Braised Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits

These Braised Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits will take you to food euphoria from the very first bite! Tender, fall-off-the-bone beef short ribs glazed in a rich red wine sauce and served on cheesy stone ground yellow grits — dinner has now been served!

This recipe makes braised short ribs in an Instant Pot (paid link) in about an hour! However, I’ve also included instructions below for the good ole low and slow method in the oven. You don’t need to own an Instant Pot (paid link) and get the same results. The total cooking time on the Instant Pot (paid link) is 60 minutes and around 3 hours in the oven.

This dish will definitely bring a restaurant-quality experience right to your dinner table. Not only are the short ribs amazingly tender, but the robust flavors from the sauce and the Southern-prepared cheese grits are an extra bonus. The combination of beef stock and red wine help provide those deep bold flavors while the seasoning combination brings in that herbal profile making this dish simple but special.

Ever since I enjoyed bone-in short ribs for the very first time, I wanted to create my own version. It’s comfort food at it’s best.

What does it mean to braise beef short ribs?

“Braise” simply means the dish was cooked with two cooking techniques. The ribs are first seared at a high temperature (for this recipe in the Instant Pot (paid link)). Second, the ribs are covered and allowed to cook submerged in a delicious beef broth and red wine mixture. The end result is flavorful and tender meat.

Ingredients you’ll need to make braised short ribs and cheesy grits:

• English-cut style (cut between the ribs) Beef Short Ribs are the foundation of this recipe. These typically come pre-chopped from your local butcher and should come with the bone-in.
• You’ll season your short ribs simply with Sea Salt and Black Pepper.
• After seasoning and searing your short ribs, they’ll cook in a tasty blend of Beef Stock, Malbec Red Wine, Tomato Paste, Fresh Garlic, Chopped Onions, Fresh Thyme Leaves, Butter, Brown Sugar, Oregano, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Ground Thyme, and Sea Salt.
• I’m a firm believer in cooking with the same quality of red wine as you would drink. I chose to go with a Malbec for the red wine because it’s full-bodied with fruity flavors and a slightly smoky finish. It’s perfect for this dish. You can also use a Port for a slightly sweeter finish.
• For the cheesy grits, I used Palmetto Farm Stone Ground Yellow Grits. The stone ground grits (paid link) are combined with Whipping Cream, Sea Salt, Butter, and Shredded Cheddar Cheese.

How to make braised short ribs and grits:

Season and sear the short ribs. Season the short ribs then sear at high heat for 2 minutes on both sides. This provides a nice caramelized exterior before the pressure cooking begins. To sear, set your Instant Pot (paid link) setting to saute high and wait until the “Hot” notification comes on. Place the short ribs in two at a time. If you have a large pot you can add more, but you want to make sure to not overcrowd your pot for this step. Remove and set to the side.

Remove the short ribs and other ingredients to the Instant Pot (paid link). Once the short ribs are removed you will add your butter and minced garlic and stir until the butter is melted. Change the Instant Pot (paid link) setting to Pressure Cook High for 45 minutes. Now add in your beef stock, Malbec red wine, brown sugar, tomato paste, and fresh thyme leaves. Stir these ingredients to combine and allow to come to a light boil.

Place the short ribs back into the Instant Pot (paid link). Place the seared short ribs back into the pot submerging them into the liquid and top with the remaining seasonings (oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground thyme, and sea salt).

Pressure cook the short ribs. Close the lid and cook for 45 minutes on Pressure Cook then allow the pot to slow release for an additional 15 minutes. While the short ribs are cooking, you can focus on your cheesy grits. Once the short ribs are ready, combine cornstarch and water into a small bowl. Add this to the Instant Pot (paid link). This will help the sauce thicken a bit. When you remove the short ribs from the Instant Pot (paid link) your meat should already be falling off the bone!

Make the cheesy grits. Add your water and whipping cream into a pot and bring to a boil. Add your stone ground grits, lower the heat to simmer, and cook per instructions. Once complete, fold in your cheddar cheese and butter. Set this to the side until the short ribs are done.

Assemble. Serve tender red wine braised short ribs immediately over a nice helping of cheese grits. And don’t forget to pour on some additional sauce for good measure.

What if I don’t have an Instant Pot?

No Instant Pot (paid link), no problem! You can make these the way I grew up making them — in a dutch oven (paid link). If you don’t have a dutch oven (paid link), you can use any deep oven-safe pan.

You will follow the instructions just as you did for the Instant Pot (paid link) preparation by seasoning and searing the short ribs. For 2-3 pounds of short ribs, bake for 1 hour at 300 degrees, then an additional 2 hours at 275 degrees. Once it’s done baking, remove and allow the pan to sit for 20-30 minutes to continue its journey to greatness. 🙂

What can I serve with braised short ribs?

If you’re not a fan of stone ground grits (paid link) or polenta (paid link), this dish goes great with creamy mashed potatoes. Other starchy sides that pair well include steamed rice and buttery noodles (the same kind you serve with a stroganoff). To skip the starch go with roasted or steamed veggies.

Can this short ribs and grits recipe be made ahead of time or stored?

Absolutely! I think they are even better the next day if you have any left! They will keep in an airtight container for around 3 days.

This recipe will make a great impression so be prepared for tons of compliments! When you want to bring the restaurant to your home give this Braised Short Ribs with Cheese Grits a spot on the dinner table and I can promise you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

Here are a few more beef dinner ideas you might enjoy:

• Beef Tenderloin & Vegetable Stir Fry
• Instant Pot Beef Ragù with Pappardelle
• Delicious Instant Pot® Beef Stew

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