Juicy Slow-Cooked BBQ Short Ribs Recipe
Tender and juicy boneless beef short ribs slow-cooked in a rich and flavorful homemade Cola BBQ sauce. This recipe features perfectly browned ribs braised in a sweet and tangy sauce, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth meat with a slightly crisped top. Ideal for a comforting dinner served with classic sides like mashed potatoes or cornbread.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Short Ribs
- 4 lbs boneless beef short ribs, cut into 3-inch pieces
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2–3 tablespoons avocado oil (or vegetable/canola oil), as needed
Cola BBQ Sauce
- 1 batch Cola BBQ Sauce (prepared separately as per recipe)
Instructions
- Prep the BBQ Sauce: Prepare the Cola BBQ sauce according to the full recipe instructions. Once completed, set it aside and allow it to cool before using it to coat the short ribs.
- Season & Rest the Short Ribs: Generously season the short ribs on all sides with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place them on a large plate or platter and let them rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Brown the Short Ribs: Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, swirl the skillet to evenly coat the bottom. Add a few short ribs at a time—do not overcrowd the pan—and sear each side until a deep brown crust forms, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer the browned ribs to a 9×13-inch oven-safe baking dish. Repeat this process in batches, adding more oil if necessary.
- Assemble the Braise: Nestle all browned short ribs evenly in the baking dish. Pour the cooled Cola BBQ sauce over the ribs, tossing gently to ensure every piece is fully coated. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Slow Cook the Short Ribs: Place the covered baking dish in the preheated oven and braise for 3 hours at 300°F. After this time, remove the foil and continue cooking the ribs for an additional 30 minutes uncovered, allowing the tops to become slightly crisp and brown.
- Serve: Serve the ribs hot and saucy alongside your favorite side dishes such as mashed potatoes, cornbread, or coleslaw. They also make excellent sandwich fillings between two pieces of bread. Enjoy your comforting and flavorful BBQ meal!
Notes
- If you don’t have avocado oil, vegetable or canola oil works well for browning the ribs.
- Letting the ribs rest at room temperature before cooking helps them to cook more evenly.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the pan when browning to ensure a good crust forms.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with foil to retain moisture while braising.
- For more flavor, you can prepare the Cola BBQ sauce a day in advance.
Keywords: BBQ short ribs, slow-cooked ribs, cola barbecue sauce, boneless beef short ribs, braised ribs, oven-braised ribs
