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Published: April 1, 2019 / Updated: February 10, 2020

Easy Instant Pot Short Ribs

Name: Instant Pot Short Ribs Ragù
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs beef short ribs; salt & pepper to season; 2 tbsp olive oil; 3 strips bacon, chopped into 1" pieces; 2 garlic cloves, minced (equals about 2 tsp); 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped; 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped into small pieces (yields approximately 1 cup); 1/4 cup dry red wine; 1 can petite diced tomatoes (14.5b oz can, undrained); 1 can tomato paste (6 oz can); 1 cup tomato sauce (your favorite jar or from a can); 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp dried rosemary; 1/4 tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 cup beef broth; salt & pepper; 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped for garnish (optional)

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These Instant Pot Short Ribs are rich, hearty comfort food at its finest. Your family will love this easy pressure cooker ragu recipe!

bowl of Instant Pot Short Ribs with fork

When it comes to comfort food, I think pasta dishes are always amazing, no matter what the weather. Don't you agree?

I've long loved a good short rib ragù served over a heaping mound of pappardelle pasta. Before I started making it at home, it was one of my favorite dishes to order at restaurants.

closeup of Instant Pot Short Ribs over pasta

Once I started cooking this classic Italian American recipe at home, I always made my ragù in the slow cooker. Keep in mind, this was well before the Instant Pot revolution, Slow cooking brings out the tenderness that traditional braising does, but without all the work of working over the stove the whole time.

Now, thanks to the Instant Pot, you can make an even more amazingly flavorful short rib ragù in even less time!

Instant Pot Short Ribs Ragù

While there is a little work up front for this recipe, it is 100-percent worth it. And compared to the traditional braising method, this is a much easier, faster recipe. I think you will love it so much, that you'll make it again and again - just like I do for my family!

big bowls of Instant Pot Short Ribs Ragu over pasta

This Instant Pot Short Ribs Ragù is a faster version of a slow cooking classic recipe: braised short ribs. Instead of several hours, it takes just around an hour from start to finish.

The ragù is made with beef short ribs seared in bacon drippings, which means they are EXTRA tasty. The sauce includes tomatoes in three different forms: diced, paste, and sauce. The variety adds to the richness of this delicious dish, and ensures it's not a one-note wonder.

two big bowls of Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu with red wine

I serve Instant Pot Short Rib Ragù with a thick, larger format pasta, such as pappardelle. I've also made this with tagliatelle, fettuccine, rigatoni - all with success. You want a bigger pasta that can hold the beautiful ragù.

What wines pair well with Short Rib Ragù?

Instant Pot Short Rib Ragu with red wine bottle

A rich, hearty meat-based sauce calls for a rich, hearty red wine. For a pairing of equals, try the 2016 Légende Médoc 2016 ($24.99), pictured above (gifted). Made of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, this is a full-bodied red wine with a long and slightly spicy finish. Its qualities bring out the bold flavors of the short rib ragù beautifully.

You can also pair this recipe with a full-bodied Merlot or Chianti.

What can I substitute for red wine?

If you don't want to use red wine in the sauce, simply substitute equal parts of additional beef broth.

Can I make this short rib ragù in my slow cooker?

Yes! Before the Instant Pot, I always made this Red Wine Slow Cooker Short Ribs recipe instead. Both ways produce an amazing short rib ragù. Personally, I prefer the Instant Pot version since the searing creates a beautiful smokiness to the dish and makes the meat extra delicious, but the slow cooker version is yummy too!

What is the difference between ragù and bolognese sauce?

Both ragù sauce and bolognese sauce are rich, hearty red sauces. Both are usually also served with pasta. The difference is that ragù sauce is meat-based, whereas bolognese sauce is tomato-based. While most bolognese sauces also have meat, the flavor focuses on the tomatoes.

Short rib ragù mac & cheese

My favorite way to enjoy leftovers of this hearty comfort food dish? With mac and cheese! It's seriously AMAZING, and even though I enjoy mine with vegan, dairy-free mac & cheese, I know the full dairy mac & cheese would be extra delicious.