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Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions. Slow cooked short ribs in apple cider with fresh herbs and sweet caramelized onions. If there’s one cozy fall and winter meal you need to be making, it’s these braised short ribs. They’re simple to put together and totally delicious. Serve over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and you’ll have the perfect dinner for a cold night in.
It’s about this time every year that I lean into making more low and slow dinners, either in the crockpot or braised in the oven.
There’s just something so comforting knowing that dinner is slow cooking all day long. It means a warming meal is sure to be had at the end of the day. And in fall, that’s really all I want. What I love about short ribs is that there’s something so “fancy” about them. But yet they’re actually so simple and easy to prepare.
And when cooked properly, totally delicious!
Of course, these short ribs were inspired by my brother Creighton. He’s a huge fan of pot roast. He’s always asking me to make a recipe similar to what my mom made growing up.
I’m sure at some point I will make a classic pot roast, but I love slow braising short ribs. I knew these would not disappoint anyone.
And trust me, Creighton was very pleased with this dinner. He’s been talking about it ever since I made the recipe, so I’m excited to share it today!
The details
I’ve been really into caramelizing onions lately. I love the added richness in flavor they bring. I also love that caramelizing the onions really takes the bitter bite out of them. Therefore, I knew I wanted them to be a big part of this recipe.
Start by searing the ribs in a nice big cocotte that’s oven safe. When the ribs are browned, pull them out, then add the onions and start to slowly cook them down. I love to add a splash of the apple cider to help the onions cook down a little quicker.
When the onions have reached a light gold color, the rest is simple. Just add the short ribs back to the pot, add lots of apple cider, white wine (or broth), carrots (my favorite part), garlic, and fresh thyme.
Arrange some apple wedges around the meat. Then cook low and slow all day long either in the oven or in the crockpot.
The kitchen will smell incredible as this slow cooks all day, and the outcome is beyond good.
I love the pairing of sweet apple cider and tangy caramelized onions. Something about the combo with beefy short ribs is just so good.
Finish it up
I love to serve this over creamy mashed potatoes, with gravy and onions spooned over top. Then simply add some crusty bread on the side. This really is one of the best, cozy meals there is.
It feels very fancy, and very French too, which is so fun!
I made this exact recipe for Sunday night dinner with the family. It was the perfect dinner to enjoy on our first snowy night of the year. If you need something warm and hearty to serve this fall, this recipe is a go-to.
Looking for other slow cooked fall recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Red Wine Cranberry Braised Short Ribs
Slow Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Rib Pasta
Slow Cooker Coq au Vin with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Lastly, if you make these Cider Braised Short Ribs, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the how-to video:
Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 868 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 5 pounds bone in beef short ribs
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 4 yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups apple cider
- 2 cups chicken broth or dry white wine
- 6 carrots, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 apple, quartered (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
Oven
- 1. Preheat the oven to 325° F.2. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, then rub with flour to coat. Heat a large oven-safe Dutch Oven over high heat, sear the ribs on both sides. Remove the ribs to a plate, wipe the pot clean of grease. 3. Add the butter and onions and cook 5 minutes, until softened. Add a 1/2 cup apple cider, season with salt and pepper, and continue cooking another 5-8 minutes, until the cider has evaporated and the onions are lightly golden. Add the thyme, then add the short ribs back to the pot. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups cider, broth or wine, carrots, garlic, and bay leaves. Arrange the apples around the meat. Cover and roast in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the short ribs are tender and falling off the bone.3. Remove the bay leaves. Serve the ribs over a bed of mashed potatoes. Drizzle with the pan sauce and onions. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker
- 1. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, then rub with flour to coat. Heat a large Dutch Oven over high heat, sear the ribs on both sides. 2. To the bowl of your crockpot, add the butter and onions, then place the ribs over the onions. Add thyme, apple cider, broth or wine, carrots, garlic, and bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. During the last 1-2 hours of cooking, add the apples, arranging them around the meat.3. Remove the bay leaves. Serve the ribs over a bed of mashed potatoes. Drizzle with the pan sauce and onions. Enjoy!
Excellent.
Thank you! xTieghan
This was fantastic! I accidentally bought boneless shanks, but it still came out great!
