Years ago, our family went to TGI Friday’s for a birthday event. I had their baby back ribs with the delicious Jack Daniel’s Sauce and thought I had died and went to heaven. It was that good to me!! I had never made ribs before, because it honestly seemed like too much work. I’ve finally got up my courage to give it a try, and figured out that I could make them in my Deluxe Multi Cooker, which is similar to an Instant Pot, except ours does quite a bit more than pressure cook, more about that below. Once I found out that making ribs this way was a piece of cake, I decided to try and find a copycat recipe for that amazing sauce, and the one that I came across is an absolute GEM. I mean, it is so similar that I really cannot tell the difference! I can make this at home, knowing exactly what ingredients I am putting into the recipe, plus saving money – what’s not to love??
This recipe comes from Michael DeLong over at Allrecipes. As I understand it, folks can contribute their recipes there, and it looks like this may be his contribution. I am SO glad he figured this out!!!
Back to the Deluxe Multi Cooker that I used for the ribs, here’s some info on that:
Pressure Cooker, Sous Vide Cooker, Slow Cooker, Yogurt Maker, and Sterilizer
Our pressure cooker offers so many ways to get a delicious meal on the table with minimal effort and perfect results, every time. In addition to quick cooking—fast, flavorful meals cooked up to 70% faster than other methods even from frozen—and no-fuss slow cooking so it does it thing while you’re doing yours, you can sous vide, the secret to restaurant-quality steaks, fish, and more. With sous vide, you pick the temperature, and it cooks to the exact doneness you love, every time! No more under-cooked centers and overcooked outsides. After your food reaches your perfect doneness, it can stay put for up to two hours without overcooking, giving you lots of wiggle room for serving. Plus, there is a yogurt function so you can make homemade yogurt with just two ingredients and less than 5 minutes of hands-on time, and you can even sterilize bottles and utensils. All of this without ever turning on the oven!
For the ribs, I used this delicious Smoky Applewood Rub, here’s some info:
No need to use wood chips on the grill to get this delicious sweet and smoky flavor of natural applewood, garlic and chili peppers. Perfect for seasoning ribs, pork chops, tenderloin and burgers. 2.5 oz. Gluten-free.
I also just have to share for the pure cuteness, this tiny little cast iron pan. I used it for the garlic, which was perfect, here’s some info on this as well:
Mini Cast Iron Skillet Set
With this set of two mini skillets, you can make individual-sized desserts, cornbread, side dishes, little pizzas, the best campfire breakfasts, crispy veggies, dips, and tasty appetizers.
Cast iron’s excellent heat retention means that food stays hot and delicious for a long time. It’s also heat-safe to 650 °F so it holds up to searing, sautéing, baking, frying, broiling, grilling, and campfire cooking. Plus, you can use metal utensils and not worry about scratching the finish. The two-handle design lets you easily lift the skillets and they nest for storage.
These skillets come pre-seasoned, so you can start using them right away. And their natural, nonstick surface gets better and better as you use them.
Click on the links below to get any of these products for yourself!
Deluxe Multi Cooker 5.5” Cast Iron Skillet Set Smoky Applewood Rub
Enough said, let’s jump right in!!
Ingredients
Jack Daniel’s Sauce
- 1 bulb garlic
- 1 tablespoon/15 mL olive oil
- 1 1/3 cup/286 grams dark brown sugar
- 1 cup/250 mL pineapple juice
- 2/3 cup/150 mL water
- ¼ cup/60 mL teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon/15 mL soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons/45 mL lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons/45 mL minced white onion
- 1 tablespoon/15 mL bourbon whiskey
- 1 tablespoon/15 mL crushed pineapple
- ¼ teaspoon/1.25 mL cayenne pepper
Baby Back Ribs
- 2-pounds/907 g baby back ribs
- 1 tablespoon/15 mL olive oil
- 3 tablespoons/45 mL Smoky Applewood Rub
- 1 cup/250 mL water
- ¼ cup/60 mL Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
For the Jack Daniel’s Sauce
Preheat oven to 325⁰ F/165 ⁰ C. Cut off the very top of the garlic bulb, so that you can see some of the garlic. Place bulb in small cast iron pan or baking dish, trimming root if needed for bulb to sit flat. Drizzle with olive oil, cover with aluminum foil. Bake for one hour, until cloves are soft and fragrant. Remove from oven, set aside until slightly cooled. Squeeze bulb to remove cloves. Set aside two teaspoons for this recipe; you can freeze remaining garlic for another recipe.
