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Home Recipe Index Freezer Meals Freezer Beef

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

5 /5
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By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 6/10/24Updated: 12/12/22

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Making Slow Cooker Short Ribs is super easy and results in a fall-apart tender, decadent, gourmet dinner! This dump-and-go recipe is perfect as a Christmas Dinner or a special birthday dinner.

Or, you may prefer to make our Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs instead.

“Made this for my family and friends. They absolutely loved it. The way the meat fell off the bone and the flavors. Let’s just say there were seconds.” – Kristin (from Pinterest review)

Slow Cooker short ribs on plate with mashed potatoes and green beans in front of a Crockpot. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • 3 Reasons to Make Crock Pot Short Ribs
  • Ingredients
  • Tip: Ask Your Grocery Store Butcher for Help
  • How to Slow Cook Short Ribs
  • Alternative Way to Serve Short Ribs
  • Side Dishes for Slow Cooker Short Ribs
  • Make It a Freezer Meal
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Beef Slow Cooker Recipes
  • Slow Cooker Short Ribs
  • Another Short Ribs Recipe You’ll Love!

3 Reasons to Make Crock Pot Short Ribs

While short ribs aren’t cheap (look for sales!), they are worth it for at least these 3 reasons…

  1. This “low and slow” method of braising short ribs results in one of the most meltingly tender, fall-off-the-bone pot roasts around.
  2. This recipe is truly a gourmet dump-and-go recipe! The sweet-savory sauce comes together fast but has complex flavor in the end.
  3. Works well for Christmas Dinner or a special birthday dinner.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this short ribs recipe…

Beef short ribs ingredients measured out and labeled.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Balsamic vinegar – A little acid in any sauce enhances the flavor of the dish.
  • Soy sauce – Adds savory-salty umami flavor. For gluten-free, use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari Soy Sauce.
  • Garlic cloves – Use pre-minced to save time.
  • Bone-in English-style beef short ribs – Find these at the meat counter (or call ahead to order them). Ask your butcher to trim off some excess fat and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Look for them to go on sale!
Ingredients to make short ribs.

Tip: Ask Your Grocery Store Butcher for Help

Be sure to ask the butcher counter to cut your short ribs into 2-inch pieces and to trim off some of the fat. It will be a huge help to you.

How to Slow Cook Short Ribs

Let’s walk through each step together before you get started…

Prep Marinade

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, vinegar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.

Marinade for beef short ribs in a bowl.

Slow Cook the Short Ribs

Place the ribs in a crockpot. Pour the marinade over the top and stir to coat the ribs. Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours. Use tongs to transfer the ribs to a serving platter.

Short ribs in a slow cooker with marinade poured around them.

Thicken the Sauce

Optional, but recommended: Carefully pour or ladle the remaining juices from the crockpot into a medium saucepan. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Whisk this into the sauce and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking regularly, until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. 

A hand adding a cornstarch slurry to sauce in a slow cooker.

Serve

Drizzle some of the sauce over the ribs and garnish with chopped parsley. Season with more salt and pepper, if desired.

Beef short ribs on a white serving platter with bowls of green beans and mashed potatoes next to it.

Serve warm with extra sauce on the side. I love to serve these over our Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Healthy Mashed Potatoes with green beans.

A white plate with a few beef short ribs, mashed potatoes, and green beans sitting in front of a Crockpot.
Balsamic shredded beef on top of polenta on a plate.

Alternative Way to Serve Short Ribs

Shred the meat off the bones and serve with the thickened sauce over mashed potatoes or polenta.

Side Dishes for Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Green beans wrapped in bacon sitting on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with diced chives on top.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Autumn Salad tossed with apple cider vinaigrette in a white bowl on a wooden cutting board.

Autumn Chopped Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Oven roasted asparagus on parchment paper.

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Make It a Freezer Meal

Like with most of our recipes, we’ve figured out the best way to prep it ahead and freeze for later…

To Freeze For Later:

Mix up the marinade in a bowl. Place the ribs and marinade in either a 2-gallon or two, 1-gallon freezer bags. Seal tightly and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen:

Note: You will need cornstarch and parsley on hand to complete this meal. Thaw in the refrigerator completely. Cook according to Steps 2-4 in the recipe below. 

