Description
If you’re craving something hearty, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying, these Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs are exactly what you need. This easy dinner idea combines rich beef short ribs with a deep, savory sauce made right in your slow cooker—no stress, no mess. It’s the perfect comfort food that’s both elegant enough for dinner parties and simple enough for weeknight meals. Whether you’re looking for a quick prep meal, cozy food ideas, or a standout dish to impress, this recipe fits the bill. Plus, it pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, noodles, or a slice of crusty bread.
Ingredients
2.5–3 lb beef short ribs (bone-in)
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
4–5 sprigs fresh thyme or 2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
1. Pat the beef short ribs dry and season them generously with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the ribs on all sides until browned.
3. Remove the ribs and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté chopped onions for 3–4 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, then deglaze the pan with red wine.
5. Let the mixture simmer for 1–2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits.
6. Transfer the ribs to the slow cooker. Pour the wine and onion mixture over them.
7. Add beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and thyme.
8. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until ribs are fork-tender.
9. Optional: Remove ribs and reduce the sauce in a saucepan for 10–15 minutes, or thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
10. Serve ribs hot with sauce spooned over and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
Searing the ribs first adds extra flavor—don’t skip this step if you have time.
You can make this dish a day ahead for even deeper flavor. Just reheat gently before serving.
For a thicker sauce, simmer it separately or whisk in a cornstarch slurry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: slow cooker, beef short ribs, easy dinner, comfort food, make ahead, weeknight meal