Guinness Beef Ribs (aka beef short ribs) are one of the easiest dishes to make in your slow cooker.
No slow cooker? No problem you can make these delicious fall off the bone short ribs in a crock pot, dutch oven on the stove or in your oven in a covered roasting pan.
These fall off the bone short ribs can be served whole or you can slide the bone out of the meat to make boneless short ribs. The best part is all you need is a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce, a can or bottle of Guinness (or your favorite beer) and a few basic pantry ingredients to make these
I like making a double batch and using the leftover short ribs to make tacos, sandwiches or my personal favorite, short rib mac and cheese!
What Ingredients do I need to make Guinness Beef Ribs?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Short Rib Recipe. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
*There are a lot of great slow cookers on the market but I love my Ninja 9-1, it does everything!
How do I make Guinness Beef Ribs?
- Add the chopped onion and garlic with olive oil in your slow cooker on the saute setting, allow to cook for a few minutes.
- Add the ribs to the slow cooker on top of onions and season them with sea salt and black pepper.
- Add in all of the remaining ingredients, turning your slow cooker to low.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
Do I have to use barbecue sauce?
If you’d rather not use barbecue sauce, you can substiture a 6 ounce can of tomato paste and a teaspoon of worcestershire sauce instead, along with the beer, beef broth and seasonings.
- When the ribs are done, remove them from the slow cooker pouring the sauce from the slow cooker into a saucepan.
- Skim off the excess grease from the liquid and reduce the liquid in the saucepan over medium-high heat until the sauce has thickened slightly (feel free to add more barbecue sauce at this point).
Do I have to use Beer to make Beef Ribs:
No, you don’t. If you don’t have any beer on hand or prefer a non alcoholic version you can use root beer, Dr. Pepper or your favorite cola instead of beer.
It won’t be exactly the same but you shouldn’t notice much of a difference in the flavor. The short ribs may have a touch of sweetness from the soda but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Just follow my simple instructions and prepare yourself for moans and groans from the table as your friends and family devour these ribs.
Can I cook Beef Ribs in an Instant Pot?
Yes, you can also make these ribs in an instant pot. Follow the recipe up to including all the ingredients. Close the instant pot, choose the manual high pressure function and set it to high. Cook the short ribs for 45 minutes, followed by a 10 – 15 minute natural release. Reduce the sauce on stove top or in your instant pot.
This recipe will also work with pork ribs.
Recipe FAQ’s:
I love sauteed or steamed greens with my ribs and my favorite starches are mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese. And of course, barbecue staples such as potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw or corn on the cob are always good choices.
Beef back ribs are the long, curved beef ribs that sometimes have a long bone exposed. They are sold as individual pieces or a rack of 7 bones.
All short ribs are from a rib section that contains three to four ribs. Depending on where the ribs are cut from, they can be three to five inches thick, and will contain meat interspersed with a lot of muscle, fat, and tendon. This gives them a lot of strong beefy flavor and cooked properly, will be a very tender and juicy cut of meat.
You sure can. That’s why its a good idea to check on them an hour before they should be ready. Everyones slow cooker is a little different and times can vary depending upon the heat settings.
More Rib Recipes You’ll Love!
Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Ribs
Ingredients
- ½ onion coarsely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 5-6 pounds beef ribs
- 12 ounces Guinness beer or your favorite beer, root beer, dr. pepper, or cola
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1½ cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Add chopped onion and garlic with olive oil in your slow cooker on the saute setting, allow to cook for a few minutes.
- Add ribs on top of onions and season them with sea salt and black pepper.
- Add in all of the remaining ingredients, turning your slow cooker to low.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- When ribs are done, remove them from the slow cooker pouring sauce from the slow cooker into a saucepan.
- Pour off excess grease from liquid and reduce liquid in the saucepan over high heat until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Serve sauce over ribs and enjoy!
