caramelized onions

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale  Short Ribs Sliders topped with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce are perfect for a party or watching football!

Hello October.

I get really excited this time of year.  The leaves are starting to turn, the air is crisp enough at night to sit outside with a fire going in the pit, we can escape the sweltering southern heat and sip on all the pumpkin beer I can get my hands on.

We normally brew our own pumpkin beer in the fall and I have to say that we have mastered the recipe.  Think pumpkin pie rather than pumpkin spice and that should give you an idea of my preference of pumpkin beer flavor.  We haven’t got to it yet this year, but I’m having a good time sampling everything that’s out there.  Two of my go-to favorite pumpkin beers are Southern Tier’s Pumpking and NoDa’s Gordgeous.  They’re both delicious to drink and for cooking up some short ribs.  I used Pumpking for these Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce.  I made Beer Braised Short Ribs with Mushrooms and Polenta and Pumpkin Ale and Butterscotch Donuts with Gordgeous.  I’m telling you – you can’t go wrong with either of these beers. (This is not a sponsored post – I just love talking about good craft beer)

Speaking of October and pumpkin beer, Sara from Cake Over Steak is hosting a virtual pumpkin party!  If you’re looking for all the pumpkin recipes to make your October the best it can be, head over to the Virtual Pumpkin Party page and get your pumpkin on!

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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Ale Braised Short Ribs Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onion Horseradish Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 1/2 pounds short ribs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 16 ounces pumpkin ale divided
• 2 onions thinly sliced
• 9 ounce jar prepared horseradish
• 1/4 cup mayonaise
• slider rolls

Instructions

1. Melt butter and olive oil over medium-high heat
2. Generously salt and pepper short ribs (measurements above are guidelines and don't have to be exact)
3. Sear short ribs on all sides - working in batches so not to over crowd the pan - 2-3 minutes per side
4. Transfer short ribs to slow cooker
5. Pour 1/4 cup of pumpkin ale into the pan used to cook the short ribs and pour the rest of the beer over the meat in the slow cooker
6. Cook short ribs on low for 6 hours
7. Add sliced onions to pan with the beer and cook on medium for 20 - 30 minutes or until softened and caramelized
8. Reserve some of the beer caramelized onions for toppings
9. Combine remaining beer caramelized onions, horseradish, and mayonaise to the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine to desired consistency
10. Remove meat from the bones and shred by pulling it apart with a couple of forks
11. Pile shredded short ribs onto slider rolls, top with caramelized onion horseradish sauce and finish with reserved beer caramelized onions

NOTES:

1. This made about 12 sliders and can easily be adjusted to make more or less, depending on the size of your slow cooker
2. I didn’t make the beer caramelized onion horseradish sauce too smooth.  I left it with a little texture, but it’s a flexible sauce and you can make it how you like it.