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How to make the best southern, soul food style southern smothered ribs with a homemade onion & garlic gravy!
My mom use to always make smothered ribs. She smothered the ribs in a nice homemade brown gravy with onions, and cooked the ribs until they fell of the bones. It being a soul food dish, she usually served it with collard greens & cornbread. I tell you, it was so freaking good. It was definitely one of my favorite meals.
These days I make my southern smothered ribs similar to my moms, but I season mine a tad bit different. Also, instead of baking the ribs in the oven, like my mom – I actually cook my ribs in the Crock-Pot!
I season the ribs, then smother them in a homemade brown gravy full of onions, and garlic, then I let the ribs slow cook for several hours. The outcome is amazing!
I like to serve my smothered ribs with my southern potato salad, and southern collard greens. It’s the perfect dinner!
Check out how I made my southern style smothered ribs!
Smothered Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork or beef ribs membrane and excess fat removed
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp thyme leaves
- Gravy
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 36 ounces chicken broth or water
- 1 large onion minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Cut the ribs however you desire.
- Season the ribs with the kosher salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker.
- Add 1/4 cup of oil in a saucepan and place over medium heat.
- Once the oil gets hot, slowly start sprinkling in the flour while whisking.
- Once the flour/ oil mixture starts to brown, add in the chicken broth( or water).
- Whisk, then bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, then add in the onions & garlic.
- Decide whether or not, you'd like to add more seasonings. If you do, do so now.
- Whisk, then pour the gravy over the ribs in the Crock-Pot.
- Place the lid on the Crock-Pot.
- Set on high, and let cook for 4 hours.
- Serve & enjoy!
Omg! I think I could even do this, I’m going to give it a try it looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe
YES! It’s very easy, and the outcome is always on point. Enjoy!
Greetings,
First of all, I love your blog. Thanks for sharing. Now my question re: this recipe. Does it matter if the short ribs are bone in or no bone? I realized the ones I purchased are boneless.
Thanks and look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Dana! Sometimes boneless takes a little less time. Just keep you eyes on it, and you should be fine . XOXO
rosie you are beautiful
Thank you
I love all of your recipes,and you makes the instructions sooo easy to follow
Hi Im new to your channel my Man said he wanted some smothered ribs and Mac and cheese sounded good so I looked it up on Pinterest typed one that happened to be yours decided to make it today literally they are in the slow cooker now .. I’m like and Im subscribing . Can’t wait to cook your something else from here
This is going on my menu for next week, I love ribs, I love to cook in my Crock Pot, I love gravy. Honey this sounds t-totally perfect.
Sister From the South,
LindY G
Hi Linda! OMG, I love Crock-Pot smothered ribs. The gravy is perfect over mashed potatoes or rice. I love it! XOXO
Can you cook this receipt in.the oven
Sure can.
Can I use beef broth to make the gravy if I’m using beef ribs
Absolutely.
Going to make this tomorrow and serve over rice. Cant wait!
It’s LindY with a Y, and everybody makes that mistake….LOL
I was actually thinking how great it’d be over smashed taters or rice….yummmmm
So sorry! I was looking right at it as I typed, and still failed! LOL. I apologize! 🙂
Hi Rosie. I want thank you for this recipe you have my entire family thinking that I am the best cook ever. For Grandparents Day I made three large crock pots of this recipe. and not 1 rib was left. Some went for seconds some went for thirds the one’s that got their late missed out!!!
I have made lots of your resipes and have never been disipointed.
You really make cooking fun please keep them coming
Hi Gary! I absolutely love this recipe. Glad to hear that you love it too!! I have many more recipes coming up, so stay tuned!
Hi Rosie, if you wanted to make this in the oven what would you do? Also, is there a difference if you use baby back ribs or spare ribs? This sounds so delicious
Hi there! You can cook them in the oven on 325 F for 3 hours or so. Make sure that they are covered. You can use any ribs that you like to use! XOXO
Hello Rosie I was wondering if you ever tried to use jar or powdered gravy and spice it up? I ask because I am not the best at homemade gravy..
