Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Red Wine
Why this recipe works
- Deep savoury base: Browning the ribs and cooking the tomato purée, aromatics and wine in the same pan builds a more complex sauce before everything goes into the slow cooker.
- Tender, rich result: Long, gentle cooking suits short ribs, turning a tough cut into soft beef with a full-bodied gravy.
- Good for planning ahead: The ribs can be cooled and stored in their sauce, which helps keep the meat moist and makes reheating straightforward.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Mostly hands-off: The active work is mainly browning, softening the vegetables and deglazing the pan; the slow cooker handles the long cook.
- Serve when fully tender: The ribs are ready when the meat is very soft and nearly falling from the bone, not simply when the timer ends.
Common mistakes
- Do not crowd the pan: Brown the ribs in batches so they sear properly rather than steaming.
- Reduce the wine before slow cooking: Letting the wine simmer briefly after deglazing softens its raw edge and concentrates the sauce base.
- Season at the end: Taste the sauce after slow cooking and adjust with salt, pepper or a little acidity if it needs more lift.
Ingredient swaps
- Without red wine: Use extra beef stock in place of the wine. The sauce will be a little less complex, but still rich and savoury.
- Vinegar alternative: Red wine vinegar can replace apple cider vinegar for a similar bright finish.
Make-ahead tips
- Make ahead: Cool the ribs completely, then refrigerate them in the sauce so the meat stays moist.
- Reheat gently: Warm slowly in a saucepan over low heat until piping hot, adding a little beef stock if the sauce has thickened.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze the cooked ribs with their sauce, then thaw before reheating gently.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat the short ribs dry, then season all over with the salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Brown the short ribs well on all sides, working in batches so the pan is not crowded. Transfer the ribs to the slow cooker as you go.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion and carrots to the same pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until the onion is softened and picking up the browned bits.
- Stir in the garlic and tomato purée and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the red wine and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the pan, until slightly reduced.
- Pour the wine mixture over the ribs, then add the beef stock, bay leaves, thyme and apple cider vinegar. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, until the meat is very tender and nearly falling off the bone.
- Discard the bay leaves and thyme stems, then transfer the ribs and vegetables to a serving dish. Spoon over the sauce and season with a little more salt and pepper if needed.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the best sauce, brown the ribs until deeply golden; that colour is where the flavour comes from.
- If you prefer a cleaner finish, let the cooking liquid stand for 5 minutes, then skim off any fat from the surface before serving.
Substitutions
- Replace red wine with extra beef stock for a non-alcoholic version; the sauce will be less complex but still rich.
- Replace apple cider vinegar with red wine vinegar for a similar brightness.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container with the sauce. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat until piping hot, adding a splash of beef stock if the sauce has thickened; freeze for up to 3 months.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 8h 15min (25min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: American
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