House-Smoked Short Ribs with Bourbon-Pear Glaze
Fall-off-the-bone beef ribs smoked with hickory wood, glazed with a sweet-tart bourbon and local pear reduction. This southern-inspired beef ready in about 320 minutes pairs beef short ribs, hickory wood chips, medium local pears for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 680 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lb beef short ribs
- 1/2 cup hickory wood chips
- 2 medium local pears
- 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Step 1: Soak 1/2 cup hickory wood chips in water for 30 minutes. Season 2 lb beef short ribs generously with salt and pepper, then smoke at 225°F for 4 hours until tender and deep red in color.
- Step 2: While ribs smoke, peel and dice 2 medium local pears. Simmer in a saucepan with 1/4 cup bourbon, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 3 fresh thyme sprigs for 20 minutes until reduced to a syrupy glaze that coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 3: Remove ribs from smoker and brush generously with pear glaze. Return to smoker for 20 minutes to set the glaze and deepen the flavor.
- Step 4: Rest ribs for 10 minutes before slicing against the grain, then drizzle with remaining glaze and serve with extra thyme sprigs.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does House-Smoked Short Ribs with Bourbon-Pear Glaze take to make?
Total time is about 320 minutes (60 min prep + 260 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover House-Smoked Short Ribs with Bourbon-Pear Glaze?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef short ribs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in House-Smoked Short Ribs with Bourbon-Pear Glaze?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale House-Smoked Short Ribs with Bourbon-Pear Glaze for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with House-Smoked Short Ribs with Bourbon-Pear Glaze?
Southern beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
