Juicy Slow-Cooked BBQ Short Ribs

These BBQ Short Ribs are slow-cooked until meltingly tender in a rich and robust homemade barbecue sauce. Flavor-filled boneless short ribs are seared for brownness and then cooked low and slow in an umami-packed BBQ sauce. The resulting short ribs are fall-apart tender, succulent, juicy, and wildly flavorful. Serve these sticky short ribs with mashed potatoes, coleslaw or corn on the cob for the ultimate backyard cookout vibe or simply between two pieces of sandwich bread…yum!

Summer cookout season is right up there along with fall baking season for me, truly the best time of year. I love getting together with my peeps and cooking up a delicious storm of food. Listen, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve whipped up my *stovetop seafood boil* since the month of June, ha. Communal food reigns supreme ya know! I’ve got so many incredible summertime-inspired eats to share with you. These BBQ short ribs are mighty fine, y’all.

BBQ Short Ribs 🤤

Short ribs are one of my top favorite meats, I’ll never come up off ’em. Neva evaaaa. What I love about this recipe is how simple and oh-so-easy it is! Short ribs are caramelized and covered in my homemade, epic Cola BBQ sauce and then slowly cooked until fork tender yielding extra succulent, juicy meat.

The saucy beef is full of flavor and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways when it comes to serving. It’s the perfect cookout main to accompany summery sides like corn, coleslaw, etc. These BBQ short ribs are insanelyyy good, then end.

BBQ Short Ribs & Recipe Highlights

⇢ First, let’s tap into the main highlights that you’ll appreciate here:

• SOOO EASY, IT’S FOOLPROOF: There is very little hands-on work you’ll have to do here, it’s what I call a low-effort, high-reward stunner. It makes this BBQ short ribs recipe clutch for busy weeknights and everything in between. It’s super straightforward and comes together so quickly!
• LIP-SMACKING FLAVOR: This recipe utilizes my homemade Cola Barbecue sauce. Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce is reminiscent of a classic barbecue sauce, but with a zesty kick of Southern favorite, cola. It’s full of pantry staple ingredients and has a deeply rich, umami pop of flavor.
• A VERSATILE MAIN: Don’t you love a recipe that you can use up in plenty of ways? Same! I love piling my BBQ short ribs right on top of some mashed potatoes…but there are other options! Serve your BBQ short ribs with corn on the cob, refreshing slaw, baked beans, collard greens, cornbread, etc. Or simply stuff it between two pieces of sandwich bread, boom!

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

• Cola Barbecue Sauce: Start with prepping the homemade barbecue first! This homemade BBQ sauce is loaded with pantry staple ingredients like worcestershire sauce, ketchup, spices, and more. Cola, a Southern American favorite, brings an extra pep and zest to this barbecue sauce. In cooking, it adds a distinct acidity and caramel-like complexity with richness.
• Beef short ribs: You’ll need boneless beef chuck short ribs for this recipe. Boneless short ribs are similar to bone-in short ribs in that they’re cut from either the chuck or plate. However, boneless short ribs consist of the meat separated from the bone. Chuck roast is the closest substitute!
• Salt & pepper: We’ll season the short ribs simply with this classic duo.
• Oil: For browning and caramelizing the short ribs before slow cooking.

How To Make These BBQ Short Ribs:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

• Prep the BBQ sauce– Make the Cola Barbecue Sauce and then set it aside to cool before using it for these BBQ short ribs.
• Season the short ribs– Generously season the short ribs with salt and pepper on all sides. Set the short ribs aside to rest and come up to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300°F. 
• Caramelize the short ribs– In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. When hot, add a few short ribs into the pot, working in batches. Sear the short ribs on all sides until a deep brown crust appears, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Transfer the browned short ribs into a 9×13-inch oven-safe baking dish and repeat the process until all the short ribs are browned.
• Assemble the braise– With all browned short ribs nestled in the baking dish, pour the cola barbecue sauce over the ribs and toss well to fully coat. Then cover the baking dish tightly with foil.

Slow Cook & Braise Short Ribs:

• Slow cook the short ribs– Allow the short ribs to braise for 3 hours, covered, at 300°F- until the ribs are meltingly tender. Then remove the foil and continue cooking the short ribs for an additional 30 minutes until slightly crisp and brown on the top…that slightly charred finish, chefs kiss.
• Serve the juicy BBQ short ribs immediately alongside your favorite side items or simply between two pieces of sandwich bread! Yuhhhh 😛⚡️😮‍💨!

*An unbeatable level of delicious magic happens with slow cooking (aka braising) meats: the meat connective tissues tenderize and break down while absorbing the flavors that it’s accompanied with. You’re left with fall-apart tender and succulent meat loaded with huge flavor! This BBQ short ribs recipe does take a few hours due to the slower cooking process, but gahlee, the wait is worth it.

>> LOVE SHORT RIBS? Check out these recipes:

• Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
• Tequila Braised Short Rib Enchiladas
• Soy Braised Short Rib Steamed Buns
• Braised Short Rib Ragu
• Asian-Inspired Creamy Braised Short Ribs

Can I Make This Recipe Using A Slow Cooker?

Yes! For this method, follow the same instructions in the recipe card, below (steps 1-3). Then carefully transfer everything into your slow cooker vessel and stir well. Cook on low setting for 7-8 hours or on high setting for 4-5 hours. *Note: if your slow cooker has a browning/sear function, you can execute browning the beef in it (step 3).

Can I Make These BBQ Short Ribs Using A Pressure Cooker?

Let’s do it! For this method, follow the same instructions in the recipe card, below to prep the barbecue sauce + season the beef (steps 1-2). Then follow the same instructions in the recipe card below to brown the beef- but in your pressure cooker on the sauté function (step 3). Then add all ingredients into the pressure cooker vessel and stir well. Cover the pressure cooker with lid to seal, and set it to the manual high-pressure function: set the time for 55 minutes.

After the cooking cycle is complete, let pressure release naturally in the “vent” position or according to the manufacturer’s instructions, until all steam has ceased. Then stir well and serve.

This BBQ Short Ribs recipe screams summer cookout with all the fixins and a crisp drink! So excited to share this one. Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More swoon-worthy main dishes:

• Pork Tenderloin w/ Dijon Cream Sauce
• Easy Oven-Baked Ribs
• Creamy Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
• Miso Salmon
• Authentic Cajun Gumbo
• Hibachi Steak Bowls

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Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: The Mindful Hapa