Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Recipe (2024)

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Thesered wine braised short ribsare the perfect,savory dinner party recipe! Easy tomake aheadand then just pop in the oven to cook, this mouthwateringshort ribs recipelets you enjoy the night while also serving a delicious,home-cooked meal.

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Perfect to prep ahead!

Ingredients needed

How to make red wine braised short ribs

Cook the ribs

Puree the vegetables

Brown the vegetables

Make the red wine sauce

Perfect to prep ahead!

Dinner at home with friends is so much fun. Cooking always brings an element of entertainment, and who doesn’t like hanging out in the kitchen? It seems that it always ends up being the gathering spot, no matter the occasion.

But, if you’re the one doing the cooking, I highly suggest that you go easy on yourself and plan a meal where you can do most of the work ahead of time.

That’s why I love thesered wine braised short ribsso much. I just prepare them the night before and pop them into the fridge overnight to let the fats solidify. Then, the next day I scrape off that fatty layer and discard it, reheat the ribs on the stovetop, and serve!

Ingredients needed

Short Ribs – You’ll want 6-8 bone in beef ribs, about 5 pounds.
Veggies – Onion, celery, carrots.
Garlic
Tomato Paste
Red Wine – Opt for a dry red wine like zinfandel, cabernet, or merlot.
Olive Oil
Thyme & Bay Leaves
Balsamic Vinegar
Kosher Salt + Black Pepper

How to make red wine braised short ribs

Cook the ribs

First, dry the ribs thoroughly with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Then, add your olive oil to a large dutch oven (or saucepan) and heat over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the short ribs and brown on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. The pot should not be overcrowded. Work in batches if necessary, so as to not overcrowd the pot.

Puree the vegetables

While you sear the short ribs, preheat the oven to 375 degrees, then puree all vegetables and garlic in a food processor or blender until finely chopped into a thick paste.

Brown the vegetables

Once the ribs are browned, remove them to a large plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

Drain the fat from the pot and add remaining olive oil. Pour in the pureed vegetables and season generously with salt. Brown over high heat, without stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes.

Make the red wine sauce

Add the tomato paste, stir, and let the vegetables brown for an additional 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the wine and, using a wooden spoon, scrape any bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir occasionally, letting this mixture reduce by half.

Combine the short ribs and sauce

At this point of the short ribs recipe oven style, you will return the ribs and any accumulated juices to the pot along with enough water to almost cover the meat. Add the thyme and bay leaves.

Cover the pot and place it in the hot oven. Allow to cook for 2 1/2 hours, checking periodically and adding more water if needed. Remove the lid and cook for 30 minutes longer, to allow the sauce to further reduce.

Cool, season and serve!

Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the braised beef ribs to a serving platter or dish. Let the sauce and solids sit in the pot for a few minutes to cool and with a shallow spoon, skim off as much of the fat as possible from the surface.

Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper, and add the vinegar.

Pro tips

If you want to make a short rib recipe slow cooker friendly, you can follow all of the directions here, but instead of cooking on the oven, add your red wine braised short ribs slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.
If you prefer braised short ribs without wine, you can create a sauce with beef broth or homemade slow cooker bone broth. You can also dilute the wine with water if you still want to cook with the wine but want to taste the flavors less.

How to make ahead and store

You can make these short ribs up to three days ahead of when you plan to serve them. To make ahead, first prepare your short ribs as directed above. Allow to cool slightly and then place in the refrigerator.

When you plan to serve, scrape off any solidified fat that may rise to the surface. Bring the gravy and short ribs to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, until heated through.

What to serve with short ribs

Falling off the bone tender meat cooked in red wine that results in a beautiful, silky, rich gravy. The short ribs can be served alongside buttered noodles, mashed potatoes or creamy polenta with a spoonful of the gravy on top. Round off the meal with an arugula salad or some glazed carrots and you’re set for the night.

MORE → Check out one of these 30+ Sides for Short Ribs.

Wine pairings

Of course, no dinner party is complete without a few good bottles of wine… And these red wine braised short ribs are just begging to be paired with big bold reds like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc or Merlot.

