Fall-apart beef served with a rich and meaty red wine gravy. This is serious comfort food. The whole family devours my Crockpot Short Ribs! Plus they make THE BEST leftovers too.
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Oh man, I love these beef short ribs! So tasty served on a big pile of creamy mashed potato and smothered in gravy.
One of the things I love about short ribs is the sheer amount of meat you get on them. These ones from the supermarket are pretty meaty (easily enough for the kids to share one), although if I go to the butchers, they're sometimes huuuuggge!
Last time they were so big, one short rib fed all four of us!
Of course I saved the leftovers and we had a giant burrito feast the next day.
FYI – this post contains a couple of affiliate links to products I use. If you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps me to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running x
📋 What do we need?
📺 How to make it
Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Heat some oil and sear the short ribs. You can do this in a pan, or directly in your slow cooker if you have a searing function (my crockpot does this and I love it!). You want them nicely browned all over.
Then we add onions and soften them, before adding in garlic, red wine, stock, thyme, tomato paste, sugar, bay leaves, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.
Bring everything to the boil (transfer to your slow cooker at this point if you were doing this part in a pan) and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
After that time the meat should be starting to fall apart. Ladle most of the liquid into a pan
Bring the liquid to the boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Stir in a little cornstarch slurry to thicken, then turn off the heat.
Serve the short ribs on top of creamy mashed potato with green veg and a good drizzle of that gravy.
👩🍳PRO TIP Cook an extra short rib or two so you can use the meat for leftovers. I've got some ideas for you in the recipe card at the end of this post.
🍽️ What to serve it with
Let’s talk mashed potato. One of my childhood dream-foods - I've always loved mashed potato. It’s got to be proper mash though.
By that I mean laced with lots of butter, a good drizzle of thick cream and some freshly ground salt and pepper. Done like that, I just want to sit on the sofa and eat it straight from the pan.
An absolute must for me is a potato ricer. Have you tried one?
I have a thing against traditional mashers – they just don’t work for me. I always end up with lumpy mash. Potato ricers may just be one of my favourite kitchen inventions. I use this OXO good grips one.
No peeling needed, no need to work up a sweat, endlessly bashing those potatoes.
For emergency mash (I'm not the only person to have ever used the words 'emergency mash' am I?) you can even shove a whole potato in the microwave to cook and then put it through the ricer.
Any leftover mash and veg is fantastic fried up into bubble and squeak patties.
The mash for this meal is served with a deliciously meaty red-wine gravy - meaning it's pretty unlikely you'll have any leftovers anyway.
Let's just have a close-up look at that meat again…….
🍲 More fantastic Slow-Cooked recipes
(Either slow-cooker or cooked slowly in the oven or on the hob/stove-top)
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Crockpot Beef Short Ribs with Rich Gravy
Ingredients
Short Ribs:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 4 meaty beef short ribs
- 1 onion - peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
- 240 ml (1 cup) red wine
- 640 ml (2 ¾ cups) beef stock - (water + 3 beef stock cubes is fine)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp tomato puree - paste for US
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
For the gravy:
- 2 tbsp cornstarch/cornflour
- 5 tbsp cold water
To Serve:
- creamy mashed potato
- green vegetables
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the oil on high in a large frying pan (or using the searing function of your slow-cooker if it has one). Place the short ribs in the pan and brown on all sides. This should take about 10 minutes.1 tbsp oil, 4 meaty beef short ribs
- Add in the onion and cook for a further 2 minutes, whilst stirring.1 onion
- Add in the garlic and heat through for a minute, then add in the red wine.3 cloves garlic, 240 ml (1 cup) red wine
- Bring to a bubble and allow to simmer for 3 or 4 minutes, then add in the rest of the short rib ingredients.640 ml (2 ¾ cups) beef stock, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp tomato puree, 1 tsp sugar, 2 bay leaves, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Stir together and bring to a simmer, then transfer to the crockpot. Place the lid on and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- To make the gravy, ladle most of the cooking liquid out of the slow cooker and into a saucepan.
- Heat the sauce over a high heat until bubbling.
- Mix the cornstarch and water, then slowly pour the mixture into the cooking liquid whilst whisking - until the gravy thickens. You may not need all of the cornstarch. You’re looking for a nice gravy of a medium-thick consistency.2 tbsp cornstarch/cornflour, 5 tbsp cold water
- Turn off the slow cooker and place one short rib on top of a pile of mash. Pour over a little gravy, and repeat with the other 3 short ribs. Serve with steamed green vegetables.creamy mashed potato, green vegetables
Video
✎ Notes
- Fantastic burritos (I heat up the shredded meat and gravy in a pan with little chilli sauce).
- You could also make meaty sandwiches like this brisket sandwich with garlic potatoes (I know it's not brisket, but it will work just as well).
- Alternatively heat up the shredded meat and gravy in a pan with a tablespoon of tomato paste, a tin of chopped tomatoes and a half teaspoon of chilli flakes to make a quick ragu, then stir it through cooked pasta and top with parmesan.
Nutrition
This post was first published in May 2015. Updated in December 2018 and again in June 2022 with new photos, video and tips.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
🔪 Equipment
- Slow Cooker. We love our crockpot!
- A frying pan or skillet, if you cant cook directly on the hob with your slow cooker insert.
- A good Kitchen knife. In the video I use my Leiths knife however I have recently bought this Dalstrong one and love it.
- Chopping Board
- Garlic Press
- Measuring Jug
- Wooden or Silicon Coated Spoons.
- A potato ricer. An absolute must for the perfect mashed potato.
Carol G. from Pismo Beach says
Best ever beef short ribs and so easy. I followed the recipe as stated with a few tweaks: doubled the garlic, (since we like it). I added about a quarter cup of mixed fresh minced herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme..thank you Simon & Garfunkel). My husband rated this recipe “a keeper”, which is his highest rating.
Thank you.
Kathi says
These turned out amazing. Wish we would have made more!
Becki Morgan says
Best short ribs ever
Shells says
I haven’t eaten it yet but I will say just a small note. The sugar is in the recipe but never mentioned in the directions.
AO says
I see only plain sugar listed in the ingredients (used in step 4).
Nicky Corbishley says
ah sorry, I was thinking it was the Asian short ribs recipe. Yes, the sugar is added in step 4. It says 'add in the rest of the short rib ingredients'.
We've added in the individual ingredients this includes now (just underneath section 4), so you don't have to scroll back up to the ingredients list to find it.
Nicky Corbishley says
ah yes, the sugar is added in step 4. It says 'add in the rest of the short rib ingredients'.
We've added in the individual ingredients this includes now (just underneath section 4), so you don't have to scroll back up to the ingredients list to find it.
Chip K. says
This AMAZING short ribs. My family went nuts. BEST EVER....AND I'VE MADE MUCHO OF THEM! Very satisfying meal. They are a staple in our family. I did think that cooking on high in the slow cooker for 3-4 hour first made it better.
Diane says
These ribs were incredible!! Just starting to learn how to cook with wine, what amazing flavor it brings! So tender, I cooked 8 hrs. on low, will be a staple on my menu rotation. I used an $8 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon(cheapest wine they had) from the grocery store.
Casey says
Does any red wine work? Or is there a particular brand or style I should use?