Description
This Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs recipe is the kind of easy dinner that feels special with very little effort. The beef cooks low and slow until it is tender, juicy, and full of rich savory flavor, making it perfect for cozy dinner ideas, family meals, comfort food cravings, and easy recipe planning for busy days.
Ingredients
4 pounds beef short ribs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium carrots, chopped
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Pat the beef short ribs dry with paper towels, then season all sides with salt and black pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the short ribs on all sides until deeply browned.
3. Add the chopped onion, garlic, and carrots to the bottom of the slow cooker.
4. Place the seared short ribs on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
5. In a bowl, whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar.
6. Pour the sauce mixture over the short ribs and add the fresh thyme.
7. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is very tender.
8. Remove the short ribs carefully and keep warm.
9. Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid.
10. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water, then stir it into the slow cooker liquid to thicken the sauce.
11. Let the sauce cook for a few more minutes until slightly thickened.
12. Spoon the sauce over the short ribs, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
Searing the short ribs before slow cooking builds deeper flavor and gives the final dish a richer taste.
Cook on low when possible for the most tender texture and the best slow-cooked results.
Serve with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or polenta so none of the delicious sauce goes to waste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 49g
- Cholesterol: 165mg