These slow cooker poor man riblets are the kind of budget-friendly dinner that saves the day when the fridge is looking sparse and the schedule is packed. By using sliced frozen beef patties, barbecue sauce, and a couple of simple pantry add-ins, you get a saucy, hearty meal with that sticky, comforting rib-style flavor without spending much at all. It is the sort of shortcut recipe that feels especially practical on busy weeknights, and I love that the slow cooker does most of the work.
Serve these saucy riblets with mashed potatoes, white bread, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, or a scoop of coleslaw to balance the sweet smoky sauce. If you want to stretch the meal even further, spoon the beef over rice or buttered egg noodles, and add green beans or corn on the side for an easy comfort-food plate.
Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Poor Man Riblets
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds frozen beef patties, sliced into riblet-style strips
1 1/2 cups cheap barbecue sauce
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick spray if desired. Spread half of the sliced onions in the bottom, then add the frozen sliced beef patties and pour the Worcestershire sauce over the top.
2. Slather the barbecue sauce all over the beef, making sure the pieces are well coated, then scatter the remaining onions on top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, stirring once or twice if possible, until the beef is fully cooked, tender, and coated in a rich sauce.
4. Spoon the riblets onto plates or a serving platter and serve hot with your favorite sides.
Variations & Tips
Add a little heat: Stir in a teaspoon or two of hot sauce, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a little chipotle powder if you want a spicier barbecue flavor without changing the easy method.
Make it sweeter or smokier: If your sauce tastes flat, mix in a spoonful of brown sugar for sweetness or a dash of smoked paprika for a deeper backyard-barbecue taste.
Use fresh onions generously: The onions soften into the sauce as they cook and add a lot of flavor for very little cost, so do not skip them if you want the dish to taste fuller and richer.
Watch the salt level: Because barbecue sauce and Worcestershire can both be salty, taste the finished sauce before adding any extra seasoning.
Meal prep tip: Leftovers reheat well for lunch the next day and are especially good stuffed into sandwich rolls or spooned over baked potatoes for a second easy meal.