Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs

Fall-off-the-bone and tender Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs are a total crowd pleaser! The Instant Pot makes this recipe a breeze, infusing rich flavors right into the succulent beef. Served with homemade red wine gravy and creamy mashed potatoes.

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These deeply flavored fall-off-the-bone Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs with homemade red wine gravy are so satisfying. Juicy, tender, and easy to make, these ribs will impress guests or liven up weeknight dinners. Serve them with luscious mashed potatoes or cauliflower mash for a low-carb option.

The ribs are dressed in a red wine gravy that cooks alongside the ribs. Thanks to the high pressure from the Instant Pot, the gravy soaks right into the meat, breaking down the tough fibers and turning each bite into a melt-in-your-mouth treat. Instead of spending hours braising the ribs, the Instant Pot cooks them up in just 1 hour!

What are beef short ribs?

Beef spare ribs are taken from the lower part of the cow’s ribcage. The meat is very tough and has lots of connective tissue. This means short ribs should be seared and then braised over several hours or cooked under high pressure for a shorter amount of time. 

They’re inexpensive, especially considering how much meat you get on each rib. They can be a little bit fatty, so just cut the excess away with a knife or use less fatty boneless ribs instead.

Ingredients you need

You should be able to easily find beef short ribs at your local grocery store, but a butcher will give you the best cut of meat possible. The rest of the ingredients are simple and, when combined, will give the ribs and gravy an elegant flavor.

This is what you need:

• Bone-in beef short ribs
• Shallots and garlic
• Cremini mushrooms
• Tomato paste
• Worcestershire sauce
• Fresh thyme, bay leaves, and sea salt
• Olive oil
• Red wine
• Beef broth
• Cornstarch
• Fresh herbs to garnish

How to cook Beef Short Ribs in the Instant Pot

It’s a simple process of sautéeing the meat, leaving the ribs to cook under high pressure, and then finishing off the homemade gravy. As soon as it’s done, you’ll have a warm, rich, and comforting dinner!

Here’s how to make it:

1. Season and Sauté: Set your Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Salt the ribs on all sides and cook until brown. Remove the beef and set it aside. 
2. Sauté the veggies: Add the shallots, mushrooms, and garlic to the pot and sauté until they’re fragrant and soft. Then add the thyme, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine. Let the wine cook out for 2 or 3 minutes.
3. Turn off Sauté mode: When the Instant Pot is off, stir in the beef broth and bay leaves. Transfer the ribs back into the pot.
4. Cook in the Instant Pot: Lock on the lid and set the pressure on High for 1 hour. When it’s done, use Natural Release for 10 minutes, release the valve, and remove the lid.
5. Remove from the pot: Carefully remove each rib from the pot, making sure the meat stays on the bone. 
6. Make the gravy: Take some of the cooking liquid from the pot and pour it into a small bowl with the cornstarch and stir. Pour the rest of the liquid from the pot into a saucepan and heat on high. Pour the cornstarch mixture from the small bowl into the saucepan and stir until the gravy thickens.
7. Season and serve: Season the gravy with more salt as needed. Place the ribs on a serving plate, spoon over the gravy, garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy!

How To Cook Beef Short Ribs In A Dutch Oven

In case you don’t own an Instant Pot, sharing cooking instructions in the oven. It’s worth the wait any way you cook it. Full of flavors and will make your house smell like a 5-star restaurant.

1. Sear: Brown the ribs in oil on ALL sides. Sear them in batches and transfer to a clean plate to rest while preparing the rest of the dish.
2. Sauté the veggies: Add the shallots, mushrooms, and garlic to the pot and sauté until they’re fragrant and soft.
3. Deglaze: Then add the thyme, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine. Let the wine cook out for 2 or 3 minutes. Add the ribs back in and simmer until the wine has reduced by half, about 20 minutes.
4. Bake: Cover and bake at 350 F for 2.5 to 3 hours until the meat falls off the bone easily.
5. Remove from the pot: Carefully remove each rib from the pot, making sure the meat stays on the bone. 
6. Make the gravy: Take some of the cooking liquid from the pot and pour it into a small bowl with the cornstarch and stir. Pour the rest of the liquid from the pot into a saucepan and heat on high. Pour the cornstarch mixture from the small bowl into the saucepan and stir until the gravy thickens.
7. Season and serve: Season the gravy with more salt as needed. Place the ribs on a serving plate, spoon over the gravy, garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy!

Helpful recipe tips and substitutions

• Try not to skip browning the ribs beforehand. It adds a rich flavor to the meat and caramelizes the outside.
• If your Instant Pot won’t fit all of the ribs at once, sear the meat in batches instead.
• Want to use boneless short ribs instead? Just adjust the cooking time on the Instant Pot to 40 minutes instead of 1 hour.
• Make your own beef broth instead of using storebought! You can make it in your Instant Pot using only a handful of ingredients.
• Keep the gravy non-alcoholic and use balsamic vinegar instead.
• Keep the ribs low-carb and Whole30 compliant by replacing the cornstarch with arrowroot flour.
• Make sure each rib is patted dry before searing as this will speed up the process and form a caramelized crust.

Storing and reheating

Store the leftover cooked ribs in a shallow airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You could also freeze them for up to 4 months. 

Keep the gravy in a separate container for 3 or 4 days in the fridge. Use the leftovers on the ribs or try it on a rib eye steak or poured over sloppy joes.

Reheat the meat and gravy together in a saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Alternatively, heat them together in the Instant Pot on Sauté mode until warmed through.

What goes well with beef short ribs?

Serve the ribs and sauce over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, polenta, or orzo pasta. Don’t forget to include lots of side dishes, like sautéed broccolini, roasted butternut squash risotto, or a delicata squash salad.

Want to keep it low carb? Forget the potatoes and serve the ribs over cauliflower mash instead. Finish it off with a salad, glazed carrots, or roasted cauliflower on the side.

More Instant Pot recipes

Try out these other easy and flavorful Instant Pot recipes the next time you need a quick family-friendly meal:

• Beef Ragu
• Cheeseburger Soup
• Baby Back Ribs
• Egg Bites (Starbucks Copycat)

Did you try my Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs? Let me know what you think! Leave a comment or rate this recipe below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram! I love to share all of your recreations!