Beef short ribs are one of the most flavorful cuts of meat, and when cooked just right, they are incredibly tender and juicy. These oven-baked short ribs, melting in your mouth and bursting with flavor, pair perfectly with mashed potatoes, creating a comforting and indulgent meal. Cooking beef short ribs in the oven has never been easier or more flavorful. First, you coat the meat with mustard, then apply a simple yet bold spice rub that infuses the meat with savory goodness. Afterward, you cover the ribs and bake them at a low temperature for a few hours, letting the heat work its magic.
Once done, you brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and return them to the oven for a quick broil, adding a crispy, caramelized layer to the exterior. While many choose to cook short ribs in a smoker, the oven method is just as effective and yields equally mouthwatering results. In fact, oven-baked beef short ribs take only 3 to 4 hours to cook, offering a super simple preparation using easy-to-find, mostly pantry staple ingredients. Whether you’re preparing a weeknight dinner or a special occasion feast, these ribs will undoubtedly impress with their depth of flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
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Recipe summary
cooking techniques:slow roasting, steaming and broiling
Prep time:10 minutes
cooking time: 3 to 4.hours
Beef Short Ribs Ingredients
1. Beef short ribs: These tender, flavorful cuts of beef are the star of the dish, providing rich taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
2. Mustard: The mustard acts as a base layer, helping the spice rub adhere to the meat while adding a subtle tang.
3. Hot water: Adding hot water to the baking tray creates steam, ensuring the ribs stay moist and cook evenly.
4. Parchment paper: The parchment paper helps trap moisture and heat around the ribs, keeping them tender during cooking.
5. Aluminum foil: Covering the ribs with aluminum foil locks in heat, creating a sealed environment that tenderizes the meat.
6. BBQ sauce: The BBQ sauce adds a sweet, tangy glaze to the ribs, giving them an extra layer of flavor and a beautiful finish.
7. Brown sugar: Brown sugar enhances the ribs with a hint of sweetness and caramelizes slightly during cooking.
8. Paprika: Paprika adds a smoky, earthy flavor, contributing depth to the spice rub.
9. Garlic powder: Garlic powder provides a savory, aromatic base that elevates the overall flavor of the ribs.
10. Onion powder: Onion powder offers a subtle, sweet-savory note that balances the richness of the beef.
11. Salt: Salt enhances all the other flavors, making the meat more flavorful and seasoned just right.
12. Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a spicy kick, giving the ribs a bit of heat and complexity.
13. Black pepper: Black pepper adds a mild heat and sharpness, balancing out the sweetness and smokiness of the rub.
How To Make Beef Short Ribs
1. pat the beef ribs dry with a paper towel. This helps remove excess moisture and allows the mustard and spices to stick better.
2. peel off the skin from the back of the ribs. If there’s a lot of fat, trim some of it off to prevent the ribs from becoming too greasy.
3. coat the ribs evenly with mustard. The mustard serves as a binder for the spice rub, adding a subtle tang to the ribs.
4. mix the spices thoroughly in a bowl. Once mixed, sprinkle the spice rub evenly over the mustard-coated ribs, ensuring every part is covered for maximum flavor.
5. transfer the ribs to a baking tray. Pour in the hot water around the ribs, which helps create moisture and steam during the cooking process.
6. cover the ribs tightly with parchment paper, followed by a layer of aluminum foil.
7. place the ribs in a preheated oven at 350°F. Bake for 3 to 4 hours, depending on the size and thickness of the ribs. Check the ribs after 3 hours, and if they’re re not tender enough, simply cover them again and continue cooking.
8. the ribs are done, remove them from the oven. Brush them generously with your favorite BBQ sauce, ensuring an even coating.
9.that, return the ribs to the oven and cook on broil for 2 minutes. This will caramelize the BBQ sauce, giving the ribs a beautiful, crispy glaze.
10.take the ribs out of the oven and place them on a cutting board. Let them rest for 5 minutes.. Afterward, slice the ribs and brush them with more BBQ sauce if desired.
