How to make braised beef short ribs

Q: Should I sear short ribs before braising?

Short Ribs & Braising: You dont need any special equipment to braise ribs. First, brown or sear the ribs at a high temperature then cook them in liquid at a lower temperature for a longer period of time. This is an excellent cooking method for tougher cuts of meat that will become tender after prolonged cooking!

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Table of Contents Show

Short Ribs & Braising:
When Buying Ribs:
How to make braised short ribs:
To make in the Slow Cooker:
To make in the Instant Pot:
Related Posts
Should I sear short ribs before braising?
How long does it take for beef short ribs to cook?
What cut of meat is braised short rib?
How long does it take to cook beef short ribs in the oven at 350?

Level: Easy
Total: 3 hr 55 min

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 3 hr 30 min

Yield: 8 servings
Nutrition Info Nutritional AnalysisPer ServingServing Size1 of 8 servings Calories1112 Total Fat94 gSaturated Fat39 gCarbohydrates16 gDietary Fiber3 gSugar8 gProtein37 gCholesterol181 mgSodium1308 mg

Level: Easy
Total: 3 hr 55 min

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 3 hr 30 min

Yield: 8 servings
Nutrition Info Nutritional AnalysisPer ServingServing Size1 of 8 servings Calories1112 Total Fat94 gSaturated Fat39 gCarbohydrates16 gDietary Fiber3 gSugar8 gProtein37 gCholesterol181 mgSodium1308 mg

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6 bone-in short ribs (about 5 3/4 pounds)

Kosher salt

Extra-virgin olive oil

1 large Spanish onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 carrots, peeled, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1 1/2 cups tomato paste

2 to 3 cups hearty red wine

2 cups water

1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string

2 bay leaves

Season each short rib generously with salt. Coat a pot large enough to accommodate all the meat and vegetables with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add the short ribs to the pan and brown very well, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd pan. Cook in batches, if necessary.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
While the short ribs are browning, puree all the vegetables and garlic in the food processor until it forms a coarse paste. When the short ribs are very brown on all sides, remove them from the pan. Drain the fat, coat the bottom of same pan with fresh oil and add the pureed vegetables. Season the vegetables generously with salt and brown until they are very dark and a crud has formed on the bottom of the pan, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape the crud and let it reform. Scrape the crud again and add the tomato paste. Brown the tomato paste for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat if things start to burn. Reduce the mixture by half.
Return the short ribs to the pan and add 2 cups water or until the water has just about covered the meat. Add the thyme bundle and bay leaves. Cover the pan and place in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed. Turn the ribs over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking to let things get nice and brown and to let the sauce reduce. When done the meat should be very tender but not falling apart. Serve with the braising liquid.

I get more “WOW” comments from people enjoying these Braised Short Ribs than almost any other recipe! The best part about them is how EASY they are to make, cooked in just one pot with carrots and fresh herbs.

This is the perfect meal for Sunday dinner, a special occasion, or when having company over and you don’t want to slave away in the kitchen. Other easy, gourmet meals I love include Lemon Chicken Piccata and Panang Curry.

I’m so excited to share this easy shorts ribs recipe with you guys. I know that cooking this type of meat can be intimidating for many people, but I’m here to teach you just how easy it is! Take these Slow Cooker Ribs, for example. They take just a few minutes to prepare, they are completely fool-proof and they taste better than a restaurant!

Short Ribs & Braising:

“Short” ribs come from the beef chuck portion of a cow and there are usually five of these small pieces of meat that are too small to be sold as good steaks. So, they are exactly what the name implies; short (small) ribs.

Braising is a cooking method where you brown the meat and simmer it on low heat. You don’t need any special equipment to braise ribs. First, brown or sear the ribs at a high temperature then cook them in liquid at a lower temperature for a longer period of time. This is an excellent cooking method for tougher cuts of meat that will become tender after prolonged cooking!

When Buying Ribs:

Thankfully as short ribs have become increasingly popular they are also more readily available at all grocery stores. When picking them out before to look for:

Boneless vs bone-in ribs: I recommend Bone-in short ribs as they are more flavorful and will cook more evenly. However, you can substitute boneless short ribs for this recipe and cook them just the same.
Check the color: Look for bright red meat, and avoid meat that is turning grey in areas.
Check for marbling: by nature, short ribs can be a little fatty. Look for a package that has some marbling but isn’t excessively fatty. The ribs are small but the more meat on the bone, the better!

How to make braised short ribs:

Gather your ingredients. Chop the carrots and onion. while the meat rests at room temperature.

Sauté carrots and onions. In a large, oven safe pot with a lid, heat one tablespoon of oil over medium high heat. Sauté carrots and onion, then remove them to a plate.
Sear ribs. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pot. Lightly flour the ribs on all sides, place them in the pot and sear them over high heat until they are nice and brown on all sides. Remove to a plate.

Deglaze the pot. Add wine to deglaze the pot. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Boil for 2 minutes. Add beef broth, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in tomato paste. Taste broth and add additional seasonings, if needed. Add veggies, meat, and herbs.

Bake: Cover pot with a lid and place it in the oven to cook. Over the next couple hours, just let the oven do the work. The end result is super tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs in the most delicious sauce!

