Description
Tender, flavorful beef short ribs slow-cooked to perfection in a rich tomato and herb sauce, accompanied by carrots for a hearty and comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 2 lbs. beef short ribs
Seasonings and Oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- ⅛ tsp. pepper
- 2 tsp. cooking oil
- 1 ½ tsp. dried oregano
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
Liquids and Other Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- ¼ cup tomato paste (1/2 small can)
- 4 carrots (peeled and cut in half)
Instructions
- Season and Brown the Short Ribs: Sprinkle the short ribs evenly with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the cooking oil. When the oil is hot, brown the short ribs on all sides; this step is to develop flavor, so there is no need to cook the meat through. Once browned, transfer the short ribs to the slow cooker.
- Prepare the Sauce: Without rinsing the skillet, pour in the beef broth and add the tomato paste, dried oregano, dried thyme, onion powder, and minced garlic. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to loosen browned bits. Let the mixture simmer over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often to blend the flavors and slightly reduce the sauce.
- Add Vegetables and Combine: Place the peeled and halved carrots on top of the short ribs in the slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the meat and carrots to distribute the flavors throughout.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat for 6 hours. Cooking for up to 8 hours is also possible, but the meat will become extremely tender and may easily fall off the bones.
- Serve: After cooking, serve the short ribs hot with the carrots and spoon some of the rich sauce over the top. Enjoy this comforting and hearty meal straight from the slow cooker.
Notes
- Browning the meat before slow cooking adds deeper flavor but can be skipped to reduce prep time.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove the short ribs and carrots after cooking and simmer the sauce on the stove until reduced.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving, especially salt and pepper as broth may vary in saltiness.
- This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes, polenta, or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker short ribs, beef short ribs recipe, slow cooked beef, easy slow cooker dinner, hearty beef stew
