Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Do steps 1-3 in a pan on the stove, and then cook everything in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! Make this recipe as written, and then let it cool and store in the fridge. One bonus of doing this is that a lot of the fat will rise to the top and turn solid which makes it easy to remove. When you're ready to serve, reheat it on the sauté setting in the Instant Pot or in a pot on the stove.

What should I serve this with?

I like to serve this on top of gnocchi, pappardelle pasta, or polenta!

Will this recipe work with boneless short ribs?

Absolutely! Just adjust to be 1 lb. of boneless short ribs (vs. 2 lbs. of bone-in).

Could I freeze this recipe?

Yes! Just freeze it in an airtight bag or container, and then thaw in the fridge for at least 24 hours before reheating on the stove.

Can I replace the wine in this recipe?

Yep, just sub in the same amount of broth or water!

Can I use a different cut of beef?

We haven't tested this recipe specifically with other cuts of beef, but the Instant Pot can be quite forgiving. We also have a recipe for a beef ragu made in the slow cooker with flank steak if you want to give it a try!

Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu Recipe

Description

Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu! Ready in an hour. AMAZING on gnocchi, pasta, polenta, rice, potatoes, and more.

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 lbs bone-in short ribs (or 1 lb boneless)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup dry red wine
one 25-oz jar store bought marinara/spaghetti sauce (I use DeLallo tomato basil sauce)
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt & pepper, to taste
1 lb. pasta or gnocchi

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Instructions

Get ready: Turn instant pot on to the sauté setting. While it heats up, trim any excess fat from the short ribs, then pat dry with a paper towel. Generously season the meat with salt and pepper.
Brown those short ribs: Add oil to the Instant Pot. Add the short ribs to the hot oil and sear on all sides until brown. (The meat does not need to be fully cooked. Just browned.) Remove from pot and set aside.
Onions, garlic, and wine: Use tongs & paper towel to remove any excess oil from the pot. Add onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Pour wine in to deglaze (*sizzzles*) and cook for about 2 minutes.
Go-time: Add short ribs, tomato sauce, salt and crushed red pepper to pot. Use 1/2 cup water to rinse out sauce jar and add to pot. Set Instant Pot to the stew/meat setting (35 mins). When it’s done, let it sit untouched for a natural steam release.
Finish up: Remove meat to sheet pan. Shred into bite size pieces, removing bones and any large pieces of fat. Meanwhile, set the Instant Pot to sauté again to reduce/thicken the sauce. Skim any fat off top of sauce and add meat back in. Taste and add salt & pepper if needed.
Serve: Serve over cooked pasta or gnocchi. Yummmo!

Notes

Slow Cooker Instructions: Do steps 1-3 in a pan on the stove, and cook everything in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours.

Stovetop Instructions: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sear the short ribs on all sides until browned, but not cooked through. Remove from pot. Add in the onion and garlic and sauté for about 3 minutes until tender. Pour in the wine to deglaze the pan and scrape up the brown bits. Add in the short ribs, tomato sauce, salt, and crushed red pepper. Use 1 cup of water to rinse out the jar and add to pot (1/2 cup more than original recipe states). Bring everything to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook on low for 2 hours until the beef is fork tender.

Initially, the meat will stick to the stainless surface of the Instant Pot, but once it’s got a nice sear on it, it should release pretty easily.

If you make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge, a lot of the fat will rise to the top and turn solid. This makes it easy to remove.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: instant pot short rib ragu, short rib ragu, ragu