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My Instant Pot Short Ribs Melt In Your Mouth
I’ve never disliked short ribs anywhere, but recently I ordered a bowl with them at a restaurant and remembered why I always choose Instant Pot short ribs when I make them myself. The restaurant ones weren’t the same. Here’s the difference:
- Moist, fall-apart tender texture – This is a tough cut of meat, but when cooked right, they’re so juicy and tender that you can cut them with a fork. With my recipe, they fall apart and melt in your mouth. I’m obsessed.
- Big flavor with 5 simple ingredients – My Instant Pot beef short ribs are so flavorful, rich, and savory, that it’s hard to believe you only need 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper). I do have a couple optional add-ins, but they are still delicious without them.
- Works for bone-in or boneless short ribs – I’ve tested the recipe with both, so you can use what you’ve got.
- Quick and easy – The Instant Pot cuts down cook time dramatically compared to traditional methods. This dish tastes like it took you all day, but it’s only about an hour (which is mostly hands-off).
- Special, comforting meal – Short ribs are definitely a more expensive cut, but it’s so worth it for these amazing results. They are perfect for date night or a special occasion dinner.
Of all my Instant Pot recipes, this one is definitely my favorite. The last time I made it was when my parents came to visit (photo here with my mom), and we all fought over them. Cook your short ribs in the Instant Pot with me and you’ll see why!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my Instant Pot beef short ribs recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Basic Ingredients:
- Beef Short Ribs – I recommend getting them at the butcher for the best quality. Bone-in short ribs have a little more flavor, but boneless short ribs are easier to eat, so I prefer them. I just ask the butcher to remove the bones. You can use my recipe for either kind though, the cook time is just a bit different.
- Olive Oil – For searing the meat. Avocado oil works great, too.
- Beef Broth – The Instant Pot needs liquid to work its magic, and beef broth adds so much flavor. Swap in bone broth for an even richer sauce.
- Coconut Aminos – Think of it as a soy sauce alternative with a slightly sweet, salty, and umami-packed flavor. You can use regular soy sauce if you like.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves give the best flavor, but a tablespoon of jarred minced garlic works if you’re short on time.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
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Optional Flavor Boosters:
My recipe for pressure cooker short ribs only requires the above 5 ingredients, but sometimes I make these additions for extra flavor:
- Dried Bay Leaves – I love adding these for an aromatic flavor. You can also opt for hearty fresh herbs instead, like fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs.
- Veggies – Saute 1 cup of diced onions, carrots, and/or celery before adding the garlic to the Instant Pot.
- Liquids – Replace 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the beef broth with red wine or balsamic vinegar if you like those flavors. A few tablespoons of tomato paste also make a nice addition.
- Unflavored Gelatin Powder – If you prefer a thicker gravy rather than a runny sauce, you can mix this with the liquid at the end. Cornstarch or other cornstarch alternatives will achieve this, too.
How To Cook Short Ribs In The Instant Pot
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Season the short ribs. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel, and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear until browned. Use the Instant Pot’s Saute setting to brown the short ribs on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- Saute the garlic. Add the olive oil and garlic. Saute until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pot. Stir in the beef broth and coconut aminos, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. (If you’re adding other liquids in my variations above, add them at this step.)
- Cook short ribs in the Instant Pot. Add the short ribs back in, along with the bay leaf (if using). Seal the lid and pressure cook. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before finishing with quick release.
- Thicken the sauce (optional). For a thicker sauce, remove the short ribs, leaving the liquid behind, and cover the short ribs with foil to keep warm. Sprinkle (don’t dump) gelatin powder (or cornstarch) into the liquid, and simmer using the Sauté setting until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Enjoy! Serve your Instant Pot short ribs over your favorite base (see my serving ideas below) and drizzle with sauce. I did not thicken the sauce for my pictures here.
My Recipe Tips
- Cut the beef into 1.5 X 2 inch pieces. I find this is the perfect size to get lots of seared edges, and the cook time in my recipe is based on this size.
- Do you have to brown the short ribs first? No, but I highly recommend it. The browning step adds a lot of flavor and takes just a few minutes. It makes a big difference in the final result!