To make in the Slow Cooker:

Follow steps 1-4 of the recipe and then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

To make in the Instant Pot:

For instant pot Short Ribs: Turn the IP to sauté setting. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot. Once hot add onion and carrots and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Remove veggies to a plate. Season the ribs with salt and pepper and coat on all sides with flour. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the pot and turn heat to high. Add ribs and brown on all sides, about 45 seconds per side. Remove to a plate. Add the wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bites of flavor. Cook 2 minutes. Add beef broth, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in tomato paste. Taste broth and add additional seasonings, if needed. Add ribs, veggies, and (whole) sprigs of thyme and rosemary to the pot. Cook on Manual/High pressure for 45 minutes. Allow the pressure to release for 15 minutes before removing the lid.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To make ahead: by nature, this meal should and will be made several hours before serving. The nice part is that it cooks in the oven for nearly 3 hours without any additional work. You have a gorgeous, impressive dinner with hardly any sweat in the kitchen on your part. You could also chop the vegetables beforehand.

To freeze before cooking: Make the dish up to step 8 (just before cooking in the oven). Place ingredients in a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for 4-5 months. Allow to thaw for 24 hours in the refrigerator and then cook as instructed.

To freeze after cooking: Allow the dish to cool completely. Store in a freezer safe container in the freezer for 3-4 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator and reheat servings in the microwave or slowly on the stove.

Serve Short Ribs with:

Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Rolls
Wedge Salad
Asparagus, or fresh roasted vegetables

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Recipe

Prep 20 mins

Cook 2 hrs 40 mins

Total 3 hrs

Save Recipe

▢ 3 Tablespoons olive oil
▢ 1 yellow onion , diced
▢ 3 carrots , chopped
▢ 8 whole beef short ribs
▢ salt and pepper , to taste
▢ 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
▢ 1 cup dry red wine (such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir)
▢ 2 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth
▢ 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
▢ 2 sprigs fresh thyme
▢ 2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large dutch oven or oven safe pot with a lid, heat one tablespoon of oil over medium high heat. Add onion and carrots and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Remove veggies to a plate.
Season the ribs with salt and pepper and coat on all sides with flour. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the pot and turn heat to high. Add ribs and brown on all sides, about 45 seconds per side. Remove to a plate.
Add the wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bites of flavor. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes.
Add beef broth, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in tomato paste. Taste broth and add additional seasonings, if needed.
Add ribs, veggies, and (whole) sprigs of thyme and rosemary to the pot.
Cover with the lid and place into the oven. Cook at 350 degrees for 2 hours, then reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes. Ribs should be very tender, nearly falling off the bone.
Remove the pan from oven and allow rest for 20 minutes, with the lid on, before serving. Skim off any fat that has risen to the top of the liquid, before serving.
Serve ribs over mashed potatoes with a spoonful of gravy from the pot.
Store leftover short ribs in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days depending on the freshness of your ingredients.

Slow Cooker: Follow steps 1-4 of the recipe and then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Instant Pot: Turn the IP to sauté setting. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot. Once hot add onion and carrots and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Remove veggies to a plate. Season the ribs with salt and pepper and coat on all sides with flour. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the pot and turn heat to high. Add ribs and brown on all sides, about 45 seconds per side. Remove to a plate. Add the wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bites of flavor. Cook 2 minutes. Add beef broth, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in tomato paste. Taste broth and add additional seasonings, if needed. Add ribs, veggies, and (whole) sprigs of thyme and rosemary to the pot. Cook on Manual/High pressure for 45 minutes. Allow the pressure to release for 15 minutes before removing the lid.

Make ahead Instructions: by nature, this meal should and will be made several hours before serving. The nice part is that it cooks in the oven for nearly 3 hours without any additional work. You have a gorgeous, impressive dinner with hardly any sweat in the kitchen on your part.

Freezing Instructions:

Before cooking: Make the dish up to step 8 (just before cooking in the oven). Place ingredients in a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for 4-5 months. Allow to thaw for 24 hours in the refrigerator and cook as instructed.
After cooking: Allow the dish to cool completely. Store in a freezer safe container in the freezer for 3-4 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or slowly on the stove.

Serving: 4peopleCalories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 371mgPotassium: 580mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 7791IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg

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*I originally shared this recipe March 2017. Updated February 2020 with process photos and instructions.

Have you tried this recipe?!

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Original Post February 24, 2020

Updated February 5, 2022

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Should I sear short ribs before braising?

Short Ribs & Braising: You don't need any special equipment to braise ribs. First, brown or sear the ribs at a high temperature then cook them in liquid at a lower temperature for a longer period of time. This is an excellent cooking method for tougher cuts of meat that will become tender after prolonged cooking!

How long does it take for beef short ribs to cook?

Bake bone in short ribs in the oven at 275F for 3 ½ - 4 hours. Go the extra mile. 3 ½ hours may be perfect in your oven, but most ovens need 4 hours.

What cut of meat is braised short rib?

So What are Short Ribs and Where do they Come From? Beef short ribs are found on menus in many different restaurants, and you can even cook them at home. These ribs come from the beef chuck of an animal, and consist of the ends of the ribs near the breastbone.

How long does it take to cook beef short ribs in the oven at 350?

Bake ribs in the 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven 45 minutes, or until meat pulls apart easily with a fork and reaches a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).