More savory dinner recipes

Smoked Short Ribs
Short Rib Crostini with Cambozola Cheese Cherry Jam
Red Wine Burgers Recipe
Sous Vide Prime Rib Roast with Garlic Herb Butter
One-Skillet Chicken with White Wine Mustard Cream Sauce

Did you try this red wine braised short ribs recipe?

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PS – If you’ve got any leftovers, use them to make these Short Rib Crostini with Cambozola Cheese and Cherry Jam!

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Recipe

These red wine braised short ribs are the perfect, savory dinner party recipe! Easy to make ahead and then just pop in the oven to cook, this mouthwatering short ribs recipes lets you enjoy the night while also serving a delicious, home-cooked meal.

5 from 50 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Created by Platings and Pairings

Ingredients

Short Ribs

4 Tablespoons olive oil (divided )
6-8 bone-in beef short ribs (about 5 pounds)
1 onion (cut into large pieces)
2 stalks celery (cut into large pieces)
3 carrots (peeled and cut into large pieces)
2 cloves garlic (peeled)
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
2 ½ cups dry red wine
Water
6 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
2-3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Creamy Polenta (for serving)

Instructions

Short Ribs

Dry the ribs thoroughly with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to an oven-safe heavy pot or dutch oven and heat over high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the short ribs and brown on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. The pot should not be overcrowded. Work in batches if necessary.
While the short ribs are browning, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Puree all vegetables and garlic in a food processor or blender until finely chopped into a thick paste.
Once ribs are browned, remove the ribs to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Drain the fat from the pot and add remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil.
Add the pureed vegetables and season generously with salt. Brown over high heat, without stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the tomato paste, stir, and let the vegetables brown for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Add the wine and, using a wooden spoon, scrape any bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir occasionally, letting this mixture reduce by half.
Once reduced, return the short ribs and any accumulated juices to the pot along with enough water to almost cover the meat. Add the thyme and bay leaves. Cover the pot and place it in the hot oven. Allow to cook for 2 1/2 hours, checking periodically and adding more water if needed. Remove the lid and cook for 30 minutes longer, to allow the sauce to further reduce.
Transfer the ribs to a serving platter or dish. Let the sauce and solids sit in the pot for a few minutes to cool and with a shallow spoon, skim off as much of the fat as possible from the surface. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper, and add the vinegar.
Serve the ribs on top of creamy polenta with additional braising liquid.

Notes

To Make Ahead: Prepare your short ribs as directed above. Allow to cool slightly and then place in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, scrape off any solidified fat that may rise to the surface. Bring the gravy and short ribs to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, until heated through.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Be sure to check out my tips on how to clean a dutch oven after using it.

This post was originally published in 2016. It was updated in 2021 to add new photographs. And again in 2023 to add new content. The braised short ribs recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best red wine to use for braised short ribs? ›

For braising beef, look for a dry, full-bodied red wine such as Cabernet, a fuller-bodied Pinot Noir, or Chianti Classico. Don't Overcook the Beef. Believe it or not, it is possible to braise short ribs for too long.

How much liquid do I need for braised short ribs? ›

Return the short ribs to the pan and add 2 cups water or until the water has just about covered the meat. Add the thyme bundle and bay leaves. Cover the pan and place in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed.

Explore More ›

What cut of meat is best for braised short ribs? ›

The “bone in” part is the key. You may come across long, slender flanken-style short ribs which are short ribs that have been cut across the bone. Avoid those for this recipe. You want short ribs that are cut parallel to the bone, about 3 to 4 inches in length, that look like singular, meatier pork ribs.

See Details ›

How do you know when braised beef short ribs are done? ›

Using a leave-in probe thermometer like ChefAlarm^® will help us know when to take the meat from the oven. Ribs like these won't be done until they hit a temperature of about 203°F (95°C), so stick the probe into the thickest part of the largest rib and set the high-temp alarm.

Can you braise short ribs too long? ›

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

Show Me More ›

What temperature do you braise short ribs? ›

Add ribs, veggies, and (whole) sprigs of thyme and rosemary to the pot. Cover with the lid and place into the oven. Cook at 350 degrees for 2 hours, then reduce heat to 325 degrees and cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes. Ribs should be very tender, nearly falling off the bone.

