My Best Crock Pot Short Ribs Recipe (2024)

February 10, 2008 by G. Stephen Jones 27 Comments

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How to Make Delicious Short Ribs in Your Crock Pot

Short Ribs are great to prepare in a crock pot and in my opinion should be eaten a day or two after you prepare them. They are easy to make and a great recipe to clean out your refrigerator as you will see.

We met up with my good friend Barbecue Bob and his wife Bert at a local skating rink with their kids for a birthday party my youngest daughter attended. I had these ribs cooked from Thursday night so I asked if they wanted to come over for dinner. Very impromptu.

The ribs were cooked in the crock pot all Thursday night on the lower setting. In total they cooked for over 9 hours. Maybe too long for some and yes all the meat fell off the bones but it wasn't over cooked or dried out.

I put the meat into two separate containers figuring I would serve one on Saturday and freeze the other for another night before inviting our friends over. By refrigerating the short ribs over night, it allowed the flavors to meld and the fat to rise to the top so it could be removed easily with a spoon.

This is a great way to get rid of most of the fat from your soups, stews and braises.

Notes

Next time I prepare this, I may put them aside, prep and prepare the rest of the ingredients, put these ingredients into the crock pot and the ribs on top. I'm not sure if it would make a difference but if you happen to know, please comment below.

Do you have to cook it for 9 hours?

No, I'm sure it was fine to eat in 5 hours but I was going to bed and didn't want to fuss with it. You could also make a dish like this in the morning have have it ready by the time you get home for work.

My wife and I served the short ribs in shallow bowls over delicious mashed potatoes and served sautéed spinach on the side. All very simple and easy to make while entertaining. Everyone loved this simple recipe.

The meat and sauce had tons of flavor. The mashed potatoes with the sauce were excellent and I think it was the best sautéed spinach I've ever prepared. A crusty loaf of French bread doesn't hurt either.

A great meal especially for cold weather.

English Style Short Ribs

Sear the Short Ribs

Fennel and Cremini Mushrooms

Saute Fennel, Onions and Garlic

Saute Mushrooms

Adding All the Ingredients to the Crock Pot

📖 Recipe

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Crock Pot Short Ribs Recipe

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time6 hours hrs

Total Time6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds short ribs I used the the long, Flanken Style, but use what you have
1 medium onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
½ bulb fennel sliced
2 cups crimini mushrooms cleaned, stemmed and cut in half
1 can diced tomatoes you can use fresh, of course
½ cup port
¾ cup brown stock
kosher salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For this recipe, I browned the ribs, a few at a time, in a fry pan with a little bit of olive oil and butter. Once they were browned, I removed them from the pan and put them into the crock pot.
Next I deglazed the pan with some port wine, let the wine cook down to an essence and then sautéed the onions, garlic and fennel in a little olive oil. I added all this to the crock pot on top of the ribs.
I then sautéed the mushrooms that my daughter de-stemmed, cleaned and sliced in half. These were added to the pot.
With the sautéing done, I added a can of diced tomatoes and ¾ cup of brown stock to the crock pot and seasoned everything with salt and pepper.
Add the cover and let it cook until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
After removing the fat that floated to the top and congealed, we reheated the short ribs and sauce in a large sauce pot on the stove over low heat.

« Braised Pork Chops with Fennel Sauce Recipe

Braised Beef Shanks Recipe »

I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

Faux Wood Blinds Gal
February 17, 2008 at 2:54 am

Love this easy short rib crockpot recipe. Thanks for sharing:-)
Reply
Leftover Loaf Meat Recipe
February 25, 2008 at 1:36 pm

I found your blog via Google while searching for leftover loaf meat recipe and your post regarding Crock Pot Short Ribs Recipe looks very interesting to me. I always enjoy coming to this site because you offer great tips and advice for people like me who can always use a few good pointers. I will be getting my friends to pop around fairly soon.
Reply
Harriette
May 05, 2008 at 8:34 am

