Easy Short Rib Ragu (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot) – an easy, set-it-and-forget-it short rib ragu recipe that you are going to LOVE! Serve with pappardelle pasta or mashed potatoes for the perfect cold-weather comfort food!
Best Short Rib Ragu
Anyone else forget how good short ribs are?! Me!
I tried a short rib ragu at an Italian restaurant a while back and immediately went home and starting testing recipes to try and recreate it – once I got it right I tested it in the slow cooker and the Instant Pot so you guys can decide how you want to cook it! (Slow cooker is my favorite, but either work!). This is just one of those dishes I come back to again and again and has quickly become my favorite short rib recipe (and is the perfect recipe for cold weather).
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Set-It-And-Forget-It: Just put in a little work in the morning and dinner will be ready and waiting for you when you get home! Nothing beats that!
- Cozy: I look forward to making this every Fall/Winter. It is totally comfort food!
- Paleo/Whole30 Friendly: I also love that it is Paleo/Whole30 when served with zoodles or spaghetti squash!
What You Will Need
- salt and pepper: to season the short ribs
- avocado oil: this is used to saute veggies in.
- garlic: because you gotta add a little garlic!
- celery + carrots + sweet yellow onion: these are sauteed together with the garlic to add depth of flavor to the ragu.
- 6-8 beef short ribs (bone-in): you will need approximately 3 pounds of bone-in short ribs. I
- marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought): this is my little short-cut! Makes it so easy! No need to add in all the ingredients that make up marinara sauce (like tomato paste, basil, etc. – this is so easy). You can definitely add in fresh herbs or even a parmesan rind to take things to the next level, but you don’t need to.
- (optional) red wine: if you want to add in a little red wine, that is encouraged!
- your favorite pasta: I tend to use pappardelle pasta here, but really any kind will do. Cook to al dente perfect and cover with this amazingly rich sauce that is packed with bold flavors.
How I made it extra easy
So I kind of took a short cut … Instead of buying cans of tomatoes and spices ….. I just used a jar of homemade marinara sauce (and then I tested it with some store-bought as well). Such an easy short cut!! And it tastes SO good!!!
What are short ribs
What is a short rib, you ask? Well, if you picture a cow, its ribs would obviously be found in the section of its body behind its shoulders. There are four defined areas there, the ribs, plate, brisket and chuck. Short ribs can be taken from any of these areas.
What types of short ribs are there
- Boneless: The meat from the ribs is cut away from the bone.
- English Cut: English style short ribs is what is pictured below and used in this recipe. This is probably what you will get if you simply ask for short ribs at your typical grocery store. It is a 2-3 inch bone with meat sitting on top of it.
- Flanken Style: Cut across several bones so you have a longer piece of meat with little chunks of bone throughout.
How to Make Short Rib Ragu
Season short ribs on all sides and then sear on all sides in a cast iron skillet or large dutch oven on the stovetop. Transfer them to slow cooker or Instant Pot.
In the same cast iron skillet sauté the garlic and veggies. Transfer them to the slow cooker as well along with any brown bits left behind from the ribs.
Add everything to your slow cooker or pressure cooker and cook per the times listed in the recipe card below. After cooking, remove the short ribs from the braising liquid and discard the bones. The short ribs will be fork tender (and falling apart). Shred the meat and place back in the slow cooker.
Serve over your favorite noodle or with some spaghetti squash or zoodles!
How to make it Whole30/Paleo
- First just pay attention to the marinara sauce you use. There are so many compliant brands out there now – it will be easy to find one!
- Second, serve with zoodles or spaghetti squash!!
Recipe FAQs + Tips
- Preferred Method: I have made this multiple times both ways …. it is just a little bit better in the slow cooker 🙂 But I totally get it – sometimes we don’t have that much time!
- Marinara Sauce: For the marinara sauce, I tested it with both my own homemade marinara and some Whole30 compliant store-bought sauce from Primal Kitchen.
- Instant Pot: For the Instant Pot, you can saute the vegetables in the Instant Pot, but I would recommend still searing the Short Ribs in the cast iron – it’s hard to fit them into the pot and maneuver them around.
- Whole30/Paleo: For Whole30/Paleo just make sure you are checking your marinara ingredients (for store-bought I used Primal Kitchen) and serve with zoodles or spaghetti squash.
- Cooking Time: cooking time will vary greatly between slow cooker and instant pot – I just used the slow cooker cooking time on the recipe card.
- Spaghetti Squash: For spaghetti squash here is how to roast it in the oven and here is how to cook it in the Instant Pot!
- Freezer-Friendly: This freezes really well!
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Other recipes you might like:
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Easy Short Rib Ragu
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker + Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Description
Easy Short Rib Ragu (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot) – an easy, set-it-and-forget-it short rib ragu recipe that is cozy and delicious!
