Korean Braised Short Ribs Recipe
These Korean-Braised Short Ribs are spicy, sweet, and amazing! Slow-braising in the slow cooker makes them fall off the bone tender. They’re perfect with Gochujang Eggplant on the side!
“So good! And easy to make. Definitely recommend!”
Korean cuisine has grown in popularity in recent years and will likely remain so because it is amazing like these Korean Braised Short Ribs!! The cuisine always seemed mysterious and intimidating until I was intrigued enough to try one of Korea’s staple side dishes—kimchi.
Now I’m hooked on Korean food and make homemade kimchi! That led me to create this Korean braised short rib recipe–one of the best beef short rib recipes with 400 4-and 5-star ratings!
What is braising?
One of my favorite cooking methods is slow braising. With a little time, it is truly magical how a tough cut of meat is transformed–like these Korean braised short ribs.
Braising uses both moist and dry heat. A tough cut of protein that has lots of connective tissue, such as beef short ribs, is first seared at a high temperature. Then, it simmers at a low temperature for several hours. During this process, the connective tissue breaks down, and the tough protein is transformed into something buttery and fall-off-the-bone tender.
The result is extraordinary when this magical cooking method is paired with a robust cuisine such as Korean and this beef short rib recipe.
What is gochujang?
This recipe uses gochujang, an ingredient that has been referred to as the “new” sriracha. I call it umami in a jar. I love this stuff!
Gochujang is a savory, spicy, slightly sweet, fermented Korean condiment made from red chiles, rice, soybeans, and salt. It was difficult to find at first, but now I see it in almost all grocery stores.
How to Make Korean Braised Short Ribs:
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Beef Broth or beef stock
- Soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos
- Brown sugar or coconut sugar
- Unseasoned rice vinegar
- Gochujang
- Sesame oil
- Canola oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Beef short ribs on the bone
- Cornstarch
- Scallions, sesame seeds, kimchi, shredded carrots and cooked brown rice
How to Make Korean Beef Short Ribs:
- Trim as much fat as you can, but leave the bone side intact.
- Combine the first 9 ingredients in a slow cooker.
- Set the slow cooker to high to preheat.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Generously season the beef short ribs with salt and black pepper.
- Brown well on all sides. Add short ribs to the pan, reduce the heat to medium and brown well on all sides, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer ribs, meat side down, to slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or low for 8 to 10 hours until tender.
- Combine cornstarch with approximately 4 tablespoons of the cooking liquid in a small bowl and stir until smooth.
- Pour the cornstarch mixture into the slow cooker, stir to blend, and cook uncovered on high for approximately 20 minutes.
- Turn the slow cooker off and let stand for 10 minutes. (Sauce will thicken more upon standing.)
- One of the main characteristics of Korean cuisine is the abundance of side dishes and condiments served at the table. In addition to the seared scallions in this recipe, serve with kimchi, brown rice, and fresh, shredded carrots.
- Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high. Cook the scallions for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly softened and browned.
Chef Tips and Tricks:
- Ask your butcher for long-cut beef short ribs on the bone. Beef short ribs can appear intimidating at first with their boney, hunky appearance. Don’t let that scare you!
- This beef short ribs recipe is scaled for two people. I like to use four ribs for two servings because as the connective tissue melts away, it shrinks quite a bit. If your beef short ribs are meaty, one per person will suffice. However, two per person may be needed if they’re not all that meaty. This Korean beef short ribs recipe also works with another short rib or two added for additional servings.
Serve with:
For more amazing slowly-braised beef recipes, be sure to try my:
- Slow-Cooker Beef Short Ribs Barbacoa with Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice
- Boneless Short Ribs Recipe (Bourguignon Style)
- Cabernet-Braised Beef Short Ribs with Cauliflower-Leek Puree
- Stout Braised Beef Short Ribs and Colcannon
- Italian Pot Roast
- Beef Braciole (Braciola)
Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 medium onion - thinly sliced vertically
- 8 large cloves garlic - sliced
- 2 tablespoons minced ginger
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup soy sauce - tamari or coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup brown sugar - or coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons gochujang - fermented Korean chile paste
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons canola oil - jor vegetable or peanut oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 short ribs - 2 1/2 to 3 pounds, bone in, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 bunches scallions - root ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- Kimchi
- Shredded carrots
- Cooked brown rice
Instructions
- Combine the first 9 ingredients in a slow cooker. Set slow cooker to high to preheat.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Generously season beef short ribs with salt and black pepper. Add short ribs to pan, reduce heat to medium and brown well on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side.
- Transfer ribs, meat side down, to slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours or until very tender.
- Combine cornstarch with approximately 4 tablespoons of the cooking liquid in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Pour cornstarch mixture into slow cooker, stir to blend and cook uncovered on high for approximately 20 minutes.
- Turn slow cooker off and let stand 10 minutes. (Sauce will thicken more upon standing.)
- Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high. Cook scallions, 2-3 minutes or until slightly softened and browned.
- Serve short ribs with scallions, kimchi, cooked brown rice and shredded carrots.
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Recipe Notes
- I like to use four ribs for two servings because as the connective tissue melts away, it shrinks quite a bit. If your beef short ribs are meaty, one per person will suffice and you can feed four people. However, two per person may be needed if they’re not all that meaty.
- Because of the amount of liquid/sauce, this Korean beef short ribs recipe also works with 2-4 ribs added for additional servings.
- These beef short ribs reheat beautifully. Reheat in a 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.
- Cool thoroughly, package securely in an airtight container and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and heat for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Could this be cooked on stovetop?
Hi, Maya, Thanks so much for your question. Yes, definitely. I would increase the liquid by one-half (instead of two cups broth, use three, etc.) because you’ll have more evaporation. You may want to get shorter short ribs which will cook faster, too. Thanks again and please let me know how it goes.
So yummy! Definitely up the gochujang if you want it spicy.
Did it in a Dutch oven instead of a crock pot, 3 hours at 300 F and they were perfect.
Hi, Sarah, Thanks so very much and happy you enjoyed! Appreciate your taking the time to come back and comment and rate.
Can I make this in an Instant Pot? If so, how would the directions change? Thank you!
Hi, Food Lover, Thanks so much for your question. It hurts my heart a little bit because I love a good slow braise but here you go: Brown the ribs in some oil. Add the other ingredients then cook the short ribs for about 45 minutes, followed by a 10 to 15 minute natural release. Transfer the short ribs on to a plate then turn the Saute function back on for the liquid/broth in the instant pot.
Dissolve the cornstarch in some of the cooking liquid and add it to the liquid/broth in the Instant Pot. Simmer until the liquid has thickened. Place the short ribs back into the IP and let the ribs rest and reheat in the hot liquid/sauce. Thanks again and let me know how it goes!
So good! And easy to make. Definitely recommend.
Thanks so much, Alisha! So happy you enjoyed and appreciate your taking the time to come back and rate and comment.