Make something like this except plan ahead and dry rub the ribs with creole seasoning wrap in plastic and refegerate for a couple of hours or overnight then proceed much the same
Reply
jon h
July 19, 2008 at 2:33 am

Kick butt! I'm going to go try this now. Always looking for new delicious proteins for my crock pot. Thanks for the recipe. You truly understand the essence of crock pot cooking my friend. "Toss it in and wait for the deliciousness" its like cooking with patience. Sincerely- jh fort worth, texas
Reply
billy
September 19, 2008 at 12:50 am

Can you be more specific about the amounts you used? I don't see what you did with the fennel or how much you used. And in the photo, what's the green stuff, green pepper?
thanks in advance, it sounds delicious
Reply
Melody
August 06, 2009 at 2:05 pm

trying this 2nite!
Reply
Ray E. Johnston
October 05, 2009 at 3:47 am

Thanks, I am usually working with less expensive cuts of meat, eye of round, rump, and such other cuts that keep under 5 bucks per pound. I have a rump in the refrigerator now and will try your approach, I generally use Asian spices but will go for the creole/lemon approach. I will keep it in the fryer till the veges prepared. will let U know.
Reply
RG
October 05, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Harriette - Thanks for sharing your tips, good ideas.
Jon H - great enthusiasm. Let us know how it turned out.
Billy - most of my recipes have the amounts I've used, but this is one I just winged. The recipe and article talk about everything I used, but you'll have to use your own cooking experience to determine how much to use.
Melody - how did it turn out?
Reply
RG
October 05, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Great, looking forward to your comments Ray.
Reply
deirdre
October 20, 2009 at 2:49 am

This looks great... I have had these ribs in the freezer without knowing what to do with them. As a new mommy with two other kids, this sounds like a great meal with little work involved!!
Reply
RG
October 20, 2009 at 12:56 pm

Hi Deirdre, it really is an easy recipe to throw together, leave alone with amazing results. Let us know how it turns out.
Reply
AM
November 23, 2009 at 6:57 pm

Looks good, will try it. Yes, meat is supposed to go on top in a slow cooker, veggies on the bottom. Don't know why but that's what the slow cooker guidebooks say...
Reply
Chef Frank
December 13, 2009 at 7:43 pm

20 years of cooking , never done short ribs....or used my wife's crock pot....i added a few more spices and carrots....the house smell good already, it's snowing outside...something tells me we will have a great dinner. cheers
Hey Chef Frank, isn't it great to try new ingredients and new techniques. Hope you enjoyed your ribs on your cold and snowy night. - RG
Reply
lily
January 07, 2010 at 6:57 pm

This recipe was AMAZING! I didn't have red wine to deglaze the pot but I did use some white wine I had in the fridge.
I followed your instructions and cooked them overnight, then re heated the next evening for dinner. I was able to scrape off all the fat that raised to the top when it cooled. This is such a great IDEA! I had both boneless and bone in ribs in the crock pot which made for some yummy broth. I also did not have beef broth so I used chicken instead. No biggie.
I will make this recipe over and over from here on out. Thank you!!!
Hi Lily, that's fantastic and thank you for letting me know about the substitutions. - RG
Reply
Danielle
January 31, 2010 at 10:03 pm

I found this recipe when searching for cooking time for short ribs in a crock pot and wondered if you think mine will come out any differently because I didn't fry them in a pan before I put them in the cooker. They've been in about two hours already so it's too late but if you have any thoughts to share it would be appreciated. Hopefully they still come out good.
I'm sure they will be fine. You won't get the same color that you get when you sear them and you may loose just a fractionally small amount of flavor from the caramelization process, but in the end, it should be great. Let us know. - RG
Reply
randy
February 05, 2010 at 5:27 am

