Incredibly tender and flavorful slow cooker balsamic braised beef short ribs are easy to make yet delicious enough for a date night or dinner party! They’re cold weather comfort food at it’s finest. Includes Instant Pot instructions. (gluten-free, dairy-free)

slow cooker balsamic braised short ribs on polenta on a white plate with a glass of wine behind it.

Turn down the lights, pour a couple glasses of wine, and cue the Sinatra. I've got the perfect dinner recipe for date night at home. Tender slow cooker balsamic braised short ribs are simply irresistible and make the perfect romantic date night dinner. If you're looking for a recipe to switch up your go-to date night steak or pasta dish, this right here is it.

Why You'll Love These Short Ribs

Tender, fall-off-the-bone beef short ribs are the ultimate in cozy comfort food. These ones have a short ingredient list, but tons of flavor! Utilizing the slow cooker lets them cook over low heat for hours, rendering them juicy and tender without any babysitting. A hint of thyme and balsamic vinegar are the perfect flavors for short ribs that are sophisticated enough for a date night. Even better? All of the hands-on work is done ahead of time so you're free to do other things while the ribs self-braise in the crock pot.

The Ingredients

Beef short ribs - Bone in. I make 1-2 per person, depending on the size of the ribs.
Onion
Garlic
Thyme
Balsamic vinegar
Worcestershire sauce - Check the label for gluten-free, if necessary. Not all brands are GF.
Beef broth - I use low sodium broth.
Salt, pepper & olive oil

How To Make Short Ribs In The Slow Cooker

8 image collage showing steps for making balsamic braised short ribs in the slow cooker.

Place the sliced onion, garlic and thyme in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Generously season the short ribs with salt and pepper.
Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat. Sear the short ribs until browned, about 2-4 minutes per side. Place them in the slow cooker with the onions and garlic.
Add the broth and balsamic vinegar to the cast iron skillet, turn heat to medium-low, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits.
Pour the liquid into the slow cooker, along with the Worcestershire sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Optional (but delicious!): Place the ribs under the broiler on high for 3-5 minutes for nice color and to crisp the edges.

Tip: Don't over-crowd the ribs while searing them. Work in batches if you need to.

Instant Pot Instructions

No time for slow cooking? No problem! You can make balsamic braised short ribs in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot!

Heat the oil in the pot of the Instant Pot or pressure cooker using the Sauté function on High.
Sear the seasoned short ribs for 2-4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove to a plate.
Add the broth, balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and use a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pot.
Add the onion, garlic, thyme and short ribs.
Close the lid, seal the vent and Pressure Cook on High for 45 minutes. Naturally release the pressure before opening the lid.
Finish under the broiler (optional).

overhead view of slow cooker balsamic braised short ribs on polenta on a white plate.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover short ribs with liquid from the slow cooker in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

What To Serve With Balsamic Braised Short Ribs

Serve over a bed of Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, polenta (try my Parmesan Polenta with Red Wine Mushrooms!), Mushroom Risotto, or Brown Butter Sage Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
For a veggie side, try some Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Maple Dijon Roasted Carrots.
This dish is just begging for a glass of bold red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, or Malbec.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the comments!

Slow Cooker Balsamic Braised Short Ribs

Print Recipe

Author: Kaleigh
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Yield: 2-4 servings 1x
Category: main dish
Method: slow cooker
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

1 yellow onion, sliced thinly
2 cloves garlic
2 sprigs fresh thyme
4-6 beef short ribs
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
2 tsp olive oil
½ cup low sodium beef broth
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Place sliced onion, garlic and thyme in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Liberally season short ribs with salt and pepper.
Heat oil over high heat in a skillet. Sear short ribs until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Place seared short ribs in the slow cooker with the onion and garlic.
Pour balsamic vinegar and broth into the skillet and use a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the skillet (scrape up any browed bits). Pour the liquid into the slow cooker. Add the Worcestershire sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Optional: Remove ribs from the slow cooker and place on a baking sheet or in a cast iron skillet. Place under the broiler on high for 3-5 minutes to get a nice browned color and crisp outside.
Serve short ribs topped with a spoonful of liquid from the slow cooker.

Notes

I usually plan for 1-2 short ribs per person, depending on the size of the ribs.
Don't overcrowd the ribs while searing. Work in batches if you need to.
Check the label on your Worcestershire sauce, if needed. Not all brands are gluten-free.

Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker Instructions:

Add oil to the pot of the Instant Pot. Using the Sauté function on high, sear the seasoned short ribs until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
Add the broth, balsamic and Worcestershire sauce, stirring to scrape up any browned bits in the bottom. Turn off Instant Pot and add onion, garlic and thyme.
Nestle short ribs into the pot. Close the lid and seal the vent. Pressure Cook on High for 45 minutes. Let pressure release naturally before removing the lid. Follow with the optional broiling step.

Keywords: slow cooker short ribs, balsamic braised short ribs, crock pot beef short ribs with balsamic