Ingredients
- 6–8 beef short ribs (approx. 3-4lbs)
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons garlic cloves, minced
- 2–3 celery stalks, sliced
- 2–3 medium carrots, peeled, sliced and quartered (halved works too)
- 1 medium sweet yellow onion, diced
- 25oz marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1–2 bay leaves
- 1 herb bundle
- (optional) splash of red wine, 1/4 -1/2 cup works perfectly
- serving: pappardelle pasta or spaghetti squash
Instructions
Crock Pot / Slow Cooker Instructions
- Place short ribs on a large plate and bring to room temperature. Pat dry with clean paper towels and season ribs with salt and pepper all over; set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon oil to large cast iron skillet and bring to medium-high heat.
- Sear short ribs on all sides (do this in batches if you need to). Transfer the browned short ribs to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil. Then add garlic and stir, allowing it to cook 1 minute.
- Add celery, onion and carrot.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Stir and allow to cook 2-3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Pour vegetable mixture into crockpot on top of the short ribs.
- Pour marinara sauce on top and add bay leaves and red wine (if using). Mix to coat the short ribs.
- Cover and let cook for 7-8 hours on low.
- Before serving, remove short ribs and place on a plate. Shred meat using two forks, discarding bones and connective tissue. Place shredded meat back into the crockpot and mix to combine.
- Serve with pasta, zoodles or spaghetti squash. Top with parmesan cheese, if desired.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Pour marinara sauce into Instant Pot. Set aside.
- Place short ribs on a large plate and bring to room temperature. Pat dry with clean paper towels and season ribs with salt and pepper all over; set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon oil to large cast iron skillet and bring to medium-high heat.
- Sear short ribs on all sides. Transfer the browned short ribs to the Instant Pot.
- In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil. Then add garlic and stir, allowing it to cook 1 minute.
- Add celery, onion and carrot.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Stir and allow to cook 2-3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Pour vegetable mixture into Instant Pot on top of the short ribs. Add bay leaves and red wine (if using).
- Cover and ensure Instant Pot is set to Seal. Cook on High Pressure for 1 hour (60 minutes).
- Allow to naturally release for 10-20 minutes. Then (carefully) manually release per manufacturers instructions.
- Remove short ribs and shred meat, discarding bones and connective tissue. Place meat back into the Instant Pot and mix to combine.
- Serve with pasta, zoodles or spaghetti squash. Top with parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Marinara Sauce: For the marinara sauce, I tested it with both my own homemade marinara and some Whole30 compliant store-bought sauce from Primal Kitchen.
- Instant Pot: For the Instant Pot, you can sauté the vegetables in the Instant Pot, but I would recommend still searing the Short Ribs in the cast iron – it’s hard to fit them into the pot and maneuver them around.
- Whole30/Paleo: For Whole30/Paleo just make sure you are checking your marinara ingredients (for store-bought I used Primal Kitchen) and serve with zoodles or spaghetti squash. Omit any red wine or parmesan rind.
- Cooking Time: cooking time will vary greatly between slow cooker and instant pot – I just used the slow cooker cooking time on the recipe card.
- Spaghetti Squash: For spaghetti squash here is how to roast it in the oven and here is how to cook it in the Instant Pot!
- Freezer-Friendly: This freezes really well!
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Make it spicy: feel free to add in some red pepper flakes if you want more of a spice.
- Boneless short ribs: you can use boneless short ribs if you want, but a lot of flavor comes from having the bones being cooked as well.
Keywords: short rib ragu, slow cooker short rib ragu
Originally published November 14, 2019.
Ginger says
The best!! Used in a GF lasagna and sooooo delish.
★★★★★
Erin says
Ooooh that sounds amazing!!!
Chelsea says
Absolutely delicious!! It will be on repeat in my house
★★★★★
Amy says
My absolute favorite bolognese-ragu recipe! Thank you so much.
★★★★★
Jenny says
I am a terrible cook. I made this and everyone loved it! So easy, such wonderful flavor!
★★★★★
Erin says
Thanks, Jenny!
Raina says
So so good!! One of my favorite recipes for entertaining!
★★★★★
Angela Cogan says
I have been looking for new recipes recently & am so glad I came across your site. Making lots of your recipes this week!
I used the Insta-Pot instructions for this and it turned out great. I served it over Hearts of Palm linguine noodles & used Rao’s sauce. My family of 3 really enjoyed it!
★★★★★
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Angela! I love this recipe too 🙂
Kate says
This is amazing and so easy but it’s fancy enough for a dinner party! A family favorite. My go to recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed this one, Kate! And thanks for taking the time to leave a review and feedback – so appreciated!
Rebekah says
I made this for dinner and everyone loved it, kiddos included! So easy and yummy.
★★★★★
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed it, Rebekah! And thank you so much for taking the time come back and leave a review – I so appreciate it!
Annie says
This is basically effortless & Wow – it’s so delicious!
