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    Home » Appliance » Instant Pot Recipes

    Instant Pot Short Ribs

    5 from 3 votes
    Posted March 30, 2023 by Wendy Polisi

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    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

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    Are you ready to impress your friends and family with an exquisite meal?  Your tastebuds will explode with these delectable Instant Pot short ribs!  With a marinade that packs a punch of flavor, you can get ready to bite into layers of tender, succulent meat, all cooked up in the convenience of your Instant Pot.  With a few simple steps and limited hands-on time, you can have a tasty meal that is special enough for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight.

    Instant Pot Short Ribs on top of mashed potatoes with gravy in a shallow blue bowl.

    Craving a delicious meal that's both tender and juicy? Look no further than Instant Pot beef ribs! This classic dish requires little effort but packs a big flavor punch.

    From the savory marinade to the succulent cooked short ribs, this recipe is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

    Plus, since it's made in the Instant Pot, you don't have to spend much time - just pop it in, set it and forget it! Follow these simple steps for creating an beef short ribs in the Instant Pot that everyone will love.

    Ingredients

    Soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, sesame oil, sea salt, garlic powder, fresh grated ginger, black pepper, bone-in short ribs, butter, yellow onion finely chopped and cornstarch in prep containers.
    • Soy Sauce:   The base of our marinade, soy sauce adds a slightly salty and savory flavor to our short ribs. You could use gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos if you prefer.
    • Water:  To thin out the marinade so that it coats the ribs evenly.
    • Light Brown Sugar:  A little bit of sweetness helps balance out the saltiness from the other ingredients in this pressure cooker short ribs marinade.
    • Sesame Oil: Sesame oil is a deliciously fragrant, nutty oil that adds a unique flavor to the marinade.
    • Sea Salt:  Salt brings out all the flavors of the marinade and helps tenderize the meat as it cooks.
    • Garlic Powder:  Pungent and distinct garlic flavor without having to mince or chop. You could use fresh minced garlic if you have it on hand.
    • Grated Ginger:  Fresh ginger adds a zestiness and spiciness to the marinade. If you don't have fresh, you could use ground ginger instead, reducing the amount by half. Frozen ginger (like Dorot) is also a great option.
    • Black Pepper:  To round out the flavor profile of this marinade.
    • Bone-In Short Ribs:   The star of the show! Look for meaty, bone-in short ribs with a good balance of fat and lean. Make sure you go for a cut that fits your Instant Pot!
    • Butter:  To give our dish an extra bit of richness and flavor. If you are avoiding dairy, oil works in this recipe.
    • Yellow Onion:  You could use a white onion too.
    • Cornstarch:  To thicken the sauce and make a delicious gravy for this Instant Pot beef ribs recipe.

    Different Cuts of Beef Short Ribs

    Short ribs come in a variety of cuts and provide great diversity when it comes to flavor and texture. There are three main types of short ribs: English style, Plate-style, and Flanken-style. 

    English-style is the most tender and can have more fat than other styles. Plate-style is cut from the lower breast portion and contains more connective tissue for maximum flavor but can be more difficult to cook. Lastly, Flanken-style is cut across the bone and cooked quickly for tenderness.

    You could use any ot the three to make beef ribs in the Instant Pot.  Just be aware that if you have a smaller Instant Pot, the English-style may be an easier fit for your pot.

    Step by Step

    For the full recipe with measurements, see the recipe card at the end of the post.

    Soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, sesame oil, sea salt, garlic powder, fresh grated ginger, and black pepper in a red bowl.
    First, make the marinade by whisking together soy sauce, water, brown sugar, sesame oil, salt, garlic powder, ginger, and black pepper.
    Soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, sesame oil, sea salt, garlic powder, fresh grated ginger, and black pepper that have been whisked together in a red bowl.
    Whisk well.
    Short ribs marinating in a shallow casserole dish.
    Place the ribs in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Allow to sit at room temperature for an hour or refrigerate overnight.
    Butter melted in an Instant Pot.
    When ready to cook the short ribs set your Instant Pot to HIGH saute and add the butter.
    Onions sautéing in an Instant Pot.
    When the butter is melted, add the onion and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    Beef ribs in an Instant Pot ready to cook.
    Add the beef ribs to the pot, along with any remaining marinade, and turn off saute. Securely lock the lid in place and set the valve to seal.   Cook on HIGH pressure for 45 minutes. When done, vent to release pressure and remove the lid.
    Gravy for short ribs in an Instant Pot that has just started to cook.
    Use tongs to remove the ribs from the pot, and remove the trivet. Set your Instant Pot to saute'.
    Beef rib gravy reducing in an Instant Pot.
    n a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water until combined. Add to the Instant Pot and cook until the sauce is thickened.

