Juicy Crockpot Beef Short Ribs Recipe for Cozy Comfort Meals

Succulent crockpot beef short ribs promise a melt-in-your-mouth experience that transforms ordinary dinners into memorable feasts.

Slow-cooking unlocks deep, rich flavors that dance across your palate with incredible depth.

Tender meat practically falls off the bone, creating a comforting meal perfect for chilly evenings.

Nobody can resist the aroma of these beautifully braised ribs filling the kitchen with irresistible warmth.

Minimal preparation meets maximum satisfaction in this foolproof recipe that feels like a culinary shortcut.

Each bite delivers a symphony of savory goodness that connects you to time-honored cooking traditions.

I bet you’ll want seconds before finishing your first plate.

Why Crockpot Beef Short Ribs Are So Tender

• Savor Melt-in-Your-Mouth Tenderness: These short ribs transform into incredibly soft meat that practically falls apart with minimal effort, delivering a luxurious dining experience.
• Minimal Prep, Maximum Flavor: By using a crockpot, you can create a gourmet-style meal with just a few simple steps of searing and combining ingredients, making complex cooking accessible.
• Perfect for Stress-Free Entertaining: This recipe allows you to prepare a sophisticated main course that impresses guests without spending hours in the kitchen, letting you enjoy social time while dinner cooks.
• Versatile Meal for Various Occasions: Whether it's a cozy family dinner, weekend gathering, or special celebration, these beef short ribs adapt beautifully to different dining scenarios and complement multiple side dishes.

Ingredients Needed for Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

• Beef Short Ribs: Rich, flavorful cut perfect for slow cooking and developing deep, tender texture.

• Onion, Garlic, Carrots, Celery: Classic combination that builds a robust flavor base for the dish.

• Red Wine: Adds depth and complexity to the braising liquid.
• Beef Broth: Provides rich, savory foundation for the cooking sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Brings tangy, umami undertones to enhance meat flavor.

• Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaf: Aromatic herbs that infuse the meat with classic earthy and woodsy notes.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavor of the beef.
• Tomato Paste: Adds rich, concentrated tomato flavor and helps thicken the sauce.

• Olive Oil: Used for searing the meat and creating a golden, flavorful crust.

How to Make Tender Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

Step 1: Prepare Sizzling Short Ribs

Generously coat beef short ribs with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over high heat.

Carefully sear each side of the ribs until they develop a rich, golden-brown crust, which takes about 3-4 minutes per side. This step locks in incredible flavor and creates a beautiful exterior.

Step 2: Build Flavor Foundation

• Diced onions
• Minced garlic
• Chopped carrots
• Sliced celery

Stir in tomato paste and cook for an additional minute to intensify the taste profile.

Step 3: Enhance with Wine Magic

Pour red wine into the skillet, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom.

Allow the wine to simmer and reduce for about 2 minutes, concentrating its rich flavors.

Step 4: Create Liquid Comfort

Transfer the wine mixture to your crockpot.

• Beef broth
• Worcestershire sauce
• Fresh thyme sprigs
• Rosemary leaves
• Bay leaf

Step 5: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW setting for 8-9 hours or HIGH setting for 4-5 hours. The meat should become incredibly tender and easily pull apart with a fork.

Step 6: Finish and Elevate

Remove the short ribs from the crockpot. Strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan and simmer to reduce and thicken the sauce for 5-10 minutes.

Step 7: Plate and Serve

Arrange the succulent short ribs on a serving platter. Generously spoon the reduced sauce over the top.

Serve alongside creamy mashed potatoes or soft polenta for a complete meal that will impress everyone at the table.

Tips for Crockpot Beef Short Rib Success

• Always sear short ribs before slow cooking to lock in rich, deep flavors and create a beautiful caramelized exterior that enhances the overall taste.
• Choose a dry red wine like cabernet sauvignon or merlot to add complexity and depth to the sauce, ensuring a more robust and sophisticated flavor profile.
• Trim excess fat from ribs to prevent greasy sauce, but leave a thin layer for moisture and richness during the long, slow cooking process.
• Cook on low heat for maximum tenderness, allowing connective tissues to break down slowly and creating melt-in-your-mouth meat that falls right off the bone.
• These short ribs taste even better the next day, so prepare in advance and reheat gently for an intensified, developed flavor that impresses dinner guests.

