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Tender Melt-in-Mouth Slow Cooker Short Ribs Recipe Easy and Perfect for Dinner

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This slow cooker short ribs recipe transforms tough beef ribs into tender, melt-in-your-mouth comfort food with minimal effort. Perfect for busy nights or dinner parties, it delivers rich flavor and satisfying texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, cut into chunks
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup red wine (optional, dry Merlot recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. Pat the short ribs dry with paper towels, then generously season all sides with salt and pepper. (About 5 minutes)
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ribs in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden. Transfer ribs to the slow cooker. (15 minutes)
  3. In the same skillet, sauté sliced onion and carrots for about 5 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. (6 minutes)
  4. Deglaze the skillet by pouring in red wine (or extra broth plus vinegar if skipping wine) and scrape up browned bits. Simmer until reduced by half, about 5-7 minutes. (7 minutes)
  5. Stir in beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and pour over ribs and vegetables in the slow cooker. (2 minutes)
  6. Add fresh thyme sprigs and bay leaves to the slow cooker. (1 minute)
  7. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until ribs are fork-tender and meat pulls away easily from the bone.
  8. Before serving, remove ribs and keep warm. Skim fat from sauce if desired. To thicken sauce, whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and cook on high in slow cooker for 15 minutes. (10-15 minutes)
  9. Serve ribs with sauce spooned generously over them.

Notes

Browning the ribs before slow cooking adds depth of flavor and a savory crust. Trim excess fat to avoid greasy sauce. Use fresh herbs for best flavor. If ribs aren’t tender, cook longer. Red wine can be substituted with extra beef broth plus a splash of balsamic vinegar for acidity. For gluten-free, ensure Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free or use tamari. Sauce can be thickened with cornstarch slurry.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker short ribs, beef ribs recipe, easy dinner, melt-in-mouth ribs, slow cooker recipes, comfort food, dinner party recipe

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/tender-melt-in-mouth-slow-cooker-short-ribs-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-dinner/