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The minute my dad took a bite of these his eyes immediately got huge. He said this was by far one of the best beef dishes he has ever tasted. I would 100% have to agree with him. It is a recipe that is not only delicious but is easy to get in the crock pot! These truly are The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs and that is because of a few special steps. These short ribs are encrusted with the best combination of ingredients. We make an easy pistachio asiago garlic mixture that is addicting even on its own! They are seared before slow cooking for 5 1/2 hours and fall off the bone and right onto your plate. Let’s get started!

What Delicious Ingredients Do We Need for the The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs?

The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs are seasoned with the best mix of simple spices, seared and then create a simple red wine sauce to pour at the bottom of the crock pot. You will smoother the beef short ribs sides with the pistachio asiago garlic mixture and let the magic happen!

Ingredients

2 lbs bone in beef short ribs
1 1/2 cup beef broth
shelled & salted pistachios 1/2 cup
shredded asiago cheese 1/2 cup
red wine 1/2 cup
1/2 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp Worcester sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp parsley, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper & 1/4 tsp pepper

How do we make The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs

In food processor add your shelled pistachios. Process until fine mixture. Then add in your shredded asiago cheese, 2 cloves garlic minced & pinch of salt. Process again until combined, then pour into small bowl and set aside.
Melt 2 tbsp of butter, pour into pistachio asiago garlic mixture, fold until full incorporated, and starts to resemble a paste like substance and set aside
Place 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp parsley, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper & 1/4 tsp pepper into a small bowl, whisk until combined
Place your short ribs on a plate, and sprinkle the seasoning above on all sides of the short ribs
Add 2 tbsp of unsalted butter to a large frying pan at medium heat. Once the butter starts to simmer, sear your short ribs on each side for 60 seconds each, then transfer to a plate lined with paper towel
In same frying pan keep on the medium heat, add in the red wine to deglaze the pan used to sear the meat. Add 1/2 yellow onion sliced, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cloves garlic minced, Worcester sauce & 1 cup beef stock. Whisk and let simmer for 2 minutes.
While the red wine sauce simmers, take the pistachio asiago garlic mixture and press the mixture on the top 5 sides of each short rib, leaving the bottom one bare. If some falls off, just press again on the sides. Then you can place any that has fallen off on the top when placed in crock pot.
Pour 1/2 cup beef broth at the bottom of the crock pot. Then pour the red wine sauce on top. Then place your short ribs into the mixture with the side with no pistachio asiago garlic mixture. Cook on low for 5 1/2 hours.
Then serve with mashed potatoes, broccolini or whatever else your hearts desires!

*** I think the gravy is a must for this recipe, the gravy is beyond easy. Just take your short ribs out of the crock pot & place on a plate. Then put 1/8 tapioca flour in a bowl with 1/8 warm water. Whisk until combined, then pour into the liquid in the crock pot. Whisk until full combined, it will start to thicken, it might try to separate but keep whisking. Then pour on top of the short ribs! Also delicious on the potatoes!

What Tools/Items Are Needed For The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Slow Cooker: I love my 4 qt slow cooker, however this can also be done in the 6qt slow cooker as well too.

Food Processor: This is by far my favorite food processor and is so easy to use, as well as clean up.

Frying Pan: Want to make sure the that you don’t crowd the pan in order to sear perfectly. This size is perfect in order to get a good amount of short ribs to sear at the same time. Should sear 2 lbs at the same time.

Bone in Short Ribs: Make sure you buy short ribs with bone in. Provides great flavor in the slow cooker.

Shelled Pistachios: There is no way you want to be shelling each individual pistachio, therefore already shelled pistachios is key!

Asiago Shredded Cheese: Sometimes it is hard to find just asiago shredded cheese, so many times I have used a 3 cheese blend including shredded parmesan, asiago & Italian cheese

Red Wine: Now don’t go out spending a lot of money on red wine for this recipe, simple barefoot red wine works perfect.

What Sides Go Well With The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs

I could just eat the short ribs non stop for dinner and that’s it. However, I have some delicious sides that you can pair well with it as well 🙂

Smasher Potatoes

Broccolini

Mashed Potatoes

Sautéed Veggie Mixture

Green Beans

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Side Salad

What Other HGHF Slow Cooker Recipes Should I Make?

Easy Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Flatbreads

Easy Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken

The Best Crock Pot Chuck Roast

3 Ingredient Crock Pot French Onion Chicken

Easy Crock Pot Chili Dog Casserole

Most Common Asked Questions When Making The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Do you need to use bone in beef short ribs?

You don’t have to, but it is highly recommend, especially for flavor

Is The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs a gluten free recipe?

It is! The thickening of the gravy uses tapioca flour as well, so this recipe is completely gluten free

Can I make this recipe dairy free?

I have not used an asiago cheese that is dairy free, but it needs to be shredded.

Can I use other nuts besides pistachios in this recipe?

I have not used other nuts, however the flavor that pistachios have, especially when ground up with asiago & garlic is very unparalleled to any other nuts

What is the best way to store The Best Slow Cooker Short Ribs?

Place short ribs in air tight container & gravy in its own separate air tight container as well for 3 to 5 days in the fridge.

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5 from 11 votes