Browned in iron skillet & cooked in slow cooker using Rao’s Marinara. Was ready in 6 hours.
Total comfort food & would be great for company, too.
Loved it!
★★★★★
Erin says
Thank you so much, Annie, for taking the time to leave a review!! And I am so happy you enjoyed this one – it’s one of my favorites!
Megan Lumnah says
how much weight is the 6-8 short ribs?
Erin says
About 3-4 lbs
Emily says
Made it and loved it! I’m a beginner cook so this is might be a silly question, but what would happen if you skipped searing the meat and sauteeing the veggies, and just threw everything straight into the crock pot?
★★★★★
Erin says
So happy you enjoyed it, Emily! Good question – sautéing the veggies and searing the meat really do add to the overall flavor. I have had people skip the sautéing step before and have reported back that it is still good, but the depth of flavor just isn’t quite the same. Hope that helps! And thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback – I really appreciate it!
Jessica says
How do you think I could make this in a dutch oven?
Erin says
Hi Jessica! I have never tried making it in a dutch oven so I am not sure how it would work. Definitely let me know if you try it though!
Jed Vickers says
Thanks for your recipe. Can’t wait ti try it this weekend for meal prep next week! Random question….have you(ot know of anyone who has)calculated the macros with the recipe and your recommended serving size?
Patty says
Just wondering about the fat that gets rendered from the short ribs. I love short ribs and this recipe sounds great, but I typically factor in an overnight in the fridge so I can get the fat layer off. Any input is appreciated!
Erin says
Hi Patty! The fat from the short ribs definitely gets rendered through the cooking process (particularly if you do the slow cooker method which is my favorite/preferred method). But feel free to cut some of it off if it bothers you! I think it just adds to the flavor, but do what works best for you 🙂
Patty Eggen says
So good! I did make a day before and then took the fat off before reheating..personal preference. Served over polenta. I did use the Rao’s marinara. It was really flavorful. Great recipe. Thank you!
★★★★★
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Patty! Thank you so much for letting me know how it turned out – I really appreciate it! 🙂
Sarah says
If I don’t have marinara/don’t want to make it before tomorrow when I plan to make these, can I just use a can of tomatoes? I feel like the mirepoix will flavour it nicely as it is. Maybe some garlic and oregano or something.
Erin says
Hi Sarah! I haven’t tested this using just a can of tomatoes so I can’t guarantee anything – but if you do just use a can of tomatoes I would definitely add some typical marinara herbs such as basil and oregano as well as some diced onion and some red wine (or pomegranate juice). I would also make it in the slow cooker as opposed to the IP, if you can, just because I don’t know if you would run into an issue with a burn notice or not. Again, I can’t guarantee results since I haven’t tested it, but that is what I would do! Good luck!:)
Sarah says
Thank you! I’ll let you know what I do and how it turns out 🙂
Kristen says
I love this recipe! I had never even tried short ribs before making this recipe, but now I am definitely a fan! This recipe takes very little active time, and is so incredibly delicious! I’ve made it a few times now. It’s also great for meal prep. I just freeze individual portions and thaw as needed. Thanks for the terrific recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristen! I am so glad you love it! And I LOVE the meal-prep idea! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback – I really appreciate it!
Kaitlin says
Made this tonight, and it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! I was only able to get 4 short ribs from my grocer, so I added 8oz of thinly sliced mushrooms to the recipe in place of the missing ribs! They added a nice “meatiness” while also making it a little cheaper in overall cost. Definitely will be making this again in my instant pot. Thank you 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kaitlin! So, so happy you loved it! And loving the idea of adding in mushrooms!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback, it really means a lot!
Tim says
I made this in the Instant Pot with Costco boneless short ribs and Rao’s Homemade Marina from Costco as well. Used about 1.5 lbs of the boneless short ribs and it was fantastic! We paired with some sauteed Power Greens (also from Costco) and the bitterness of the greens was great with Ragu! Making another batch today to freeze! The 28oz marinara gave the right amount of liquid. Great recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Tim! This really is one of my favorite recipes! And thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback – it really means a lot to me!
Heidi says
Is the cooking time less with boneLESS short ribs since the recipe uses bone-IN?
Thank you!
Erin says
I actually don’t think you would reduce the cooking time much, if at all. The meat of the short ribs is what is a little of the tougher side, thus it is a great cut of meat for long, slow cooking. I think choosing the bone-in just adds even more flavor to the dish! Hope that helps!
Brooke says
Is the marina sauce enough “liquid” for the instant pot or do we need to add any additional water?
Brooke says
*Marinara 🤦♀️
Erin says
It is enough – no additional liquid needed! I have tested several times (and so have many other people) and no issues with a burn notice or anything like that! 🙂
A_kay says
Adding to the to-do list for this weekend!!
Erin says
Yay!!! You won’t regret it! 🙂