Kielbasa sauerkraut and Potato Soup
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potato Soup

You can leave out the caraway seeds if they aren't your favorite.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, sausage
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Servings 6
Calories 445kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Polish sausage pre-cooked. Sliced then sliced again into half circles
  • 2 pounds sauerkraut rinsed, drained. You can use less if you want.
  • 6 medium Russet potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Brown the cut sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer to a slow cooker.
  • Add the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or until the potatoes are fork-tender but not falling apart. Stir gently every hour or so.

Nutrition

Calories: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 1674mg | Potassium: 1330mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Fried Rice

I’ve been on a slow cooker kick lately. That almost always means a main dish, but it dawned on me that I could also make slow cooker fried rice, a side I was needing for some leftover slow cooked chicken. You can’t get any easier than this. No fancy rice cooker. No worrying about exact cook time. Just toss it all into the slow cooker and come back later.

Slow Cooker Fried Rice

Customize Your Rice

This recipe for slow cooker fried rice also works great for ‘just’ rice (leave out the egg). Or you can add whatever other vegetables and seasonings you want. It doesn’t have to be traditional with peas and carrots. Broccoli, cauliflower, peanuts… you name it. All are great in slow cooker rice.

Also try my slow cooker Teriyaki chicken.

This recipe is based on a recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking.

Slow Cooker Fried Rice
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Fried Rice

You can’t get any easier than this. No fancy rice cooker. No worrying about exact cook time. Just toss it all into the slow cooker and come back later.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, fried rice, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 231kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Add all ingredients.
  • Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours,

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 364mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1825IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes

Tender and tasty. Nice and savory. Slow cooker garlic Parmesan potatoes not only make for a great side they also smell fantastic while they cook. I used baby red potatoes but for more butter flavor, use Yukon golds instead. Or fingerlings. Or do a mix. Just make sure your potatoes are all roughly the same size so that they cook evenly. As simple as this dish is to make, the end results are super-tasty and the perfect side!

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes

A Little Heat Never Hurt Anyone

As much as I do enjoy savory side dishes, I admit I might have added a few healthy-sized pinches of dried red pepper flake to the cooked garlic Parmesan potatoes just before I took them out of the slow cooker. I liked the combination of herby potatoes with a nice kick to boot. Of course that’s optional. If you want a bit of heat, you can also just add a few good pinches of cayenne pepper when you add the other seasonings.

These potatoes are just as good leftover (if there are any leftovers) as the day you make them. Just re-heat in the oven or in hot skillet with a splash of oil.

Also try my slow cooker garlic Ranch potatoes.

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes

Tender and tasty. Nice and savory. Slow cooker garlic Parmesan potatoes not only make for a great side they also smell fantastic while they cook.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword garlic Parmesan, potatoes, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 174kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Add all ingredients except the Parmesan and parsley. Stir gently to coat.
  • Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours or until the potatoes are cooked through.
  • Serve sprinkled with the Parmesan and garnished with the parsley, if using.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 738mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Florida Sunshine Carrots

It’s not that I don’t like carrots. It’s just that they aren’t the first thing I think of when I am coming up with a side dish for dinner. They just don’t wow me. Or rather, they didn’t used to wow me. These slow cooker Florida Sunshine carrots changed that. This is about the easiest recipe ever. And the best. The end result was flavor-packed, tender carrots that have a slight sweetness to them. And a slight pineapple flavor that makes them even more special. I actually could not stop eating them!

Slow Cooker Florida Sunshine Carrots

What Every Carrot Dish Wishes It Was

The recipe for these slow cooker Florida Sunshine carrots came from a wonderful cookbook, The Southern Slow Cooker Bible. It is packed with recipe after recipe of delicious southern-inspired dishes. I can’t recommend it enough. Heck, I got this wonderful side from it. It made a carrot lover out of me!

Coconut? Optional.

I did not garnish these carrots with toasted coconut like the original recipe stated. After tasting the carrots right out of the slow cooker I decided that they were perfect as they were. Yeah, I love coconut, and it’s hard to turn it down, but I really felt I’d enjoy this side dish as-is. And I did! Maybe I’ll add coconut next time.

Slow Cooker Florida Sunshine Carrots
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Florida Sunshine Carrots

I skipped the coconut because the carrots are amazing without it.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword carrots
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Servings 8
Calories 141kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Add the carrots. Top with the pineapple, also adding any juices.
  • Sprinkle with the brown sugar and dot with the butter.
  • Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours or until just tender.
  • Add salt and stir.
  • Serve garnished with toasted coconut (if desired).

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 19046IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow Cooker Rib Tips

I am a smoked rib tip kind of guy. Usually. But I had some tips leftover from a few racks of St Louis-style ribs and I was just not feeling the fire-up-the-smoker love. I just wasn’t in the mood. I was in the mood to drop them in a slow cooker for a few hours, though. Served with some air-fryer tater tots (aka Tots and Tips!) these slow cooker rib tips were really, really good. Sticky sweet, lightly smoky, and oh so tender and juicy I really enjoyed them. Will they replace my low-and-slow smoked tips? No, but I’ll definitely make them again.

Slow Cooker Rib Tips

Smoky Spicy Deliciousness

If you’re not a fan of liquid smoke, or you don’t have any on idea, don’t worry! Just use a BBQ sauce that has smoky flavor instead, it’ll make these slow cooker rib tips just as tasty. Any good mesquite or hickory BBQ sauce will do. As for the rub, I used a rub with a bit of a kick to it. Some spiciness to offset the sweetness from the BBQ sauce. You can keep it all sweet if you want and use a brown sugar-based rub.

Slow Cooker Rib Tips
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Rib Tips

These slow cooker rib tips were really, really good. Sticky sweet, lightly smoky, and oh so tender and juicy I really enjoyed them. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword crockpot, ribs, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 220kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Coat the ribs tips in rub. Don't be shy with it. You want it on all sides of the rib tips.
  • Let rest 10 minutes.
  • Combine all of the BBQ sauce with the liquid smoke, to taste.
  • Transfer rib tips to the slow cooker. Add half of the sauce mixture and stir to coat.
  • Cook on low 4-6 hours or until the rib tips are tender. Stir every so often.
  • Transfer rib tips to a baking sheet lined with foil
  • Baste with the remaining sauce and place under the broiler.
  • Broil for 5 minutes or until the sauce is set and the ribs start to get a little char on them.

Notes

Nutritional values don’t include rub and sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 192mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.