11. Serve the ribs with mashed potatoes or your favorite side dish, and enjoy a perfect meal!
Faqs about cooking beef short ribs in the oven
1. How long does it take to cook beef short ribs in the oven?
Typically, beef short ribs take about 3 to 4 hours to cook in a preheated oven at 350°F. However, the exact time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the ribs, so its always a good idea to check for tenderness.
2. Should I cover the ribs while baking?
Yes, covering the ribs with parchment paper and aluminum foil helps trap moisture, keeping them tender and juicy. Additionally, it prevents the ribs from drying out during the long cooking time.
3. Can I cook beef short ribs in the oven without water?
Yes, you can cook the ribs without water. Instead, you can line the rib rack with parchment paper to keep them moist and prevent sticking to the pan.
4. Can I use a different cooking method instead of baking?
Absolutely! If you prefer, you can cook the ribs in a slow cooker for about 8 to 9 hours. This method results in equally tender ribs with minimal effort.
5. When do I add the BBQ sauce?
Brush the BBQ sauce on the ribs after baking and before broiling. This step gives the sauce time to caramelize, creating a delicious, crispy glaze on the ribs.
6. How can I make sure the ribs stay tender?
The key to tender ribs is slow cooking at a low temperature. For best results, cover the ribs and bake them at 350°F for several hours until they’re fall-off-the-bone tender.
7. Can I make beef short ribs ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the ribs a day ahead. Simply cook them, let them cool, and store them in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, reheat them and add the BBQ sauce before broiling.
Tips and Tricks
1. First, always pat the ribs dry before applying the mustard and spice rub. This ensures that the seasoning sticks better to the meat.
2. Next, if you have thicker ribs, you may need to increase the cooking time. For example, with thick ribs, I found 4 hours at 350°F works best for tenderness.
3. Additionally, cover the ribs tightly with parchment paper and aluminum foil. This helps trap moisture, ensuring the ribs stay juicy and tender during baking.
4. Furthermore, don’t skip the resting step after removing the ribs from the oven. Allowing the ribs to rest for 5 minutes helps the juices redistribute, making them even more flavorful.
5. If you prefer, you can use a mix of BBQ sauces. Combining your favorite sweet and spicy BBQ sauces will give the ribs a richer, more complex flavor.
6. Finally, when broiling the ribs, watch them carefully. Broiling only takes a couple of minutes, and the BBQ sauce can burn quickly if left too long.
7.Alternatively, you can cook the ribs in the slow cooker for about 8 to 9 hours instead of using the oven. This method will result in equally tender and flavorful ribs with minimal effort.
8.~If you prefer not to add water, you can line the rib rack with parchment paper. This will help keep the ribs moist and prevent them from sticking to the pan while they cook.
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Beef Short Ribs recipe
Ingredients
- 3 kg beef short ribs
- Mustard for coating the ribs
- 1 1/2 cups hot water to help tenderize the meat
- Parchment paper and aluminum foil for covering the ribs during cooking
- 1 cup BBQ sauce of your choice
- Spice Rub:
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the beef ribs dry with a paper towel, then peel off the skin from the back of the ribs. Remove any excess fat if there is a lot.
- Apply mustard evenly all around the ribs.
- Mix the spices thoroughly, then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the ribs.
- Transfer the ribs to a baking tray, then add the specified amount of hot water.
- Cover the ribs tightly with parchment paper first, followed by aluminum foil.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 3 hours. Check to see if it’s done. If it needs more time, cover and continue cooking. The total cooking time can vary between 3 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the ribs.
- Remove the ribs from the oven, brush them with your favorite BBQ sauce, and return them to the oven. Cook on broil for 2 minutes.
- Take the ribs out of the oven, place them on a cutting board, and let them rest for 5 minutes. Afterward, cut them and brush with more BBQ sauce if desired.
- Serve with mashed potatoes.
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