The Perfect Oven-Baked Short Ribs Recipe – Tender and Fall-Off-The-Bone Delicious

Short ribs are an underrated cut of beef that becomes meltingly tender and full of flavor when cooked low and slow. Baking short ribs in the oven results in fork-tender meat that literally falls off the bone. With just a few simple ingredients and techniques, you can make restaurant-worthy oven-baked short ribs right at home.

This step-by-step guide will teach you everything you need to know to make the most savory, succulent oven-baked short ribs ever. Let’s get started!

Benefits of Baking Short Ribs

Baking short ribs has several advantages over other cooking methods

• Requires minimal preparation and simple ingredients
• Allows you to braise multiple ribs at once
• Provides even, ambient heat from all sides
• Infuses ribs with sauce and seasoning flavors
• Breaks down connective tissues for fall-off-the-bone texture
• Doesn’t dry out the meat like grilling can

Oven-baking is hands-down one of the easiest, most foolproof ways to achieve ultimate short rib perfection.

Choosing the Best Short Ribs

Look for ribs that are evenly marbled with fat and meat. The fat content is what keeps the ribs tender and moist while cooking. Choose ribs approximately 2 inches thick for the best results.

Boneless short rib cubes or slices will also work well Just reduce baking time as they’ll cook faster.

Trussing Short Ribs

Trussing short ribs with butcher twine helps maintain their shape, evenly distributes seasoning, and enables even cooking.

To truss:

• Season ribs all over
• Fold longer ribs in half to make squares
• Wrap twine around ribs, cinching tightly
• Tie ends together
• Trim excess string

How Long to Bake Short Ribs

• 325°F oven – Approximately 2-3 hours
• 250°F oven – 4-6 hours

The lower oven temperature, the longer the cooking time for ultra-tender meat. Bake until ribs are completely fork-tender.

Step-By-Step Method

Follow these simple steps for baked short ribs every time:

• Season – Generously season ribs all over with salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.
• Truss – Tie ribs into compact squares with butcher twine.
• Brown – Quickly brown trussed ribs in a skillet on all sides.
• Bake – Place ribs in a baking dish, add braising liquid, cover tightly with foil.
• Braise – Bake at 250°F or 325°F until fall-apart tender, 4-6 hours or 2-3 hours.
• Uncover – Remove foil and bake uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
• Rest – Let ribs rest 15 minutes before removing twine and serving.

Top Tips for Oven-Baked Short Ribs

• Braise in a combination of beef broth and red wine.
• Add aromatics like onions, carrots, celery, garlic, etc.
• Flip ribs halfway through cooking.
• Make sure baking dish is tightly sealed with foil.
• Let ribs rest before removing twine or meat may fall apart.
• Skim excess fat from braising liquid before serving.

Sample Oven-Baked Short Ribs Recipe

Try this simple, yet amazing oven-baked short ribs recipe for perfect results every time:

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs beef short ribs
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1⁄2 cup red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 sprigs thyme

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Season short ribs all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
2. Heat oil in skillet. Brown ribs on all sides until crusted, about 2 minutes per side.
3. Place ribs in baking dish. Add onions, beef broth, wine, bay leaves and thyme.
4. Tightly cover dish with foil. Bake 2 1⁄2 – 3 hours until fork tender.
5. Remove foil and bake uncovered 30 minutes.
6. Transfer ribs to a plate. Skim fat from sauce and serve over ribs.

The Perfect Oven-Braised Short Ribs

With this easy method, you’ll achieve delectable oven-baked short ribs every time. The long, slow braising gives you succulent, fall-apart meat that melts in your mouth. Serve these bad boys with buttery mashed potatoes, some sautéed veggies, and the braising sauce for an incredible meal. Now get to the kitchen and start baking!