- Let the oil get nice and hot. After adding the oil, I wait for my Instant Pot to say “hot” before placing the beef short ribs in the Instant Pot. You can also add a drop of water — the oil is hot enough if it sizzles.
- Sear the beef in batches. They won’t all fit at once. If you crowd the pot, they will steam instead of browning.
- Make sure to brown all 6 sides. For the smaller sides, I find it helpful to lean the pieces against the sides of the Instant Pot to prevent them from falling over.
- Time to come to pressure will depend on your Instant Pot size. I have this Instant Pot, which is the most popular size and comes to pressure quickly. If yours is larger, it will take longer to come to pressure but after that the cook time will be the same.
- Don’t skip the pressure cooker natural release. The Instant Pot short ribs actually finish cooking during this step, so don’t skip it if you want tender results.
- Want to scale the recipe up or down? You can adjust the number of servings on the recipe card below to change the weight of the beef to match what you have, and the other ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly. For the cook time, subtract 10 minutes if you have less than 1.5 pounds of short ribs, or add 10 minutes if you have more than 4 pounds. Keep the same time for natural release.
- What to do if they come out tough? My timing in this recipe is designed to make your Instant Pot short ribs come out fall-apart tender. If they are tough, they likely needed more time, which can vary by beef weight (see my tip above) and the size of your Instant Pot. You can easily put the lid back and cook for 10 more minutes if needed.
Instant Pot Short Ribs (5 Ingredients)
By
Make my flavorful, fall-apart tender Instant Pot beef short ribs (boneless or bone-in) with just 5 simple ingredients. It's so easy!
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
Instant Pot Short Ribs:
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Pat the short ribs dry with paper towels.
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Use sea salt and black pepper to generously season the short ribs on both sides.
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Set the Instant Pot to Saute on High (or "More"). Add oil and let it heat up until hot.
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Once oil is hot, add the short ribs in a single layer. Sear for about 2 minutes per side, on all 6 sides, until browned. You will need to do this in two batches, so that they are not too crowded. Set all the short ribs aside outside the pan as you get through them.
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Add the minced garlic to the empty Instant Pot, and saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
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Add the broth and coconut aminos to the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to release any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (deglaze it). Shut off the saute function.
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Place the short ribs back into the Instant Pot, crowding them together in a single layer. Push the bay leaves into the broth, if using (optional). Close the lid and set the pin to Seal. Cook on High pressure for 40 minutes. Use Natural Release for 10 minutes, then Quick Release if there is any pressure left.
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At this point, you can shred the short ribs or leave them whole.
Optional Steps For Thicker Sauce:
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Remove the short ribs, leaving the liquid behind, and cover the short ribs with foil to keep warm. Set the Instant Pot to the Saute function.
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Sprinkle gelatin (don’t dump it) over the liquid in the Instant Pot, one tablespoon at a time, whisking rapidly and immediately after each sprinkle.
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Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce thickens. If it’s still not as thick as you like, add more gelatin and repeat.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 pieces with sauce, or 1/6 of the entire recipe
- Option for bone-in short ribs: If you prefer to use bone-in, the weight you’ll need is 3-3.5 lb, and you will need to increase the cook time to 50 minutes.
- Tips and scaling: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor and texture in your Instant Pot short ribs, and how to adjust the time for more or less beef.
- Store: Keep leftover short ribs in refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Pour the liquid over them to keep them moist. It will solidify when cold, which is normal.
- Reheat: Transfer the beef and sauce (which may be solid — this is fine) to a baking dish, cover in foil, and warm in the oven for 10-15 minutes. The microwave works okay, but is a bit more dry.
- Freeze: Cool completely, place in an airtight container or zip lock bag (with the sauce/cooking liquid), and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
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Instant Pot Short Ribs
Serving Ideas
There are many ways to enjoy these Instant Pot beef short ribs. Here are some ways I serve them:
- Mash – This is my favorite option to soak up all the juices, plus it’s such a comforting pairing. You can opt for regular mashed potatoes, or make my creamy mashed cauliflower (pictured above) for a lighter option. Roasted potatoes work, too.
