Description

This slow cooker short ribs recipe delivers melt-in-your-mouth tender beef ribs with a rich, savory sauce after 6 hours of hands-off cooking. Perfect for an impressive yet easy weekend dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

3–4 pounds beef short ribs (well-marbled)
1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 250g / 8.8 oz)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
2 cups beef broth (480 ml, low-sodium preferred)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon)
2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning, optional)
Optional add-ins: 2-3 carrots cut into chunks, 2 celery stalks sliced, 1-2 fresh rosemary sprigs

Instructions

Slice onion thinly and mince garlic. Chop optional carrots and celery into chunks. Pat ribs dry with paper towels.
Optional: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown ribs on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer ribs to slow cooker.
In the same skillet, sauté sliced onions for 3 minutes until softened and starting to brown. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
Stir in tomato paste, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour in beef broth and scrape browned bits from skillet. Let sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Pour sauce over ribs in slow cooker. Add optional vegetables and rosemary sprigs if using. Stir gently to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours until ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender.
Taste sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. If sauce is too thin, remove ribs and simmer sauce on stovetop to thicken. Serve ribs with sauce spooned over top.

Notes

Browning the ribs before slow cooking adds extra flavor but can be skipped to save time. Use low heat for best tenderness. Simmer sauce after cooking to thicken if desired. Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently with splash of broth to keep meat tender. Freezing ribs and sauce separately is recommended.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
Calories: 480
Sugar: 5
Sodium: 600
Fat: 32
Saturated Fat: 13
Carbohydrates: 10
Fiber: 1
Protein: 35

Keywords: slow cooker short ribs, beef ribs, easy beef recipe, tender ribs, slow cooker recipe, comfort food, fall-off-the-bone ribs