Explore More ›

What happens if you braise with too much liquid? ›

Short ribs that are cooked completely submerged in liquid will come out with a thin, watery sauce, while those cooked in just a thin layer of liquid—enough to provide a moist environment under your Dutch oven's lid—will produce a rich, flavorful sauce.

Discover More Details ›

Should I braise with the lid on or off? ›

Keep the lid on when braising meat, as it needs moist heat over a long period of time to break down the collagen and connective tissues for fork-tender results. "Pot covered, the ingredient you are braising gets continuously bathed in these steaming and simmering liquids, which the item flavors in turn," says Welsh.

Discover More Details ›

Should meat be fully submerged when braising? ›

The meat that you are braising should be partially covered in liquid, but not submerged. This liquid will eventually become a sauce for the meat, so make sure it is full of flavor.

Read On ›

Why are my braised short ribs chewy? ›

If your ribs are chewy, you either forgot to remove the membrane from the back of the ribs or you didn't cook them long enough. If your ribs are dry, you likely cooked them too hot and fast.

Keep Reading ›

Do short ribs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Technically, you could eat these cuts with a quick cook like you do for a steak or a chop—but you wouldn't want to, because they'd be tough and chewy. But with a longer cook, time and heat break down the tough stuff (connective tissues), and the result is meltingly tender deliciousness.

Know More ›

What is the difference between short ribs and braising ribs? ›

When the rib bone is cut into a 3-to-6-inch (7.6 to 15.2 cm) length, left as a section of meat (a "plate") containing three or four ribs or cut into individual ribs with meat attached, the short rib is known as an "English cut". They may also be known as barbecue ribs, braising ribs, or fancy cut ribs.

Are braised short ribs better the next day? ›

Braises tend to taste even better the the day after cooking, but there's another reason to cook beef short ribs a day in advance: if you can let the cooking liquid cool overnight, the fat can be easily skimmed away. Beef ribs are a fatty cut, and too much fat in the final sauce makes the dish overrich.

See Details ›

Can you slow cook short ribs too long? ›

Slow cooking is more forgiving than traditional braising in an oven, so it's difficult to overcook short ribs using this method. The longer the ribs cook, the more tender they become. At some point, they can become a bit mushy, but I've pushed the cooking time to 8 hours (on low) and they were still perfect!

Find Out More ›

Why are my beef short ribs so tough? ›

Either way, short ribs require long, slow cooking for tender results because they start out so tough. That's why braised short ribs are common.

View Details ›

What is the best red wine to braise with? ›

“The tenderness that braising creates really calls for a softer wine like an Argentinian malbec or Australian shiraz.” He also likes carmenère with lamb because its spiciness plays off the meat's gamey and herbaceous quality.

What is a good wine for braised beef? ›

Wine matches: Pot roasted, slow cooked and braised beef dishes with melt-in-the-mouth textures pair well with the richness and peppery spice of cool climate Shiraz, or try Mediterranean favourites, Sangiovese or Tempranillo.

View Details ›

What is the best red wine to cook with meat? ›

When it comes to cooking, your safest bet is to choose a mid-priced, medium-bodied red wine with moderate tannins, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Pinot Noir. Using a red wine that is too big, full-bodied and tannic, like Shiraz, may turn 'chalky' and astringent while cooking and ruin the flavour of your dish.

Show Me More ›

Is Pinot Noir good for braising? ›

Pinot Noir is great for stew recipes and is the primary wine used in dishes like Beef Bourguignon.

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Recipe (2024)

Perfect to prep ahead!

Ingredients needed

How to make red wine braised short ribs

Cook the ribs

Puree the vegetables

Brown the vegetables

Make the red wine sauce

Combine the short ribs and sauce

Cool, season and serve!

Pro tips

How to make ahead and store

What to serve with short ribs

Wine pairings

More savory dinner recipes

Did you try this red wine braised short ribs recipe?

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Recipe

Ingredients

Short Ribs

Instructions

Short Ribs

Notes

Nutrition

FAQs

What is the best red wine to use for braised short ribs? ›

Do short ribs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

References