Easy Beef Short Ribs Slow Cooker Recipe (super flavorful)

Name: Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 376 min
Ingredients: 4-5 pounds bone-in beef short ribs (about 2.29 kilograms/about 9 to 10 ribs (see note)); 2 teaspoons sea salt (plus a few pinches); 1 teaspoon ground mustard seed; 1 teaspoon ground white pepper; 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; 2 teaspoons onion powder; 2 teaspoons coconut sugar (or Monkfruit sweetener (optional)); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 yellow onions (350 grams, peeled and sliced crosswise (see pics), divided); 4 large cloves of garlic (peeled); 3 fresh whole Rosemary sprigs (or 1 1/2 teaspoon cracked needles or 1 teaspoon powdered rosemary)

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Transform these beef short ribs into a tender, cooked, and full-of-flavor weeknight dinner with just 10 minutes of prep time.

It's easy to prepare and becomes a hands-off recipe once everything goes into the slow cooker—sweet and spicy homemade dry rub recipe included!

A slow cooker containing deliciously spiced fall of the bone ribs.

When you invest in some good-quality beef short ribs, you want to cook them until they almost fall off the bone.

I often opt to make them in the slow cooker because it's one of the most hands-off ways of creating incredibly tender beef short ribs.

They are so flavorful with melt-in-your-mouth meat and a sweet and spicy light sauce. Serve them with oven-baked potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots, or a creamy cauliflower mash for a Paleo-friendly, low-carb side dish.

Here are some good side dishes that serve well with a beef stew that also can accompany these slow-cooker short beef ribs.

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Recipe Feature
Let's gather the ingredients
How to prepare and season the short ribs
How to layer everything in the crockpot
How long to cook beef short ribs in a slow cooker
Storage & reheating
Serving suggestions
FAQ
Recommended
📖 Recipe

Recipe Feature

It's a super simple recipe and even perfect for weeknight dinners.
All parts of the meat are generously coated with a quick homemade dry rub—you probably have most of the spices already in your pantry.
The recipe relies on simple ingredients like sweet yellow onions, garlic, and Rosemary to add a burst of flavor, complimenting beef short ribs.
There is no need to add any liquid or broth.
The ribs are slowly cooked in their juices and fat, allowing them to soak up all the flavors of the other ingredients until they melt in your mouth.

Let's gather the ingredients

A wooden board containing sliced onions, a bowl of spices, a salt pot, olive oil, garlic, and dried Rosemary leaves.

Beef Short Ribs: I like to buy the bone-in, but you can use short ribs with the bone in or without, or a combination of the two. If my local butcher has it on sale, I might even combine beef short ribs with beef back ribs. Count about 9 to 10 pieces to fit snuggly into the slow cooker.
Yellow onions: Most of it will cook away, but this vegetable will add a delicious natural sweet flavor to the sauce and the ribs.
Garlic: you need 4 large cloves, smashed.

Shredded garlic cloves resting on a blue kitchen towel.

How to smash garlic cloves: Place the garlic cloves on a flat surface or cutting board. With the palm of one hand, press the flat side of a large kitchen blade firmly on top of a garlic clove—always with the sharp side away from you. You'll hear a crunchy noise when the garlic clove has flattened. Simply remove the peel.

Rosemary sprigs: I highly recommend fresh or dried cracked needles. These sprigs add an almost lemony, mint-like taste that nicely balances the fattiness of the meat.
Homemade dry rub: Sea salt, ground mustard seed, ground white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and a tad of sugar or sugar substitute (see note in recipe) is used to season the ribs and will give them a slightly sweet and spicy flavor.
Extra virgin olive oil: I'm just adding a bit at the bottom of the slow cooker for a fruity and herb-like aroma. If you love ribs with a slightly buttery taste (and don't mind dairy), then replace the olive oil with butter.

How to prepare and season the short ribs

A cutting board with fresh raw beef short ribs.

These are short ribs bone-in.

Pat dry them with a paper towel and lay them on a flat surface.

See these ridges of fat? It's what will make them incredibly succulent with some patience.

A bowl filled with a mix of spicy dry spices.

Next, mix all the spices—ground mustard seed, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, and a tad of sugar substitute—in a mixing bowl.

A hand holding a short rib covered with dry spices over a bowl.

One by one, dip the ribs into the spice bowl. Use some pressure to coat all sides generously with the spices. Don't skip the bone ends or any ridges.

A cutting board with 9 spiced beef short ribs.

Press the meat firmly against the rub to saturate every inch and maximize its flavors.

When done, you should have some of the seasoning left, which we will use at the end.

How to layer everything in the crockpot

A slow cooker with its bottom covered with olive oil and onion slices.

Drizzle the olive oil into the slow cooker. I usually like to use a pastry brush to coat the surface equally.

Take the slices of one onion, and spread them evenly on top of the olive oil—season with a few pinches of salt.

A slow cooker filled with spiced beef short ribs.

Now, arrange the seasoned short ribs on top of the onion.

See the spaces in between the short ribs? We're filling them up with the rest of the sliced onions.

Spiced beef ribs in a slow cooker with fresh onion slices.

Snug the onions in between the ribs.

Many of them will cook away, but they will give an incredible natural sweet flavor that the ribs will soak up like a sponge.

Spiced beef ribs in a slow cooker with fresh onion slices, garlic, and dried Rosemary needles.

Grab the flattened garlic and Rosemary sprigs or needles and add them on top of the ribs.

You can add some fresh Thyme if you have some—highly recommended.

Take the remaining spice mix and sprinkle it on top.

If you like the ribs to be extra spicy, feel free to add a tad more of the cayenne powder (maybe an extra teaspoon or two).

Look at those beautifully spiced ribs.

Now, secure the lid on the crock pot, and let everything slowly cook on a high setting for at least 6 hours to get the best and almost fall-off-the-bone short ribs.

Look at that goodness. These bone-in beef ribs will melt in your mouth.

Kitchen tongs holding a slow cooked beef rib up above a slow cooker.

Although incredibly tender, you can still hold the bone with your fingers while eating the meat.

For some, the meat might be hanging on for dear life.

Whether you use your hands or fork and knife, I leave it up to you to decide what is the proper way of eating these short beef ribs.

How long to cook beef short ribs in a slow cooker

I suggest cooking them for 5 to 6 hours in the crockpot on a high setting. The beef ribs will be soft and juicy but still cling to the bone.
If the timing does not work for you, slow cook them on low for 8 hours max—you won't overcook them, and they will remain moist and tender.

Storage & reheating

Once cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. These beef short ribs are even delicious the next day!
Reheating is easy too. Scrape off any solid grease first, then place in a saucepan, a dutch oven, or anything with a lid. Heat for about 15 minutes or so over medium heat until heated through.

A plate containing cauliflower rice and topped with fall of the bone beef ribs. — *Slow-cooked beef ribs served over a bed of cauliflower rice.*

I suggest spooning some sauce on top of the ribs and any cooked onions before serving.

Serving suggestions

Serve with cauliflower mashed potatoes, roasted baby bok choy, or asparagus to keep it lighter and low on carbs.
Or go all out and pair it with these oven-roasted potatoes (comforting), my healthy Avocado and Mango Salad (refreshing), or this apple kale salad with creamy avocado pesto (nutritious).
Or serve with any leftovers from this oven-roasted beets dish. Beets pair so well with beef.

beef short ribs bone — *In this picture*, *I made these beef short ribs with spring onions. But flavorwise, I prefer for this recipe yellow onions instead*.

Especially for busy weekdays when you don't want to do a lot of prep work, this is one of the easiest and hands-off short beef recipes that doesn't compromise on flavor.

It's a low-maintenance recipe that also can easily fit into a gluten-free, low-carb, Paleo-friendly diet.

You make your side dish as light or as filling as you want.

FAQ

Should I sear ribs before slow cooking?

You don't need to sear or brown the ribs before slow cooking. Instead, you want them to cook slowly in their natural fatty juices. I know I'm going against the grain here. But these short beef ribs will have an incredible flavor and super tender texture.

Do I need to marinate slow-cooked beef short ribs?

You can, but it's not necessary. The spicy dry rub does not need to sit on the ribs for a long time before cooking. Instead, the spices will sink into the meat and build up the flavors during slow cooking.