Serious Braised Short Ribs
Tender beef short ribs slow-simmered for hours in a rich red wine and herb reduction, creating a deeply flavorful dish that demands patience and care. This beef-inspired one pot ready in about 200 minutes pairs beef short ribs, all-purpose flour, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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
- 2.5 lbs beef short ribs
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced yellow onion
- 2, diced carrots
- 2 stalks, diced celery
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup tomato passata
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat short ribs dry with paper towels, season generously with salt and pepper, then dredge each piece in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear ribs in batches until deeply browned on all sides, about 4-5 minutes per side; transfer to a plate.
- Step 3: Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot, cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste, cook for 2 minutes, then deglaze with 1 cup red wine, scraping up browned bits from the pot.
- Step 5: Return ribs to pot, add 2 cups beef broth, 1 cup tomato passata, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Step 6: Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 2.5 hours until meat is fork-tender.
- Step 7: Remove ribs and herbs, strain sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing solids to extract liquid. Discard solids.
- Step 8: Skim excess fat from sauce, return to pot, and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes until thickened and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 9: Return ribs to sauce to warm through, serve with mashed potatoes.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Serious Braised Short Ribs take to make?
Total time is about 200 minutes (20 min prep + 180 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 Serious Braised Short Ribs?
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 Serious Braised Short Ribs?
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 Serious Braised Short Ribs 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 Serious Braised Short Ribs?
Beef one pot 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
- ★★★★★
So much better than takeout. We'll never order beef delivery again.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.