Short ribs marinating in a gallon-size bag lying flat on a sheet pan to be frozen.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make short ribs in the Instant Pot?

Yes! Check out our recipe for Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs for a full tutorial and a printable recipe.

How long should I slow cook the short ribs?

While developing recipes for our second cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, we learned a LOT about the best cooking times for crockpot meals. We found in our tests that short ribs turn out best when cooked on LOW for 8-10 hours.

More Beef Slow Cooker Recipes

Two bowls of beef bourguignon with texas toast slices on a cutting board.

Crock Pot Beef Bourguignon

Balsamic shredded beef on top of polenta on a white plate with fresh chopped parsley on top.

Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef

French dip sandwiches on a tray with a bowl of au jus.

French Dip Sandwiches

Steak chili in a bowl with toppings to the side.

Slow Cooker Steak Chili

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Beef short ribs on plate with mashed potatoes and green beans in front of a slow cooker.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Making Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs is super easy and results in a fall-apart tender, decadent, gourmet dinner! Perfect for the holidays or a special birthday dinner.

Yield: 5–6 servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 8 hoursTotal: 8 hours 10 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later [socialpug_share networks=”email” networks_labels=”Email” show_labels=”yes” overwrite=”yes”]
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (Gluten-free: Use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari Soy Sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (2 teaspoons pre-minced garlic)
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (increase if you want more heat)
  • 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 5 lbs bone-in English-style beef short ribs, trimmed of excess fat and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces*
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, but recommended)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (as garnish)

*Ask your butcher to do this for you! You might even want to call ahead.

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Prep Marinade: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, vinegar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Cook: Place the ribs in the crockpot. Pour the marinade over the top and stir to coat the ribs. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours. Use tongs to transfer the ribs to a serving platter.
  3. Thicken Sauce: Optional, but recommended: Carefully pour or ladle the remaining juices from the crockpot into a medium saucepan. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Whisk this into the sauce and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking regularly, until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. 
  4. Serve: Drizzle some of the sauce over the ribs and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve warm with extra sauce on the side. Tip: These are delicious served over warm mashed potatoes or polenta.

To Freeze For Later:

Follow Step 1. Place the ribs and sauce in either a 2-gallon freezer bag or two, 1-gallon freezer bags. Seal tightly and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen:

Note: You will need cornstarch and parsley on hand to complete this meal. Thaw in the refrigerator completely. Follow Steps 2-4. 


Notes/Tips

  • Be sure to ask the butcher counter to cut your short ribs into 2-inch pieces and to trim off some of the fat. It will be a huge help to you.
  • Instant Pot Version: Make this same recipe in your pressure cooker using our Instant Pot Short Ribs recipe. 
  • Try This Recipe with Chuck Roast Instead: If you love this sauce but want a cheaper cut of beef, try making our Balsamic Shredded Beef. Delicious!
  • Alternative Way to Serve Short Ribs: Shred the meat off the bones and serve with the thickened sauce over mashed potatoes or polenta.
© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: American Method: Slow Cooker

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Thriving Home's cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, lying on a counter.

Another Short Ribs Recipe You’ll Love!

Looking for another well-tested short ribs recipe?

Our second cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, features one of my personal favorite recipes in the book: Asian-Style Beef Short Ribs. The sauce has a complex, sweet-spicy combo of flavors that pairs perfectly with the short ribs. Serve over rice.

Every recipe in this cookbook works in the Instant Pot or the slow cooker. And…we’ll show you how to make each recipe into a freezer meal, too!

Buy Our Cookbook
short ribs on top of mashed potatoes with sauce.
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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. Kate says

    Posted on 1/6/25 at 11:50 am

    This is such a wonderful treat for a special dinner (or just a weeknight at home)! It is easy to make, and the flavor is amazing! We served this over rice – so yummy!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 1/6/25 at 1:22 pm

      Glad you enjoyed this recipe Kate. We appreciate you leaving a review!

      Reply
  2. WendyWendy says

    Posted on 2/27/23 at 3:31 pm

    So much great information in this post. Thanks for the yummy recipe that we will use over and over again!

    Reply

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