    Pro Tips

    • In my experience, marinating the meat overnight is well worth the effort.  If at all possible, plan ahead and marinate the meat overnight.
    • If you like, you can sear the beef ribs before you pressure cook them.  Do this in batches, using the sauté function of your Instant Pot.  Make sure to pat them dry and then dry them with paper towels so that you get a good sear.
    • After cooking, let your Instant Pot short ribs rest for 10 minutes before serving for optimal tenderness and juiciness!
    • You could also add carrots to the gravy when you add the onion.
    • If you happen to have it on hand, use dry red wine such as caberne or merlot  in place of the water in the marinade.You could also use beef broth.

    Serving Suggestions

    I love serving short ribs with mashed potatoes!  Some of my favorite recipes are crockpot mashed potatoes, garlic mashed red potatoes, mascarpone mashed potatoes, and Ninja Foodi mashed potatoes.  Slow cooker polenta, cheesy scalloped potatoes, and crockpot cheesy potatoes are also great options. 

     If you are looking for something low carb, mashed cauliflower is a great alternative.

    Round out the meal with Instant Pot green beans, green beans with bacon, garlic roasted broccoli, or Ninja Foodi green beans.

    FAQs

    What are short ribs?

    Short ribs are a cut of beef taken from the rib and plate area of the cow. They are known for their intense flavor and tender, succulent texture when cooked correctly.

    How long does it take for short ribs to become tender? Why are my short ribs tough in the Instant Pot? 

    It depends on the cut of short ribs you are using but generally, it takes at least 45 minutes in an Instant Pot to become tender. Some recipes call for cooking them just 25 minutes. While convenient, I haven't found this to be a long enough cook time for juicy, succulent beef ribs.

    Tools

    As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying sales.

    • Instant Pot
    • Trivet
    • Bowl
    • Shallow dish for marinating

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    Overhead photo of a shallow blue bowl with Instant Pot beef ribs on a bed of mashed potatoes.
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, Instagram, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Square overhead photo of a blue bowl with Instant Pot Short Ribs.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Instant Pot Short Ribs

    Are you ready to impress your friends and family with an exquisite meal? Your tastebuds will explode with these delectable Instant Pot short ribs! With a marinade that packs a punch of flavor, you can get ready to bite into layers of tender, succulent meat, all cooked up in the convenience of your Instant Pot. With a few simple steps and limited hands on time, you can have a tasty meal that is special enough for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time56 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 11 minutes mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: beef
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 325kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup soy sauce
    • ½ cup water or beef broth
    • ⅓ cup light brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 3 pounds bone in short ribs
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 yellow onion finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    Instructions

    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, sesame oil, salt, garlic powder, ginger, and black pepper.
    • Place the ribs in a shallow dish and pour the sauce over.
    • Allow to sit at room temperature for an hour, or refrigerate overnight.
    • Set your Instant Pot to HIGH saute, and add the butter.
    • When the butter is melted, add the onion. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you have a lot of brown on the bottom of your Instant Pot, use a measuring spoon to remove ⅓ cup of the marinade from the beef ribs and pour in the pan. Scrape up the brown bits with a spoon. (This will prevent the burn signal.)
    • Hit cancel and place the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot.
    • Use tongs to transfer the ribs to the Instant Pot and pour the marinade on top of the meat.
    • Lock the lid in place and select HIGH pressure.
    • Cook for 45 minutes, and allow the pressure to release naturally.
    • Carefully remove the ribs and trivet from the pot.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water.
    • Select high saute and bring the liquid to a boil. Add the cornstarch slurry, and cook until the sauce thickens about 5 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1498mg | Potassium: 514mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 3mg

    Filed Under:

    Beef RecipesInstant Pot Recipes

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    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

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