Instant Pot Short Ribs Braised in Guinness

Short ribs are a great winter food and I’ve worked and eaten my way through a lot of short rib recipes.

This one from Gordon Hammersley’s Bistro Cooking at Home has become my go-to recipe and I recently decided to use my Instant Pot for it.

Use 1-2 short ribs per person depending on size. This is scaled down for 2 people.

Instant Pot Short Ribs Braised in Guinness

• 2-4 beef short ribs (depending on size and appetite)
• Salt & pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 4 slices bacon cut into 1″ pieces
• 1 medium sized red onion, peeled and sliced into 1/2″ rounds (cut across the onion to make rings)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (if you buy it in a tube it costs more, but you always have it for weird amounts like this)
• 1 bottle Guinness
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 cup beef stock

Generously salt and pepper the short ribs.

Turn your Instant Pot to “Sauté”. Add the oil and when it’s shimmering, sear the ribs until brown on all sides.

Remove the ribs from the pan, and pour off the excess oil, but don’t clean the Insta-Pot.

Add the bacon, and cook until the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes.

Add the onions and cook until lightly browned, about 6 minutes (don’t worry if the onions start to fall apart–they will).

Stir the tomato paste in and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes.

Add the beer, vinegar, beef stock, and the ribs. Bring the liquid to a boil.

Cover the Instant Pot and put it on “Slow Cook” for 6-8 hours until the short ribs are fork tender.

When you’re ready to serve, remove the ribs and onions from the pot and set aside.

Put the Instant Pot back on “Sauté” and bring the liquid to a boil. Cook until it’s reduced by at least a third (or as thick you want the sauce). Skim fat off.

Taste and check for seasoning. Add the ribs and onions back to the sauce, serve and enjoy!

My verdict:

This has become our favorite short rib recipe. I serve them with mashed potatoes, usually with horseradish added. It really brings out the flavor and helps to cut some of the richness.

While this is equally as good made in the oven or in a slow cooker, the Insta-Pot advantage is that you can do it all in one pot and the high sides of the Insta-Pot keep the fat from spattering all over your stove when you sear the ribs.

Figure on 1-2 ribs per person, depending on the size (and whether you want leftovers).

Like most braised meats, these are even better the next day (and you can get a lot more of the fat off).

Click here for the original recipe.