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Cranberry & Cola-Glazed Babyback Ribs

5 from 5 votes
Fall off the bone tender and full of flavor, these make a great meal year round! Oven and Crock Pot instructions are included; cooking time depends on method chosen.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings6 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Coca-Cola
  • 2 cups cranberry juice 100% juice, not juice cocktail
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Creole mustard
  • ⅓-½ cup chipotle sauce look for a small can of sauce that doesn't have any chipotle chilies in it
  • cup red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons ginger, freshly minced
  • 5-6 cloves garlic
  • Liquid smoke or smoked paprika
  • 1-2 racks babyback pork ribs

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients except for the liquid smoke and the ribs in the jar of your blender or, if you have an immersion blender, in a pitcher. Blend until the ingredients are combined. Reserve 1 cup of the liquid per rack of ribs (if making a lot, you may want to double the recipe--better to have too much than not enough).

Oven Method

  • Preheat oven to 300℉. Cut the ribs into portions that have 2-3 bones per portion. Place in a heavy lidded pot or Dutch oven (don't use a baking dish covered with foil--it won't retain enough heat and the ribs won't be as tender). Pour the unreserved liquid over the ribs, cover, and cook for 2 ½-3 hours or until the meat is very tender (you may want to turn the ribs halfway through the cooking time, especially if they're not all completely covered by the liquid).
  • Place the reserved liquid in a small saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes or until the liquid is starting to reduce and thicken slightly (if you're starting with 1 cup, you want to reduce it by about ¼ cup). Remove from heat and set aside.
  • When the ribs are done braising, remove the pot from the oven and carefully transfer the ribs to a foil-lined pan. Sprinkle with liquid smoke or smoked paprika. Either turn the broiler on your oven to high or heat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Brush one side of the ribs with half of the reduced glaze and cook on the heated grill or under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until the ribs are shiny and glazed. Flip the ribs and brush the opposite side with the remaining glaze and cook for another 3-5 minutes, being careful not to scorch the ribs. Serve immediately. 1 rack serves about 2-3 adults.

Crock Pot Method

  • Cut the ribs into portions that have 2-3 bones per portion. Place in a slow cooker. Pour the unreserved liquid over the ribs, cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is very tender (you may want to turn the ribs halfway through the cooking time, especially if they're not all completely covered by the liquid).
  • Place the reserved liquid in a small saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes or until the liquid is starting to reduce and thicken slightly (if you're starting with 1 cup, you want to reduce it by about 1/4 cup). Remove from heat and set aside.
  • When the ribs are done braising, remove the pot from the oven and carefully transfer the ribs to a foil-lined pan. Sprinkle the ribs with liquid smoke or smoked paprika. Either turn the broiler on your oven to high or heat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Brush one side of the ribs with half of the reduced glaze and cook on the heated grill or under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until the ribs are shiny and glazed. Flip the ribs and brush the opposite side with the remaining glaze and cook for another 3-5 minutes, being careful not to scorch the ribs. Serve immediately. 1 rack serves about 2-3 adults.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 431mg, Potassium: 284mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 56IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Main Courses
Cuisine: Crock Pot
Keyword: Cranberry Cola Glazed Babyback Ribs
Calories: 251kcal
Author: Sara Wells
Cost: $15
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