In saucepan, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, water, teriyaki sauce and soy sauce, bring to a boil.
Add in garlic, lemon juice, onion, bourbon whiskey, pineapple and cayenne pepper, mixing to incorporate. Simmer 40 minutes, or until the liquid reduces by half. The sauce should be thick; simmer up to 10 minutes longer if necessary.
For the Baby Back Ribs
Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs if needed; this is the shiny piece that is sometimes there, you can easily remove it by cutting with a sharp knife, then pulling it off.
Pour oil all over the ribs, then add the Smoky Applewood, rubbing it into the ribs very well.
Place rack into the bottom of the Deluxe Multi Cooker, then add the water and apple cider vinegar. Place ribs around the rack in a circle, with the meaty portion facing outward, and cover. Set to CUSTOM for 25 minutes.
When the timer is up, let the steam release naturally for around 5 minutes, then press STEAM-Release. Carefully remove ribs from the inner pot.
Set your oven to BROIL. Place ribs on wire rack above sheet pan, then glaze ribs with some of the Jack Daniel’s sauce.
Broil for 2-4 minutes, be sure to watch carefully, until glaze begins to caramelize to your liking.
Remove ribs from oven, and serve with more sauce on the side.
That’s it! These were melt-in-your-mouth perfection, the glaze was simply AMAZING. I will definitely make this time an again, as the sauce can be used not only on ribs, but on chicken, salmon, and even veggies! Please give this a try, and let me know how it turns out. BE sure to also let Michael DeLong over at Allrecipes know how it came out, and tell him I said hello!
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SEPTEMBER GUEST SPECIAL:
Copycat TGI Friday’s Jack Daniel Sauce with Baby Back Ribs (Pressure Cooker)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bulb garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ⅔ cup water
- ¼ cup teriyaki sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp minced white onion
- 1 tbsp bourbon whiskey
- 1 tbsp crushed pineapple
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
For the Baby Back Ribs
- 2 lb baby back ribs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp Smoky Applewood Rub
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325⁰ F/165 ⁰ C. Cut off the very top of the garlic bulb, so that you can see some of the garlic. Place bulb in small cast iron pan or baking dish, trimming root if needed for bulb to sit flat. Drizzle with olive oil, cover with aluminum foil. Bake for one hour, until cloves are soft and fragrant.
- Remove from oven, set aside until slightly cooled. Squeeze bulb to remove cloves. Set aside two teaspoons for this recipe; you can freeze remaining garlic for another recipe.
- In saucepan, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, water, teriyaki sauce and soy sauce, bring to a boil.
- Add in garlic, lemon juice, onion, bourbon whiskey, pineapple and cayenne pepper, mixing to incorporate. Simmer 40 minutes, or until the liquid reduces by half. The sauce should be thick; simmer up to 10minutes longer if necessary.
For the baby Back Ribs
- Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs if needed; this is the shiny piece that is sometimes there, you can easily remove it by cutting with a sharp knife, then pulling it off.
- Pour oil all over the ribs, then add the Smoky Applewood, rubbing it into the ribs very well.
- Place rack into the bottom of the Deluxe Multi Cooker, then add the water and apple cider vinegar. Place ribs around the rack in a circle, with the meaty portion facing outward, and cover. Set to CUSTOM for 25minutes.
- When the timer is up, let the steam release naturally for around 5 minutes, then press STEAM-Release. Carefully remove ribs from the inner pot.
- Set your oven to BROIL. Place ribs on wire rack above sheet pan, then glaze ribs with some of the Jack Daniel’s sauce.
- Broil for 2-4 minutes, be sure to watch carefully, until glaze begins to caramelize to your liking.
- Remove ribs from oven, and serve with more sauce on the side.
Nutrition Estimate
Nutritional Information Disclaimer:
The provided nutritional information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. It is offered as a courtesy and may not reflect exact values due to variations in ingredients, cooking methods, and other factors. We recommend consulting with a qualified healthcare professional or nutritionist for precise dietary information.
