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pouring gravy over slow cooker short ribs
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Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs are a perfect weekday meal or special occasion dinner! Packed with flavor, they take only 15 minutes of prep and are an easy meal to make ahead of time.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beef short ribs crock pot, short ribs crock pot, short ribs in crock pot, Slow Cooker Short Ribs
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 7 hours
Servings 4
Calories 562kcal

Ingredients

  • lbs. beef chuck short ribs
  • ¼ tsp. salt approx.
  • ¼ tsp. pepper approx.
  • 1 onion
  • 8 ribs celery or one stalk
  • 3 carrots medium
  • Tbsp. vegetable oil or other flavorless oil
  • 1 clove garlic crushed or 1 tsp. finely diced garlic
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • ¾ cup beef broth
  • ½ tsp. rosemary dried
  • 3 bay leaves

Instructions

  • Pat 2½ lbs. beef short ribs dry if necessary. Finely dice 1 onion, 8 celery ribs, and 3 medium carrots.
    2½ lbs. beef chuck short ribs, 1 onion, 8 ribs celery, 3 carrots
    Short ribs on a wooden board next to salt and pepper
  • Season the ribs all over with salt and pepper. Pat the seasoning into the meat.
    ¼ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. pepper
    Seasoned short ribs on a wooden board
  • Warm half of your vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the short ribs on all sides, in two batches so you don't overcrowd the skillet. Make sure to sear until you have a nice mahogany crust.
    1½ Tbsp. vegetable oil
    Searing ribs in a cast-iron skillet
  • Add the onion, celery, and carrots to the skillet along with the remaining oil. Reduce the heat slightly so the vegetables don't burn. 
    1½ Tbsp. vegetable oil
    Vegetables in cast iron skillet: carrots, celery, onion
  • Cook the vegetables for a couple minutes, then add 1 clove minced garlic. Cook a minute more, then add ½ cup red wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. 
    ½ cup red wine, 1 clove garlic
    Vegetables simmering in cast iron skillet
  • As it starts to simmer, add 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp. tomato paste, ¾ beef broth, ½ tsp. rosemary, and 3 bay leaves.
    Add the short ribs to the slow cooker.
    Bring the vegetable mixture to a simmer then pour over the short ribs. 
    2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp. tomato paste, ¾ cup beef broth, ½ tsp. rosemary, 3 bay leaves
    adding vegetable mixture overtop beef in the slow cooker
  • Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 6 - 8 hours. Remove the bay leaves when it is done and discard them. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or thick pasta like pappardelle.
    Pouring gravy on short ribs in a bowl

Video

Notes

 
  1. I used bone in short ribs for this recipe but boneless short ribs also work well.
  2. Make sure to give the short ribs a good amount of seasoning with salt and pepper to intensify the flavor. 
  3. Important step: Heating oil in a skillet and searing the ribs on all sides in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan. This step is key to beautiful and flavorful short ribs. 
  4. You can also use large pieces of carrots and serve them as your side dish. 

Nutrition

Calories: 562kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 684mg | Potassium: 1230mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3620IU | Vitamin C: 9.7mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 6.1mg