The Only 2 Ingredients Slow-Cooker Ribs Need For Rich Sticky-Sweet Flavor

It's no surprise that ribs are one of the most delicious things that you can eat for dinner. They're umami, sweet, savory, and decadent — especially when you watch them fall off the bone with your own two eyes. However, rib recipes can feel unattainable on a weekday night, as they require a longer cook time than something like a burger or steak. However, there are only two ingredients and one common kitchen appliance you need to have a succulent plate of short ribs in no time. 

Our three-ingredient Crockpot short rib recipe calls for cooking the succulent pieces of meat with Coca-Cola and barbecue sauce. Coca-Cola may seem like a weird addition, but considering it works well as a meat marinade due to its acidity, which can break down tough meat and leave behind a subtly sweet flavor, it's worth trying. You can use any barbecue sauce you'd like, but since you have a caramel-leaning Coke in your recipe, you may want to play off those sweet notes with a hickory or sweet tomato-based barbecue sauce. The slow cooker is also an important part of the equation, as it traps the moisture and allows the ribs to braise slowly in the soda and barbecue sauce. Once the ribs have been cooked in the slow cooker, you can broil the ribs in the oven to develop the perfect crispy, sweet coating on the outside. 

Although you might assume that this recipe would be super sweet, given that Coke and many types of store-bought barbecue sauce tend to lean sweet. But when the short ribs are cooked in the slow cooker and braised in the oven, you get the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and deeply savory. As such, it's easy to turn this protein into a whole meal by pairing it with complementary sides. 

For one, if you're roasting the short ribs in the oven, it may be a good idea to make a side dish that can be prepared while the ribs are roasting. We'd recommend a batch of crispy-edged smashed potatoes. Meat and potatoes are a classic pairing, and since the spuds are only lightly seasoned, you won't have to worry about them distracting from the main event — those decadent short ribs. Meanwhile, Ina Garten pairs short ribs with mashed potatoes and blue cheese grits, the latter of which provides the perfect complementary "funk" to an otherwise heavy plate.