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Cooked short ribs on top of creamy polenta in a bowl with sauce, carrots, and onions. Bowl sitting on counter.

Easy Slow Cooker boneless Beef Short Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker boneless Beef Short Ribs are the perfect main dish for entertaining because they are oh-so decadent and taste like you slaved away in the kitchen for your guests.  The flavors from the onion, carrots, demi-glace, thyme, and garlic all seep into the meat, which is fall-apart tender and absolutely delicious.

Course Main Course
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 938 kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Short Ribs, boneless
  • ¼ cup All purpose white flour
  • 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Carrots, diced
  • 1 Small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
  • 4 cups Beef Broth (or 3 cups + 1 cup red wine)
  • 1.5 ounces Demi-Glace
  • ¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar (eliminate if adding red wine)
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme, dried
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • Salt, to taste
  • Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
  • ¼ cup Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Dice the Carrots and Onion.  Mince the garlic.  Chop the parsley.  Place all in the slow cooker - but save some of the parsley for garnish.

  2. Cut the short ribs into 2" pieces.  In a bowl or baggie, mix the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper.  Coat the outside of the short rib pieces on all sides.  Shake off excess and add to a preheated pan with 1 tbls Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Sear on all sides.

  3. Once seared, add 1 cup of beef broth and scrape all of the yummy beef bits up from the bottom of the pan.  Transfer the meat and broth to the slow cooker.  Note: if using red wine in this recipe, replace this 1 cup of broth with 1 cup of red wine

  4. Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker: remaining broth, tomato paste, demi-glace, red wine vinegar(eliminate if using red wine), Worcestershire Sauce, thyme, bay leaf, pinch of salt and pepper.

  5. Stir to combine ingredients, then turn slow cooker on for 8 hours.  

  6. At 8 hours, test for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.  Test the meat to ensure that it is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.  Serve over mashed potatoes, polenta, rice, or noodles.  

Recipe Notes

  1. My original recipe called for red wine, but this version was adapted based on my children’s preferences.  Both with and without wine are delicious.  For the wine version, you would replace 1 cup of the broth and the vinegar with 2 cups of Red Wine.
  2. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make these in the oven. Add all of the ingredients to a dutch oven, or large casserole or baking dish that’s approximately 13×9 inches or similar.
  3. This recipe for Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs has carrots, but if you want to replace the carrots or add more veggies, here are some ideas. You can use green beans, butternut squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery, or parsnips.
  4. These Boneless Beef Short Ribs are wonderful over Creamy Parmesan Cheese Polenta or over mashed potatoes or even Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash! Of course, pasta or rice work too.
  5. If you have leftovers (and I do recommend making more than you need just to have leftovers!) here are some ideas. Make a Short Rib Sandwich with Chipotle Mayo, add to tacos or nachos, or add to an omlet.