If you put the ribs in the bottom of the pot they will fall apart when you try to take them out . Put them on top they will still cook the same, but when you take them out they will come out in one piece and not fall apart.
Good tip Randy. Thanks - RG
Reply
Gloria
February 22, 2010 at 4:01 pm

I make short ribs very similar to the way you do, but don't use fennel. I will try that next time.I have a helpful hint: Instead of frying short ribs, which are full of fat anyway, season ribs put on a foil lined cookie sheet & broil 'til brown on each side. Drain on paper towels. This helps remove quite a bit of the fat.
Hi Gloria, thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try next time. - RG
Reply
Avery
March 10, 2010 at 1:04 pm

Long time reader, first time poster: short ribs were excellent. I slammed a bottle of a good IPA into the pot and plenty of herb de Provence. I also dredged it the ribs in flour prior to browning. Turned out fantastically. I too cooked them for 9 hours and would repeat.
Thanks for helping us with our meal plan; it was a real treat.

You are very welcome and thanks for sharing your variations. For those of you not familiar with IPA, it stands for Indian Pale Ale. - RG
Reply
Silverspoon
January 15, 2011 at 4:20 am

Wonderful, wonderful! Cooked 2 days ago refrigerated & heated for tonight. Served over polenta with steamed broccoli. Sooo good!

Thanks for letting me know. - RG
Reply
Sandra
March 07, 2011 at 2:17 am

Anxious to make this...sounds wonderful. Love your style of writing and explanation - very descriptive, but yet to the point. Love it.. And of course, you respond to your followers.. Don't see that very often. Cheers to you!! :O)
Thank Sandra, much appreciated. Please be sure to tell your culinary friends to visit. - RG
Reply
david
March 17, 2011 at 2:54 am

I frequently braise using a mirepoix (Carrot/onion/celery) or Holy Trinity (Onion/Celery/Bell Pepper) which is very similar to what you used. I bastardize the mirepoix by adding garlic and whatever other aromatics I have at hand. The mirepoix is not intended to be eaten (although it can and I usually do) but rather to serve as a foundation for aormatic moisture and to keep the meat off of the bottom of the pan.
If I'm overly motivated, I'll strain the solids out of the mushy veggies and pan drippings and reduce over med-hi heat (maybe add a lil wine or cordial liquor) into a sauce for the meat.
As for the searing or pan frying the meat prior to braising: definite must. The logic is to create a searing seal on all sides of the meat to help lock in moisture. -Enjoy
Hi David, thanks for the cooking tips. I used to agree with the searing to seal idea but after many emails and doing my own research (McGee plus other books), I now say the searing is more about caramelizing than sealing in any juices. I know a lot of cookbooks say to sear to seal, but the science of cooking seems to disagree. - RG
Reply
Gloria
June 03, 2011 at 12:06 am

Just discovered you. I had just been thinking about the issue of meat on top of veggies or on the bottom in the crock pot. I used to do meat on the bottom then read where it should be on the top. After years of both I believe I like meat on the bottom...seems like it reflavors itself better. My imagination? I'm sure either works but I like hearing the opinions. Great site.
Reply
Debbie
September 26, 2011 at 1:26 pm

cooked ribs on top of stove. Still tough. Can I put them into a crock pot for a few more hours or is that going to contaminate? Please advise
I'm not so sure that is the best way at this point. Takes a long time for that crock pot to warm up. How about trying the method I use for barbecue ribs where you steam them in a covered roasting pan with a little beer. Check out http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/barbecue-baby-back-ribs-recipe/ - RG
Reply
Elio Levy
October 24, 2011 at 9:18 am

Will try the recipe with lamb shoulder parts I just bought from my butcher, might use rosemary, thyme and a full head of garlic sliced in half ... wish me luck !

