Keto Short Ribs (Instant Pot, Slow Cooker)

These keto braised short ribs turn out fall-off-the-bone tender whether you cook them in your oven, slow cooker, or Instant Pot. Even better, the succulent meat is permeated with the flavors of bacon, red wine, and herbs.

This classic recipe for red wine braised short ribs is keto-friendly since it doesn’t contain any starchy vegetables and has just enough red wine to enhance the flavor. It’s an easy do-ahead dinner that can be adapted to the oven, slow cooker, or pressure cooker.

How to prep the meat and veggies for keto braised short ribs

Start by cooking the bacon, either in a separate skillet, in the Instant Pot on sauté, or in a slow cooker that has a brown/sauté setting. Once browned, remove the bacon from the pan and drain off most of the rendered fat.

Season the short ribs with salt and pepper and add them to the same pan. Sear the meat until it is browned on all sides. This process caramelizes the natural sugars in the meat, forming a crust that seals in the meat’s juices. Remove the meat from the pan.

Next, use the remaining fat in the pan to sauté the onions, leeks, and garlic until they are soft and translucent. Sautéing them first brings out their natural sugars and adds layers of flavor to the meat and juices.

Finally, red wine, beef broth, rosemary, and thyme are added to round out the flavors of the meat.

Why is braising such a good way to cook short ribs?

Braising is when you cook an ingredient in liquid for a long period of time. Slow cooking and pressure cooking are both methods of braising, as is slow cooking in liquid in a Dutch oven.

This method is perfect for cooking a cut like short ribs, because this cut of meat is naturally a little tough as it is full of collagen. The low and slow method of braising breaks down the collagen, producing meat that is fork-tender.

Cooking time

The cooking time for this dish varies based on which method you choose for cooking it. Each method has its advantages, and each turns out meltingly tender ribs in a luscious red-wine enhanced gravy.

Which one you choose depends on what equipment you have and whether you want to cook the meal quickly, say after work, or be able to set it up and let it cook all day while you go to work. If cooking short ribs is part of your lazy Sunday around the house, you can cook them the old-fashioned way… low and slow in the oven.

Oven

Cooking the short ribs in the oven will take 2 to 2 ½ hours for them to become meltingly tender.

Slow cooker

If you cook the meat in the slow cooker, it will be done in 3 to 5 hours on high or 6 to 8 hours on low.

Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

The fastest way to get falling-off-the-bone tender meat is to use an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. These braised short ribs will be falling apart after just about 45 minutes of cooking under pressure. Add 10 minutes to allow the pressure to release naturally to ensure tender meat.

What to serve with keto braised short ribs

• Mashed celery root mixed with cauliflower is the perfect keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes.
• Craving roasted potatoes? Try roasted celery root and radishes for a low-carb alternative.
• Roasted jicama with green beans is easy to cook on a sheet pan while your meat is in the slow cooker or pressure cooker.
• Green beans almondine are quick to cook and make a great simple vegetable side dish.
• Grilled cabbage steaks are easy to cook in a skillet or on the grill while your meat is resting.
• Spinach strawberry salad is quick to toss together and a nice fresh counterpoint to the hearty short ribs.
• Of course, keto mashed cauliflower is always a hit.

Looking for more keto meat dishes?

• Bacon wrapped pork chops are easy to make, full of flavor, and the pork stays tender and moist thanks to the fat from the bacon.
• Keto meatballs are cooked in the Instant Pot and are great to make ahead and stash in the freezer for ready-made meals.
• Instant pot bbq pork chops satisfy your cravings with a tasty keto barbecue sauce.
• Slow cooker sirloin steak tips are topped with an irresistible mushroom gravy.
• Or try these easy oven-baked boneless pork ribs for a quick, meaty meal.

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Print Pin Review

5 from 6 votes

Keto Braised Short Ribs

These low carb ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender no matter which cooking method you choose. They are guaranteed to be full of flavor too!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword instant pot short ribs, short ribs, slow cooker short ribs

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes

Servings 5 people

Calories 129kcal

Author Lisa MarcAurele

Ingredients

• 5 large beef short ribs
• 5 slices bacon
• 1/2 medium onion chopped
• 1 medium leek sliced into rings
• 1 teaspoon garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons red cooking wine
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2-4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2-4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper omit for AIP

Instructions

• Cook the bacon until crispy in a large deep sided cast iron skillet, dutch oven, or Instant Pot on sauté setting. Remove the cooked bacon from the pan and set aside.
• Pour off most of the bacon grease leaving a tablespoon inside.
• Coat all sides of the short ribs with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Add the short ribs to the bacon grease, searing on all sides for about 30 seconds each. Remove the short ribs and set aside.
• Add the leeks and onions, and cook down until they begin to soften. Mix in the minced garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds longer. Pour in the red cooking wine, and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze.

Oven

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Add in the beef broth, and return the short ribs to the pot. Place the sprigs of rosemary and thyme around the short ribs in the pot, and top with the crumbled bacon.
• Place a lid on the pot, and place it into the oven to cook undisturbed for 2 – 2 ½ hours until the meat is falling off the bone.
• Let the short ribs sit for 20 minutes once removed from the oven, and scrape off any excess fat if necessary.

Instant Pot

• Add in the beef broth, and return the short ribs to the pot. Place the sprigs of rosemary and thyme around the short ribs in the pot, and top with the crumbled bacon.
• Lock lid on place then set to high pressure manual cook for 45 minutes. When cooking time is up, allow a 10 minute natural pressure release before opening the lid.

Slow Cooker

• Transfer vegetables and liquid from pan into crock. Add in the beef broth and short ribs. Place the sprigs of rosemary and thyme around the short ribs, and top with the crumbled bacon.
• Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 5 hours.

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Serving: 1rib | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 1097mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 3 g | % Carbs: 10.3 % | % Protein: 20.5 % | % Fat: 69.2 %

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Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

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