KayKay
This dish was delicious and so easy. I didn’t change a thing. I thought 5-6 lbs of meat was a lot to serve 4 people, but it really cooked down. The meat fell off the bone and was super tender. There was a lot of grease, so be sure so skim it off before reducing the liquid. I used a spicy bbq sauce so it had a really nice kick. Served it with corn on the cob and tabbouleh. It’s a winner dinner! Thanks, Chef!
Dianne Lundquist
I didn’t make this yet,but I was thinking of cornbeef with cabbage and potatoes. Any suggestions on that meal?
Chef Dennis Littley
That’s not something I have made yet Dianne. But my friend Katerina at Diethood has a great recipe that friends have made -> https://diethood.com/corned-beef-cabbage-recipe/
Shona
Amazing!!
stella venturelli
Hello Chef,
How long do I cook this in a pressure cooker?
Thanks,
Stella
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m not sure Stella, I’ve never used a pressure cooker
Bongiwe shongwe
The style of cooking and blending with the ingridients is just amazing .Thanks chef! I really loved the chicken and shrimp and making it wasnt so hard at all.
bonnie
After making your coq au vin, I had to make something else of yours! Thanks! These ribs are a BIG hit! I love how perfect your flavoring is for these recipes! Now Im making your 4 bean beer chili tonight.
Jon-Eric Miller
First time making ribs, and they came out great! I did use White instead of Red Wine Vinegar, and replaced the Guinness with a Maple-Bourbon Hard Cider. Also a rack of pork instead of beef ribs.
Ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, and very flavourful even without the sauce! I popped them in the broiler for about 7 minutes to get a nice browning on the outside.
I’ll definitely be making these again.
Lynne
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Do you use beef short ribs in this recipe>
Chef Dennis Littley
I did not but you could certainly use short ribs
Suzanne Snell
Please add me to your email recipe list
Chef Dennis Littley
you have to sign up via the website Suzanne. There is a double opt-in I’m required to use.
Lucinda
I tried thus recipe today and it turned out delicious. I bit greasy, but once you sort out the grease it’s ok.
I used non alcohol dark beer, and bull’s eye guinness bbq sauce and red wine.
I totally recommend this recipe. Next time I will try it with pork ribs.
Sierra
Hi Chef,
What can I use as a substitute of red wine vinegar? Red wine? Thanks!
Chef Dennis Littley
you could use cider vinegar or just red wine.
Tammy
Have them in the crockpot now. Smells really good. I cut the racks in thirds hope that is ok?
Hanyela Luis
If my kids eat them would the beer n wine affect them?
Chef Dennis Littley
all of the alcohol will cook off so it won’t affect them. If you’re unsure you can always use root beer, dr. pepper or coke.
Steve Cameron
I’m trying this recipe today, looks delicious. When should I cut the rack into individual ribs? I wasn’t sure whether to cut them up before or after slow cooking.
Chef Dennis Littley
Hi Steve
For these ribs you can do it either way. I did cut them up for this recipe.
Shona Chestnut
I made this , omg, delicious!
Kelli
Can I substitute beer if I don’t have Guiness on hand or would it be better to use the soda?
Chef Dennis Littley
you can use any beer that you like Kelli.
Alli
Can I do without onions
Chef Dennis Littley
Absolutely, feel free to adjust the veggies and seasonings to your taste preferences
Connie Sibrava
What cut of short ribs did you use. I
Have a bunch of flanken cit ribs. Will this work!
Chef Dennis Littley
hi Connie-
they will work they may just not be the prettiest because of the cut. But I’m sure they’ll still be delicious!
Poida
I’m confused with steps 6+7, when do you add BBQ sauce, is it combined with liquid from slow cooker?
Chef Dennis Littley
the bbq sauce goes in step 3
Tibi
Can we use pork ribs instead?
Chef Dennis Littley
You sure can!
Larry
Looks delicious Chef and a good use for beef ribs. I’ve tried smoking them a few times but the ones I can get at the store have so little meat on them that little is left after the fat is rendered.
Chef Dennis Littley
They were a little fatty but turned out really well in the slow cooker Larry!