Hi Tia, I prefer to make homemade gravy, but you can jazz up jar gravy with diced onions, and minced garlic.
May I cook it for 8 hours on low if I’m not in a rush?
Hi Eric! You sure can.
Hi rosie glad i got the opportunity to run into this recipe i differently going to have this on my Sunday menu but instead of tyme what else can i season with i just do like the taste of tyme but keep the recipes coming
Hi Tyayo! You can omit the thyme 🙂
Want to know if i can prepare the ribs the same way but cook them in the oven?
Hi Alexandria! Yes, you can.
Hey Rosie, do you have any recipes for short ribs? Boneless or Bone-in?
I have one coming soon.
Can you use beef broth in the gravy?
Sure, if that’s your preference.
hi rosie… do you have a killer lsagna recpe. not the typical..lol
Hi Liz! I have several KILLER Lasagna recipes coming in 2017!
I have had these in the crock pot for two hours they look to have about 3 inches of grease i keep skimming more keeps coming how can i fix it!
Next time trim the fat off of the ribs before cooking them. Sounds like you’re cooking fatty ribs. 🙁
I transfered the ribs to the oven for the last hour and they turned out great!!!!
Hi Rosie I was wonder if I wanted to make More than 3 lbs like for a pot luck and such what would the measurements and cooking time be? They look so delicious and my family eats a lot so I want to make enough so everyone can have some and then some
You would double everything as far as ingredients. If you use a big enough slow cooker, It shouldn’t take more time to cook 🙂
Can I use country-style ribs or would those be too fatty?
Absolutley. That would be fine.
Hi Rosie! This recipe looks delish. I will definitely be trying it soon. Do you have a slam dunk coconut cake that you can share? It’s my new husband’s fav cake. So….I must make one. 🙂
Hi Carolyn. I’m unsure of what a “slam dunk coconut cake” is. Is there another name for it?
Hi Rosie, I just happened upon your site and will def be trying some of your recipes starting tonight. I plan on cooking the smothered ribs, however, with shortribs. I’m assuming that will be ok, but maybe a bit longer cooking time.
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks! Oh and I’m following you on Pinerest now.
Have a great evening.
Hi Dana! Yes, short ribs will work, just a little longer! Geez, now I want short ribs! LOL. Enjoy!
Thank you!
I suck at nailing recipes but I’m trying it now! It sure smells good! Wish me luck and thanks for the recipe!
Hello Rosie.
This looks so good and I can’t wait to try it. Only problem is, I don’t have a crock pot.. I know they can be achieved in the oven but can I make this over the stove in a pot on low instead??
Sure, you can try that, or bake them.
Hello Rosie
Making tonight but using country style ribs what you think
That will work! XOXO
This is a great recipe. I was kicking myself for not thinking of it. Love onions with pork. My Aunt used to make a recipe like this but I never got her to write it down. She has passed so this was amazing to find on line. Like Auntie Rose wanted me to find it. woooooooo ouuuuh LOL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
My spouse used to cook ribs very similarly for me. He passed in 2016 and he never showed me how to make it- it was one of his secret recipes! Thanks for giving me a chance for reliving one of my fond memories.
Could this recipe work for turkey ribs? Thanks!
Yes, absolutely! 🙂
thanks for sharing this
Hi Rosie I knew I had to try this as soon as I saw it I was wondering if the gravy didn’t get brown before placing it in the slow cooker will it brown while cooking
No, it won’t get darker in the slow cooker.
Hello Rosie I wanted to know if I could use ground thyme instead, it is what I had on hand. Thank you This is for the Smothered ribs recipe
Yes 🙂
Now cousin! I usually make my smothered ribs in the oven, but you got me ready to pull out my crock pot and get it poppin’ with this recipe right here!!!
I love all your recipes Rosie! I’m look for a delicious (tight) Bread Pudding please help
Hi Bridget. Try this one – Peach Cobbler Bread Pudding.
Hi cousin! Will this work with country-style ribs? I want to make this tonight.
Heyyy there!! You absolutely can! XOXO