- Vegetables – You know I always have to have a pop of green! My roasted zucchini, broccolini, or smashed brussels sprouts pair well with Instant Pot short ribs. If you prefer to use your pressure cooker again, try my quick Instant Pot cauliflower or Instant Pot broccoli.
- Salads – Serve the short ribs over a salad for a lighter dinner (or lunch) in one bowl! Try them in place of steak on my steak salad or instead of chicken on my Cobb salad.
- Tacos – Stuff the meat into your favorite tortillas with some taco slaw, or with a combo of fresh salsa, avocado or guacamole, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and red onions.
- Soups – Add leftover beef to my vegetable soup for a hearty meal, or swap out the pork in my pork stew.
173 Comments
Pat
0Very tasty but I have a question- I saw you recommend 20 minutes for one pound of ribs which I had. However, I also had a small flat bone… Do you reduce broth as well ( I did not)? Mine did not out so tender and I am wondering if more time and/ or less broth would help. Also, if I wanted- could I have put the meat back in instapot to make it more tender? Thanks so much! Have tried your dessert recipes which were excellent, and recently bought your carb book ( yet to try).
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Pat, Sorry for any confusion, I didn’t say 20 minutes for one pound. My recipe is 2.5 pounds and takes 40 minutes followed by some natural release time (see the recipe card above), but the time I have is not per pound. It’s more how long the beef needs to be heated under pressure to become fall-apart tender, so eben if you have less, I still recommend the same amount of time. This is why yours didn’t turn out tender, it needed to cook for longer. 🙂 Yes, you can return it to the Instant Pot to cook it for longer. 🙂 I’m glad you like my recipes and books, thank you!
Dante Fishell
0Can I make this recipe with frozen Short ribs?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Dante, You can buy frozen ones, but you’ll need to thaw them first.
WarrenT
0So easy and yummy. I added some roasted garlic pasta sauce in the end to make a tomato based gravy. Sooooo delicious. PS. Also used cornstarch to thicken and served over mashed potatoes. It was a hit with my family.
Abigail
0I LOVE this recipe. So easy. So good!
Glenda
0Love short ribs and the Instant Pot made the job so much easier. Plus, the meat was succulent and tender. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Shelby
0These short ribs came out with a great flavor but really I loved how SIMPLE the recipe was! Makes a huge difference to a busy mom.
Greta
0Such a great recipe! Thank you!
Jenn
0These were so good! They turned out perfectly and were so meaty and delish!
JD Alewine
0This is a great recipe for short ribs. I love how tasty it is!
T
0I had never made short ribs before making this recipe. I’ve made it about 5 times and every time I make it, it’s delicious! I chose those recipe because it was simple and didn’t have a bunch of ingredients. I love making it and my fiancé loves it as well!
Mary Ann Wada
0Can you start in the morning and finish the rest after work?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mary Ann, I’m not sure how that could work. This recipe is intended to sear first and then the flavors from sauteing incorporate into the sauce, so it’s not ideal for this type of setup. If you want to start in the morning, I’d probably do the searing steps on the stovetop instead, then transfer to a slow cooker and slow cook for 6-8 hours on low instead.
Shannon
0Thank you, Great recipe!
Moop Brown
0I love how the instant pot allows me to make recipes in such a quick and easy manner. I also typically like my sauce for ribs to be on the thicker side so I appreciate how you included optional steps for this as well.
Jamie
0I love simple and straightforward recipes like this that don’t require lots of ingredients. The short ribs were fantastic and I followed the directions to thicken the sauce. Amazing!
Marie
0These short ribs are amazingly delicious and so incredibly tender! They taste like meat you would be served at a Michelin-starred restaurant. My friends were impressed!
Amy Casey
0Amazing! This is the best short rib recipe. They were so tender and flavorful.
Wholesome Yum A
0The Instant Pot really made these ribs so simple and quick to make in comparison to the oven. This is perfect for a busy weeknight!
LaKita
0These instant pot beef short ribs came out so perfectly tender, juicy, and flavorful! So comforting and easy to make.
Daniela
0Thank you for the detailed instructions how to make short ribs in my Instant Pot. They came out so tender.
Erin
0That was so tasty! I’m excited to try it again. The flavor was just perfect!