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Close up of slow cooker beef ribs on a black plate over a serving of mashed potatoes
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4.62 from 49 votes

Amazing Short Ribs Recipe

Slow cooker beef ribs will be your new favorite slow cooker recipe for dinner! These beef short ribs are cooked low and slow in a red wine sauce with carrots, onions, celery, and herbs for intense flavor.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 15 minutes
Course: Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef ribs recipe, short rib recipe, Short Ribs Recipe, slow cooker beef ribs
Servings: 4
Calories: 972kcal
Author: Isabel Laessig

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2½ pounds beef chuck short ribs
  • ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper approx., or more to taste
  • 1 onion
  • 8 ribs of celery or 1 stalk
  • 3 medium carrots
  • 1½ Tablespoons vegetable oil or other flavorless oil, divided
  • 1 clove garlic crushed (or 1 teaspoon minced garlic)
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¾ cup beef broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 3 bay leaves

See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!

Instructions

  • Pat 2½ pounds beef chuck short ribs dry, then sprinkle them all over with salt and pepper. Coat them well with seasoning to intensify the flavor. Finely chop 1 onion, 8 ribs of celery (or 1 stalk), and 3 medium-size carrots.
    Seasoned beef ribs on a cutting board
  • Warm ¾ Tablespoon vegetable oil (half of your 1½ Tbsp.) in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the short ribs on all sides in two batches – don’t overcrowd the skillet.
    Sear just until you have a nice mahogany crust on all sides. After browning, add the short ribs to the slow cooker in one layer with the bones facing up.
    Beef ribs searing in cast iron pan
  • Add the diced onion, celery, and carrots to the skillet with the remaining ¾ Tablespoon vegetable oil. Reduce the heat just slightly as needed, so the vegetables do not burn.
    Cooking vegetables in a skillet to make beef ribs
  • Cook for 2 minutes, then add 1 clove of crushed garlic (or 1 tsp. minced garlic) and cook for 1 minute more. Add ½ cup red wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet – that’s flavor!
    Adding liquid to skillet with vegetables for slow cooker beef ribs
  • As the skillet starts to simmer, add in 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 Tablespoons tomato paste, ¾ cup beef broth, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, and 3 bay leaves. Allow it to come to a simmer again, then pour the mixture over the short ribs in the slow cooker.
    Pouring vegetable mixture over beef ribs in crockpot
  • Turn the slow cooker to low and cook for 6 to 8 hours. Remove the bay leaves when the ribs are done cooking and discard them.
    Serve and enjoy!
    Taking a forkful of beef ribs in a white bowl with vegetables and mashed potatoes

Video

Notes

  • Make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan when searing your short ribs.
  • Season your beef short ribs generously!
  • When choosing any cut of beef, look for beef that has plenty of marbling.
    Marbling refers to the white lines of fat running through a cut of
    beef.
  • Save the drippings in the slow cooker after removing the short ribs. You can make them into a sauce or gravy! Check the post for instructions.

    • Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 972kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 114g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 375mg | Sodium: 547mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g