Slow Cooker Short Ribs Recipes

Slow cooking is always the best way to cook ribs of any kind. Every short rib recipe benefits greatly from that time in the heat. That is where a crock pot comes in handy. We can make these delicious slow cooker short ribs recipes to not only impress, but also relax in the kitchen. 

These delicious slow cooker short ribs recipes are not only filled with so much flavor, but they also make the ultimate comfort food. Are ribs a comfort food? These recipes might have you questioning what you thought comfort food was all about.

Each recipe packs a ton of flavor in a tiny package. We won’t need to struggle with a dutch oven or worry about what low heat means on our stove dials. Instead, we can find a short ribs recipe here that sounds the best to us and give it a shot.

That is the beauty of a crock pot or slow cooker. They take simple ingredients and turn them into something rather impressive. Something the whole family can enjoy. Of course, those familiar with crock pot cooking will probably be asking if they are dump ‘n go recipes.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. We still need to crisp up the outside in most of these recipes. This is how we will achieve tender beef that truly absorbs the flavor from the braising liquid, all the way to the Cabernet Sauvignon we may use during the cooking process.

Still, using a slow cooker means minimal prep, a savory sauce, and a meal that’s perfect for date night, special occasions, or simply a delicious dinner to enjoy with some fine wine on the side.

The end results from these slow cooker short ribs recipes will impress not only your guests, but yourself. You go, home CHEF.

Slow Cooker Short Ribs Recipes

What is the difference between short ribs and ribs? The first thing to note is that not all ribs are actual ribs. Short ribs come from a different cut of beef, like plate, chuck, and sometimes the rib area.

Short ribs, like the ones you’d want to make this short rib ragu, are flatter and have more meat. Regular ribs have less meat and are often more curved. That curve doesn’t work so well when you are trying to make specific dishes.

Plus, we want more meat to enjoy in our beef ribs. Short ribs are a cut of meat that also packs a ton of flavor. Even the cooking juices can be used in the dish, like with this slow cooker braised short ribs recipe.

You will surely want tender meat, which is why a slow cooker is a better option than a hot skillet for cooking. Sure, the cooking time might be longer, but the wait is worth it for mouth tender beef better than spare ribs.

Are Short Ribs Better in the Oven or Crockpot

These slow cooker short ribs recipes are all for the crockpot. However, we can discover what makes the crockpot a better cooking tool for short ribs, whether we’re making Korean barbecue or something more akin to a pot roast.

Ovens can absolutely help us make even the easiest slow cooker short ribs recipe. However, the most obvious reason to use a crockpot instead is the constant monitoring we need to do with the oven.

Ovens should never be left on when no one is home, but the crockpot can be left on all day. We can start recipes like this crockpot short ribs recipe in the morning and come home to meat ready to eat. Just a few minutes of prep and you are on your way.

And who doesn’t like coming home to a savory dish that is ready to serve and eat? Then there is the amount of heat and juice that will remain within the closed crockpot. We will lose some of that flavor as things evaporate in the oven. Best to go with a slow cooker recipe.

Can I Overcook Beef Short Ribs?

There are multiple things that could go wrong with cooking. It is a skill that we must hone and build as we progress. However, even the best chefs still encounter a couple of common errors that they must correct before serving any food: undercooking and overcooking.

We don’t really need to worry about undercooking the beef here. After all, most of these slow cooker short ribs recipes cook for hours, so undercooking is very unlikely. Overcooking is a different story. Say you’re making this beer-braised short ribs recipe.

This recipe says to cook the bone-in beef short ribs for 8 hours. However, you bought boneless short ribs by mistake. That will result in overcooked beef that is chewy and dry, even if it is soaking in juices in the crockpot.

No amount of Worcestershire sauce will fix that. The same could be said for this balsamic braised short ribs recipe or even this saltwater braised short ribs recipe. Luckily, the braising process makes overcooking very difficult.

Why Are My Short Ribs Not Getting Tender in the Slow Cooker

Braising helps tenderize the meat before cooking, and the low-and-slow cooking method of crockpots should be enough to get you what you want. However, there are still some times when the beef just isn’t tender enough.

Tough beef in a recipe as delicious as this bourbon beef short ribs recipe is a sad thing, but not quite dead in the water just yet. Tough short ribs usually mean the connective tissue inside the meat didn’t have a chance to fully melt away.

We just need to cook the ribs a bit longer to get the tender bite we want. It is important to follow the original recipe, whether it is bourbon beef or sweet and sour beef short ribs. We want the short ribs to have an internal temp of 180-205.

Anything over that and it will be overcooked. Amazing short ribs aren’t difficult to make in a crock pot. We should be exploring new recipes with short ribs and discovering the possibilities that they offer.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

How to Make Crockpot BBQ Ribs | You can also make regular ribs in your crockpot. In fact, they might be better than off the grill.

Crockpot Turkey Chili Without Beans | Chili is another recipe that benefits greatly from low and slow cooking methods.

Budget Friendly Beef Stroganoff | Stroganoff is a pasta dish that we should be adding to our rotation more frequently.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken for Tacos | Salsa chicken is perfect for making tacos more flavorful and juicy.

Healthy Crockpot Breakfast Casserole Recipe | Wake up to a breakfast that is ready to eat with the help of your slow cooker.