Good luck Elio. Let me know how it turns out. - RG
Reply
Elio Levy
November 13, 2011 at 2:45 am

The dish was a great success, might reduce cooking time to 2 from 2.5 hours.
Thanks for a great recipe.
Reply
Brandy
January 02, 2012 at 3:32 am

Perfect! We have had these in the freezer for a while with no clue what to do with them! Now, I'm excited to use them! AND we were just commenting and inquiring why some were long and some were short! Well, thanks for answering that too! Can't wait to make this!
Reply
Cindy
May 20, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Yummmmmmy...had these Flanken ribs and didn't have a clue what to do with them. Read that they can be tough with other recipes....but this recipe was so delicious! The meat was falling off the bone. Will definitely use this recipe again. Thank you
Reply

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My Best Crock Pot Short Ribs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my short ribs not tender in the crockpot? ›

They may seem tough if they haven't cooked for long enough.

If you really want to get into it, the short ribs need to cook at a high temperature for long enough to break down the connective tissues in the beef, resulting in the meat becoming super tender.

Tell Me More ›

Are short ribs better in the oven or crock pot? ›

Though they were all delicious ribs, the slow cooker definitely turned out the most tender meat. The baked ribs came in a close second, still with falling off the bone, succulent meat but just not quite as tender as the slow cooker ribs.

Learn More Now ›

Do short ribs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Short ribs are commonly cut into 2x3-inch rectangles, giving you a cross-section view of the layers of fat, meat, and flat rib bones. You can also purchase boneless short ribs. Either way, short ribs require long, slow cooking for tender results because they start out so tough.

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Should ribs be covered in liquid in slow cooker? ›

Don't worry that the ribs go into the slow cooker without liquid; the heat is gentle enough that the ribs do not burn, and the meat releases liquid as it cooks, so it braises in its own spiced juices. (You could also make these ribs in a pressure cooker by following this recipe.)

Get More Info Here ›

What is the best way to tenderize beef short ribs? ›

Braising allows the ribs to tenderize while bathing in a flavorful liquid, absorbing the flavors as they also melt their connective tissue and release their own meaty essences into the mix.

What is the secret to tender ribs? ›

The secret to incredibly tender ribs is baking them low and slow. Baking ribs in the oven is so easy.

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Do you have to brown short ribs before cooking? ›

You will need to brown the short ribs before braising. Using a dutch oven or a sauté pan, add the short ribs on one layer and use medium-high heat to brown them. Sear them on each side and let them get a deep brown. Browning is an art form that can take years of practice.

Get More Info Here ›

What liquid is best for ribs? ›

You may, if desired, spritz or mop your ribs while smoking with a liquid of your choice. Apple juice or cider, butter, Dr. Pepper, apple cider vinegar, beer… there are plenty of options.

Learn More Now ›

Do you rinse beef short ribs before cooking? ›

Rinse the Short Ribs

Begin by rinsing the ribs in cold water. These short ribs are cut flanken style, which may mean they have some loose bone fragments on them and extra sediment, which you definitely don't want to eat. Rinse the ribs, drain the water, and set them aside!

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Why do you rinse ribs before cooking? ›

Do Ribs Need To Be Rinsed? Carr says ribs do not need to be rinsed. “Rinsing fresh meat or poultry is unnecessary as the bacteria causing possible foodborne illnesses will be terminated with proper endpoint cooking temperature and time combination,” explains Carr.

Why are my short ribs still tough? ›

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

Tell Me More ›

Why are my slow cooked ribs tough? ›

If your ribs are chewy, you either forgot to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs or you didn't cook them long enough. If your ribs are dry, you likely cooked them too hot and fast. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to fix dry and chewy ribs.

Read The Full Story ›

Do ribs get softer the longer you cook them? ›

When using a slower method like the grill, smoker, or oven, you'll need about 3-5 hours. Slower methods can be ready in as little as 30 minutes - however, keep in mind that the longer you cook your pork back ribs the more tender and succulent they'll be.

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How long does it take for short ribs to get soft? ›

Cover and simmer over low heat until ribs are very tender, about 2 hours.

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