Scrumptious, melt-in-your-mouth Beef Short Ribs & Gravy take some time, but everything that’s worthwhile takes a little time 🙂
The ribs cook slowly in the oven to yield some of the most tender meat you will ever taste. The gravy is made from the meat’s drippings, producing an incredibly savory, smooth, and thick sauce that you will basically be drinking. No kidding, you will want to lick the plate. Go for it, no judgment here!
Beef Short Ribs
I was first introduced to this recipe by a homesteading friend who did the long and slow version. She butchered her own meat, grew her own herbs, and even made her own tomato paste! Her family has lived on their homestead for 30-plus years and has mostly lived off the land. I want to be like her someday! She said that this recipe brought in neighbors from miles and miles away and the best memories were made when sharing this dish.
We’ve enjoyed these beef short ribs and gravy with mashed potatoes, rice, and even sandwiched between rolls!
Braised Short Ribs
The trick to making this short ribs recipe amazing is that we braise the meat to perfection. The true beauty behind this process is that it takes a less-tender cut of meat (short ribs in this case) and turns it into a fork-tender dish. The key is to brown the beef short ribs to a perfect golden brown and then slow cook them in liquid over low heat for several hours. I know you will be tempted, but don’t lift the lid while the meat is cooking. This releases precious heat and moisture and can elongate the cooking process.
Slow Cooker Short Ribs
A lot of people ask if this can be made in the slow cooker. The answer is yes, slow cooker beef ribs are cooked in nearly the same process. You can actually let it sit even longer in a slow cooker. I prefer the stovetop method, but that is just me.
Dinner Ideas
Beef Short Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 beef short ribs
- 3 cups semi-circle slices of onions, 1/4-inch thick
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 10 ounces dark ale or stout beer
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme left on the stem
- 3 sprigs fresh parsley left on the stems
- 1 ½ quarts vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons, all-purpose flour
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In an oven-safe Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once shimmering, sear each side of the ribs, working in batches if necessary. Place the seared ribs on a clean plate and set aside.
- To the now empty Dutch oven, cook the onions, until softened. Stir in the tomato paste until evenly distributed. Pour in the ale or beer, scraping up any crusty bits that may have formed. Allow it to boil until half the liquid has evaporated.
- Stir in the thyme, parsley, stock, and Worcestershire sauce. Add back in the ribs. Top the Dutch oven with the lid, leaving slightly ajar.
- Cook in the oven for 1 ½ – 2 hours, until the meat is cooked through, turning the meat about halfway through cooking.
- Remove the ribs to a clean plate and let rest. Discard any of the thyme or parsley stems. Pour the liquid into a large, glass bowl and skim off the fat that floats to the top. Set aside.
- The ribs should now be cool enough to handle. Remove the meat from the bones, fat, gristle, and sinew. Shred the meat using two forks. Set aside.
- To the now empty Dutch oven, heat the butter over medium heat until melted. Whisk in the flour until no lumps remain.
- Slowly add the liquid, ladle by ladle, and bring to a simmer. Let simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the shredded meat. Serve hot with mashed potatoes.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
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Photography by The PKP Way.
Made these and they were absolutely amazing! Will definitely do again! 💕
Thanks for sharing your recipe. We had my parents for dinner and it was devoured. I’ll definitely make again.
Making this tonight for my wife and myself, (and my 14-year-old grandsons if they know I’m cooking beef of any kind). I’ll let you know how it turns out!!
I have always wanted to have a beef short rib recipe
Can’t find the beer,what else do you suggest
I dont have a Dutch. oven
Can i use a casserole disn. Or Roasting Pan
I want to try this but I’m currently with no oven. (Long story) and I’m using electric hot plate/burners. UGH. Can you do this completely stove top in a Dutch oven, or at what point would you put in the crock pot?
This recipe was delicious! I followed the recipe exactly. I will be making this again…so yummy!
Delish!!! Used Burgundy wine instead, as didn’t have a dark beer, and ALWAYS have wine!!!
10/10 I will make this again.
I would love to try this recipe but I don’t own a dutch oven. Any ideas as to how I can try using a regular pan? Thank you.
How do you make your vegetable stock or what brand of vegetable stock due you buy. I have found things like this tend to be key in making the recipe. Thanks.
At 8.99$ a pound and all the steps involved I was not impressed at all on this dish! Meat was tough and I had to go to 3 stores to find them! Sauce was good but would not make them again!
I made this with “only” 2 changes and only because I was forced to! I couldn’t find beef short ribs so I bought beef spare ribs which are boneless. I only bought enough vegetable stock for a quart so I added a can of chicken stock I had in the pantry. It was amazing! Tender, melt in your mouth amazing and as for the beer, you can’t taste beer. I detest beer of any sort but I bought Guinness dark stout and it was perfectly amazing. Oh did I say amazing?
Thank you
This looks soooo good. Could I use a burgandy in place of the ale? I’m not a fan of beer.
You dont taste the beer like you would drinking it.
I love using dark red wine to deglaze when making beef roast & a splash in my bolognese sauce.
In short, yes. It will make a wonderful substitution to accommodate your tastebuds.😋
This recipe is excellent and great for beginners. Used Apple juice instead of beer no one here likes the taste of beer. Worked out great. Thanks.
Thanks for that replacement idea!
Oh 😮 that’s a great idea for a replacement as no one likes beer here either 😉 Thanks for sharing this. Cheerio
When cooking with beer, you rarely taste it, as it cooks out the beer flavor and just makes the dish so much richer!