Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs Barbacoa with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs Barbacoa are tender, succulent, spicy and delicious!  Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is the perfect accompaniment!

The inspiration behind this recipe:

It’s mid-April so I thought I was done with my slow cooker and slow braising for the year.  However, the weather here made me think otherwise.  Last Sunday was ridiculously cold and windy!  Winter was having its last hurrah so I took the opportunity to make one of my all-time favorite things in life…  Beef short ribs!

What are beef short ribs?

Each cow has five “short” ribs in the chuck section near the ribs.  The cow uses that section frequently when moving so the meat from that area will be tougher but is more flavorful.  There are two main ways short ribs are cut:  English and flanken-style.  For this recipe, we’re using English-cut.

Beef short ribs may look hunky and clunky, however, with a little low-and-slow cooking, they are transformed into something buttery and meltingly tender. 

How to cook beef short ribs:

The best way to cook any type of short rib is a slow-braise.  Why not a pressure cooker so they’re done in 30 minutes?

Use an electric pressure cooker for these Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs Barbacoa if you’d like.  However, I think meat done in a pressure cooker tastes “forced.”  The flavor is developed over time and the connective tissue in cuts like beef short ribs needs time to break down.

How to make Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs Barbacoa:

• Start by preheating your slow cooker.  Turn it to the temperature you’ll be cooking the ribs at.
• Get all the liquid ingredients, herbs and spices into the slow cooker:
  • Beef broth
  • Tomato puree
  • Chipotle chiles with some of the adobo sauce
  • Vinegar
  • Spices
  • Onion
  • Garlic
• Generously season the short ribs with salt and black pepper and brown on all sides.

• When you’re ready to place the lid on the slow cooker, then reset the timer to four or eight hours if using one that’s digital.
• Let it all cook away in your slow cooker while you do other things!  Just look at these beauties from the slow-cooker!

Mwwaaaahhh!  Serve them whole with the Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice or….

…remove it from the bones and shred the meat.

Tips for making cauliflower rice:

I don’t do cauliflower rice on the stovetop anymore because it’s difficult to cook evenly and then it overcooks quickly.  Roasting it in the oven is a perfect way!  Place the cauliflower in the oven when the beef short ribs are finished.

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs Barbacoa are perfect for tacos, too!

Want more amazing beef short rib recipes?  Try my:

• Cabernet Braised Beef Short Ribs with Cauliflower Leek Puree
• Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs
• Stout Braised Beef Short Ribs and Colcannon

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