This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Take your short ribs to the next level with my Short Rib Marinade Recipe! With all the incredible flavors of Korean galbi ribs, this BBQ rib marinade comes together in minutes and will make your next short ribs tender and unbelievably flavorful.
Jump to:
Korean Short Rib Marinade
Sometimes, you try something that changes the way you look at a food you thought you knew. For me, that food was Kalbi- Korean BBQ short ribs! The moment the complex and layered flavor hit my mouth, I knew I needed to make my own.
And as it turns out, it's all in the marinade! Sweet, spicy, savory, and with just enough vinegar to tenderize the meat until it's ready to fall off the bone, it's hard to believe how easy it is to make.
The best part? Once you make this easy short rib marinade, the sky's the limit! Marinate everything from short ribs and steaks, to roasts, tenderloins, or even other meats. There's no going wrong!
Short Ribs Marinade Ingredients
- Chili garlic sauce
- Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Scallions
Marinating Short Ribs Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic chili sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Set the bowl aside. In a small pan, heat olive oil over medium heat, then add the minced garlic, sliced scallions, and grated ginger.
- Saute for 2-3 minutes until soft, then add to the marinade bowl.
- Add to beef ribs before cooking, or cook your ribs in the marinade itself for a delicious Korean beef stew!
Ready for dinner? Use this marinade in my incredible, fall-off-the-bone Korean Beef Ribs recipe for a truly amazing flavor experience. But remember, this is a marinade for beef short ribs of all kinds, so try it with your favorite recipe for ribs, too!
Tips to Marinate Short Ribs
- This is a super versatile marinade perfect for all sorts of uses! Marinate steak or ribs overnight in the fridge before grilling them, or use the marinade as a stewing base to cook the meat in directly.
- Can't find chili garlic sauce? Swap it out for gochujang (Korean chili paste) or Thai sweet chili sauce- just add less brown sugar if you're using the latter!
- As always, if you're cooking gluten-free, check the labels on all bottled sauces. To ensure this recipe is gluten-free, swap out the soy sauce for Tamari!
Beef Short Rib Marinade FAQ
In my experience, the most effective way to tenderize beef short ribs is a tenderizing marinade! Any marinade that contains acid, such as vinegar or citrus juice, will do the trick. Letting beef marinate in an acidic liquid will slowly break down the tough connective fibers in the meat, leaving it beautifully soft and tender! The same goes for tenderizing steak.
It's very difficult to marinate short ribs too long, as beef ribs contain lots of connective tissue and are typically cut quite thick. However, it is possible to marinate beef too long if the marinade contains fresh pineapple juice, which is so strong that it can turn the beef mushy.
For thick-cut beef ribs, marinating overnight will ensure the best flavor and tenderness. This is because beef ribs are tough and the meat is thick, which takes more time to get soaked through and properly broken down.
Some marinating is better than no marinating, but an hour is only sufficient time for beef short ribs if the ribs are going to be cooked in the marinade itself, such as in my Korean short ribs recipe or any braised short ribs dish. If you plan on grilling your beef ribs, it's better to let them marinate for longer.
How to Cook Short Ribs
If you love ribs like I do, try out my favorite BBQ Sauce for Ribs next- or change things up with a quick, easy, and totally delicious Dry Rib Rub!
📌 Pin it for later!
Did you enjoy this page? Save it on Pinterest for later!If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
📋 Recipe
Short Rib Marinade
Equipment
- Bowl
- Microplane or grater
- small pan
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Chili garlic sauce
- 1½ teaspoons Sesame oil
- ¼ cup Soy sauce
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- 4 teaspoons Rice vinegar
- 6 cloves Garlic minced
- 8 Scallions sliced
- 1 inch Ginger grated
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil for sauteeing
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic chili sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved.2 Tablespoons Chili garlic sauce, 1½ teaspoons Sesame oil, ¼ cup Soy sauce, ¼ cup Brown sugar, 4 teaspoons Rice vinegar
- Set the bowl aside. In a small pan, heat olive oil over medium heat, then add the minced garlic, sliced scallions, and grated ginger.6 cloves Garlic, 8 Scallions, 1 inch Ginger, 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- Saute for 2-3 minutes until soft, then add to the marinade bowl. Add to beef ribs before cooking, or cook your ribs in the marinade itself for a delicious Korean beef stew!
Notes
- This is a super versatile marinade perfect for all sorts of uses! Marinate steak or ribs overnight in the fridge before grilling them, or use the marinade as a stewing base to cook the meat in directly.
- Can't find chili garlic sauce? Swap it out for gochujang (Korean chili paste) or Thai sweet chili sauce- just add less brown sugar if you're using the latter!
- As always, if you're cooking gluten-free, check the labels on all bottled sauces. To ensure this recipe is gluten-free, swap out the soy sauce for Tamari!
Nutrition
» About Me
- Grilled Beef Tenderloin - March 14, 2024
- Meatball Seasoning - March 5, 2024
- Burger with Egg - March 5, 2024
Jessica says
This is delicious!! I marinaded it in the fridge over night and I used boneless short ribs from Costco. I compared your recipe to others before using, yours had the best looking mixture. Rice vinegar definitely needed. I pan seared it and cut it up into steak strips. Can’t wait to try it for bbqing.
Isabel Laessig says
So happy you enjoyed it, Jessica! Thank you!