4.7 from 36 votes
Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs
An easy and healthy beef short ribs recipe (Keto and Paleo-friendly) rubbed with a perfect spice blend and cooked in the slow cooker until deliciously tender—a flavorful family dinner idea that you can easily pair with any vegetable side dish.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Additional Time
6 mins
Total Time
6 hrs 16 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 454 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 4-5 pounds bone-in beef short ribs about 2.29 kilograms/about 9 to 10 ribs (see note)
- 2 teaspoons sea salt plus a few pinches
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard seed
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons coconut sugar or Monkfruit sweetener (optional)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 yellow onions 350 grams, peeled and sliced crosswise (see pics), divided
- 4 large cloves of garlic peeled
- 3 fresh whole Rosemary sprigs or 1 ½ teaspoon cracked needles or 1 teaspoon powdered rosemary
Instructions
- Take out the ribs and thoroughly pat dry with a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix all the spices—salt, ground mustard seed, ground white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and the sugar substitute.
- Dip the ribs one by one into the mixed spice bowl until all sides of the ribs are generously covered with the spice mix (you should still have a bit of spice mix left)—set aside.
- Divide the olive oil evenly over the bottom of a minimum 6-quart Crock Pot-type-slow-cooker. Divide the slices of one yellow onion on top of the olive oil. Season with a few pinches of salt.
- Place the seasoned short ribs in the slow cooker on top of the sliced onions. I like to arrange them on their side.
- Tuck the remaining sliced onions in between the seasoned ribs. Fill up the spaces evenly in between the ribs.
- Sprinkle any remaining spice mix evenly on top of the short ribs and the onions.
- With the side of a knife, flatten the peeled garlic. Add on top of the meat in the slow cooker. Top off with fresh Rosemary.
- Set cooker on high, cover, and cook for 6 hours.
- When the ribs are tender, serve with some cooked onions on top and spoon some of the liquid in the slow cooker over the ribs.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Spiced rubbed beef short ribs: You can cover and refrigerate the seasoned ribs for up to one day. But there is no need for the dry rub to sit on the beef ribs. These ribs are slowly simmered in their own fat and juices, so there is plenty of time for the spices to soak into the beef ribs directly in the slow cooker.
- Like it spicier? Feel free to add a tad more of the cayenne powder (maybe an extra teaspoon or two).
- Note on beef short ribs: I prefer the bone-in, but you can use short ribs with the bone-in or without, or a combination of the two. If your local butcher has it on sale, you can even combine beef short ribs with beef back ribs.
- Rosemary leaves: Use either 3 fresh sprigs or 1 ½ teaspoons of cracked dry needles. Feel free to throw in some fresh thyme as well.
Nutrition Information
Calories
454kcal
(23%)
Carbohydrates
7g
(2%)
Protein
43g
(86%)
Fat
27g
(42%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
13g
Cholesterol
130mg
(43%)
Sodium
921mg
(38%)
Potassium
876mg
(25%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
293IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
37mg
(4%)
Iron
5mg
(28%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 454
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 454kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 43g | 86% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Cholesterol | 130mg | 43% |
| Sodium | 921mg | 38% |
| Potassium | 876mg | 19% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 293IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 37mg | 4% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.