As the weather cools, the oven heats up! A slow-cooked meat dish is always the perfect way to end a chilly day, and my Braised Apple BBQ Ribs + Potatoes do not disappoint. Slowly braised short ribs are seared and cooked alongside rich veggies and roasted apples in a BBQ and wine-based sauce. A new favorite meal for those chilly evenings!
Fall is upon us and it feels so good!
I'm now getting out the Dutch oven anticipating warm stews and soups for the colder season. Now that summer has come and gone, I am always in the mood for a warm bowl of comfort for dinner, and your Dutch oven is the perfect tool for such occasions!
My favorite meal of Autumn so far is Braised Apple BBQ Ribs + Potatoes, which consists of rich, tender short ribs cooked in a thick, spicy sauce. Also suspended within the sauce are buttery whole potatoes and oven-roasted sweet apples. If you have leftover apples from family apple picking, save some for this recipe!
This dish is essentially a one-pot meal, aside from roasting the apples. Roasting your apples prior to adding them to the stew adds a depth of smokiness and caramelization to the short ribs, making them some of the most flavorful ribs you have ever tasted!
The sauce is dark, rich, and sticky. Made from BBQ sauce (homemade or your favorite store-bought), cooking wine, and beef stock, the sauce cooks down and becomes thick and coats the meat and veggies so beautifully. Be sure to make these ribs for your next Autumn dinner party!
My Dutch oven is one of my most treasured kitchen tools. Every cook from novice to expert should have a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven in their arsenal! They make so many different types of dishes and really come in handy.
A Dutch oven is a thick-walled pot with a tight-fitting lid. The lid is great for making steamed foods such as rice since they do not allow steam to escape very easily. Both the lid and pot are heat-proof and typically oven-safe, depending on the brand. That means Dutch ovens can make almost any dish!
Short ribs are different than your typical baby back ribs. While both need lots of cooking time, short ribs typically have more meat on the bone. You will often see baby back ribs served on the rack with BBQ sauce, whereas short ribs are served in a variety of ways.
One common way to make short ribs is by braising them for a long period of time. My Braised Apple BBQ Ribs + Potatoes are exactly that! Using my favorite Dutch oven, I begin the ribs by searing them on the stove to seal in juices and flavor. Then, I transfer the whole dish to the oven to finish cooking for 3 ½-4 hours. The ribs are juicy and tender every time using this method!
For the Braised Ribs:
For the Roasted Apples:
For the Ribs:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Season short ribs with salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, and paprika.
Add oil to a large Dutch oven (oven-safe) over medium-high heat and once heated, add the onions and garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
Add in the carrots and red peppers, continuing to sauté for another 1-2 minutes. Remove veggies from the Dutch oven and onto a plate. Set aside.
Add in the short ribs (meatiest side down) and cook until golden brown before flipping it to the opposite side to brown.
Once all ribs are golden and brown, add back in the sautéed veggies along with the beef stock, BBQ sauce, and cooking wine, stirring everything together until sauce becomes dark and combined. Add in the baby potatoes and stir again.
Remove from heat and add the Dutch oven to the preheated oven, cooking everything for 2/12 to 3 hours, stirring slightly every 30 minutes to ensure that meat isn't sticking to pot or burning.
In the meantime, roast your apples.
For the Roasted Apples:
Add the sliced apples, olive oil, and seasonings in a bowl, mixing everything together until the apples are fully coated.
Place apples onto a baking sheet lined with parchment, and bake until the apples are golden brown and still a bit crunchy, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Once done, remove roasted apples from the oven and add them into the Dutch oven with ribs, stirring them in a bit until incorporated.
Let ribs continue to cook until the allotted time.
Once ribs have become extremely tender along with the veggies, remove everything from the oven and serve immediately unto a platter.
Serve with your favorite salad or side of veggies and enjoy!
Bon Appetit!
If you like this Braised Apple BBQ Ribs + Potatoes dish, then you will love some of my other favorites!
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