Variations on Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

• Low-Sodium Herb Variation: Replace salt with herb blend and use low-sodium beef broth for heart-conscious individuals seeking flavorful yet lighter preparation.
• Gluten-Free Friendly Version: Substitute regular Worcestershire sauce with certified gluten-free version and ensure all ingredients are gluten-free certified for celiac or sensitive individuals.
• Wine-Free Comfort Option: Replace red wine with beef broth mixed with balsamic vinegar for deeper flavor complexity while maintaining rich taste profile without alcohol.
• Mediterranean Mediterranean-Inspired Adaptation: Add kalamata olives, swap rosemary with oregano, and include diced bell peppers for a Mediterranean-style short rib experience with bright, tangy undertones.

What Pairs Well with Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

• Choose a robust red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah to match the rich, meaty flavor of beef short ribs. These full-bodied wines complement the tender meat and deep sauce, creating a harmonious dining experience.
• Serve creamy mashed potatoes or soft polenta to soak up the luxurious sauce. These starchy sides provide a smooth texture that balances the meat's intense flavor and helps cut through the richness.
• Roast bright green vegetables like asparagus or broccolini with garlic and olive oil. Their fresh, slightly crisp texture and green notes will contrast beautifully with the deep, slow-cooked beef and add a light element to the plate.

How to Store Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

• Cool beef short ribs completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep sauce separately in another container to maintain texture.
• Package cooled short ribs and sauce in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air, label with date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Flat storage helps save space and allows faster thawing.
• Place short ribs in a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of beef broth to prevent drying. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel. Heat on 50% power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through.

FAQs

• Why sear the short ribs before slow cooking?

Searing creates a rich, caramelized exterior that locks in flavor and adds depth to the meat’s taste. It develops a delicious golden-brown crust that enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.

• Can I use a different type of wine?

Red wine like cabernet or merlot works best. The wine adds complexity and helps tenderize the meat. If you prefer, you can substitute with beef broth or grape juice for a non-alcoholic version.

• How do I know when the short ribs are perfectly cooked?

The meat should be extremely tender and easily fall apart when prodded with a fork. When the connective tissues break down completely, you’ll know the short ribs are done and ready to be served.

Crockpot Beef Short Ribs Recipe

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4.8 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 9 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Crockpot Beef Short Ribs promise a melt-in-your-mouth culinary journey through rich, tender meat slow-cooked to perfection. Comfort meets elegance in this simple yet sophisticated dish that promises to delight with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 3–4 pounds (1.4–1.8 kilograms) beef short ribs

Aromatics and Vegetables:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) red wine (or beef broth)
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) beef broth
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh thyme)
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 sprig fresh rosemary)
• 1 bay leaf

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Instructions

1. Elevate the short ribs with a robust seasoning of salt and pepper, ensuring even coverage across all surfaces.
2. Ignite a large skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of olive oil, creating a sizzling environment for caramelization.
3. Meticulously sear the ribs for 3-4 minutes on each side, developing a deep golden-brown crust that locks in rich flavors.
4. Relocate the beautifully browned ribs to the waiting crockpot.
5. In the same skillet, gently sauté a medley of onions, garlic, carrots, and celery until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.
6. Introduce tomato paste to the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously for 1 minute to intensify the underlying flavors.
7. Deglaze the pan with red wine, vigorously scraping up the concentrated browned bits that promise exceptional depth.
8. Allow the wine to simmer and reduce slightly for 2 minutes, concentrating its essence.
9. Pour the aromatic wine mixture over the waiting ribs in the crockpot.
10. Complement the ribs with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and a harmonious blend of thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf.
11. Secure the lid and slow cook on LOW for 8-9 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the meat surrenders and becomes meltingly tender.
12. Optional: Extract the ribs and strain the cooking liquid, then reduce the sauce in a separate pan for 5-10 minutes to create a more concentrated glaze.
13. Present the succulent ribs with a lavish spoonful of sauce, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes or smooth polenta.

Notes

• Select bone-in short ribs for maximum flavor and tenderness, ensuring they have good marbling.
• Pat ribs dry before searing to achieve a beautiful golden-brown crust and prevent steaming.
• Brown the meat thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavor through the Maillard reaction.
• Use a robust red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to enhance the meat’s depth and complexity.
• Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid before reducing to prevent a greasy sauce.
• Swap red wine with beef broth for an alcohol-free version that still delivers incredible taste.
• Freeze leftover short ribs in their sauce for up to 3 months, maintaining incredible moisture and tenderness.
• For a low-carb option, serve with cauliflower mash instead of traditional potato sides.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 hours (on Low) or 5 hours (on High)
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 500 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 6 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg