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Red Wine Braised Short Ribs (Fall-Apart Tender)

Braised beef short ribs over creamy mash with mushrooms and rich sauce
Recipe

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs (Fall-Apart Tender)

★★★★★

Beef short ribs seared and braised low and slow in red wine with garlic and herbs until fork-tender.

25 minPrep
195 minCook
220 minTotal
4 servingsServes
620Calories

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs bone-in beef short ribs
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 3 sprigs thyme and 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Pat ribs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Sear the ribs in olive oil in a Dutch oven until browned on all sides; set aside.
  3. Add onion, carrots and celery; cook 6 minutes, then add garlic and tomato paste.
  4. Pour in the red wine, scraping up the browned bits, and simmer 5 minutes.
  5. Return the ribs, add broth, thyme and bay leaves; bring to a gentle simmer.
  6. Cover and braise in the oven for 3 hours until the meat is fork-tender.
  7. Skim excess fat and reduce the sauce on the stovetop if needed.
  8. Serve the ribs over mash or polenta with plenty of sauce.

Some dishes are made for cold, dark evenings, and a pot of braised short ribs is near the top of the list. A deep sear builds the flavor, then a long, low braise in red wine does the rest, turning tough ribs meltingly soft in a glossy, deeply savory sauce. It looks like a lot of work; it really is not.

What makes them fall apart

Sear the ribs hard for a genuine crust — that browning is where the flavor starts. Use a wine you would actually drink, since it reduces into the sauce, then keep the oven low and slow so the connective tissue breaks down into silk over a few unhurried hours.

Even better tomorrow

Short ribs love a head start. Cool them right in the sauce, chill overnight, lift off the firm layer of fat, and gently reheat. The flavor deepens and dinner becomes effortless.

What to put underneath

Mashed potatoes, soft polenta, or buttered egg noodles all catch that sauce beautifully. A simple green vegetable on the side keeps things balanced.

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