Hey there! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! ? xTieghan
Oh my goodness…this was delicious! The sauce was liquid gold! Thank you!!!
When you get a chance could you post your mom’s hot cocoa? I’m getting your recommended breville milk frothier.
Hi there! I’ll be posting soon! xTieghan
I am SO into your recipes lately! Just purchased your book!! Can’t wait to try this one- can it be modified to be done in a pressure cooker??
Hey Natalie! I haven’t tried this in a pressure cooker, but it should work just fine! xTieghan
Hi there,
Can you post just your Thanksgiving tips and recipes again?
I can’t seem to find them again.
I’ll provide my email if you can send to me that would’ve be great
Thanks so much
Hi there! I’ll be posting about that soon! xTieghan
These cider braised short ribs are probably the best meal I’ve ever made! The cider really elevates the recipe and gives the onions such an amazing caramelized flavor. At first I wasn’t sure if my Dutch oven would hold all of the ingredients, so I ended up throwing half of the ingredients into a slow cooker. They both turned out perfect and made my house smell fabulous all day. This will definitely become a fall staple for my house.
Hey! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, I hope you loved it! Have a great week ? xTieghan
Can or should you carmelize the onions before putting them in the crockpot?
Hi there! I would caramelize them a bit before putting them in! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight and WOW!! I’ve never had a bad recipe of yours but this one was extra special! It was extremely delicious, looked (and tasted gourmet) and was simple. My husband was very impressed too!
Hey! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Happy Halloween 🙂 xTieghan
I was planning to make this tomorrow. In your pictures you added shallots, but they are not listed in the recipe. Did you use white wine or chicken broth?
Hi there! The shallots are mostly just for the photo, but you can add them if you like! xTieghan
Clearly I’ve been heavy on your page but Fall always makes me want to cook and bake like crazy! I bought my first dutch oven just to make this recipe. It was really delicious! I also bought the Beis luggage per your recommendation and used it for the first time last weekend. Appreciate your advice and recipes! I shall be attempting pretzels next 🙂
Hey Megan! Thanks so much, I love cooking and baking in the fall too! It just feels so festive and cozy! Have an amazing weekend! xTieghan
Tried this tonight with my slow cooker and it was fantastic! I used beef chuck since the short ribs were too expensive for my budget. I definitely needed to reduce the cook time for the change in meat, but I also have a supercharged crockpot so that may have something to do with it!
The apples and fresh thyme are a *must* with this recipe! I noted the other comments before making and trimmed the fat from the meat as well as added some cornstarch to the chicken stock to thicken up the sauce. The sauce with the mashed potatoes is an amazing combination! Turned out super delicious. Will definitely make again.
Hey! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for trying it out and Happy Halloween! xTieghan
I made this recipe on Monday in the crockpot and while I loved the flavor, the fat from the short ribs made it so greasy! I think next time I would use a different cut of meat or heavily trim the fat on the short ribs.
Hi there, thanks so much for trying out this recipe and thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it! xTieghan
This was excellent! Tender, flavorful and we are having it again tomorrow! Prepping for the oven recipe took at least an hour.
Happy Thursday! So glad this recipe was enjoyed and thanks for making it! xTieghan
I’m super excited to try this recipe for a family gathering with all my children together for the first time since the start of the pandemic. My daughter picked up “flanken style” short ribs—that’s all the market had. Should I adjust the cooking time?…I’ll be doing them in a crock pot. Thanks in advance.
Hi there! That should work just fine! I would maybe decrease the time by about 15-20 mins xTieghan
I had this exact question! I’ve been trying to figure out why my meat doesn’t look like the picture. Thank you for answering!
I made this just as recipe instructed and it was phenomenal!! My husband is a “Meat man”, he’s in the meat industry, so we love trying different beef recipes. This was so good. I’ve made short ribs before but they all seemed to have an Asian feel to them, with soy sauce as the main flavor. I like soy, but my husband isn’t a big fan of it. I thought we were stuck with soy tasting short ribs. This was such a terrific change and so savory. I did the mashed potatoes recipe too! OMG! I felt like a true and amazing famous chef! Lol!!! Thank you!!!
Hey Gloria, Happy Thursday! So glad this recipe was enjoyed and thanks for making it! xTieghan