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    Category Home » Recipes » Short Rib Ragù with Pappardelle

    Short Rib Ragù with Pappardelle

    Published: Oct 11, 2018 · Modified: Aug 17, 2021 by Leigh Anderson · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This rich and creamy red wine braised short rib ragù with pappardelle pasta will warm you up from the inside out! Top it off with a mountain of parmesan cheese and a bold glass of red wine and you’ve got the coziest dinner ever!

    a plate of pasta with parmesan cheese and a glass of wine

    Cooking these short ribs will fill your home with the most incredible aroma! There’s something extra special about a slow-cooked meal, it’s a true labor of love! Tender, succulent, falling off the bone, braised short ribs make for the perfect Sunday supper, date night meal or dinner to impress!

    This ragù is finished with pappardelle and mascarpone cheese. Alternatively, you can serve it with Creamy Parmesan polenta or Whipped Potatoes.

    Ingredients You’ll Need:

    Here’s everything you’ll need to make braised short rib ragù. Check out the recipe card below for ingredient notes and substitutions!

    recipe ingredients portioned and labeled, onion, mascarpone cheese, short ribs, tomato paste, chicken stock

    Recipe Step by Step

    Step 1. Sear the Ribs

    The first step of any braise is to sear the meat. Searing the short ribs caramelizes them and creates a rich, deeply flavorful sauce. Season the ribs on all sides and sear until golden-brown.

    raw short ribs being seasoned with salt and pepper and short ribs searing in a pan

    Step 2. Sauté the Vegetables

    In the rendered fat from the seared short ribs, sauté the diced carrot, onion and garlic, then add in the tomato paste. Cook the tomato paste for about three minutes then deglaze with red wine.

    a trip of step by step photos for cooking short rib ragu

    Step 3. Simmer The Short Ribs

    Add the short ribs back into the pan along with the thyme and chicken stock. Bring the stock to a simmer then cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until the ribs are fork tender.

    What does fork-tender mean? Fork tender refers to meat that can be easily pierced with a fork without resistance and easily falls apart with very little pressure. Think: ribs falling off the bone, pot roast, or BBQ pork shoulder.

    Step 4. Shred the Meat

    Pull the tender, braised ribs from the pot and set them aside until they’re cool enough to handle. Pull out the bones and excess fat then use your hands or two forks to shred the meat, then return to the pot.

    step by step photos of short-ribs cooking

    Step 4. Serve

    Whisk the mascarpone cheese into the sauce, taste and season with salt and pepper then gently fold in the cooked pappardelle. Divide between plates and top with grated parmesan cheese!

    FAQS and Expert Tips

    What are short ribs?

    Beef short ribs are.. you guessed it.. a cut of beef from the rib of a cow! Short ribs fall into the braising category of meats along with brisket, chuck and rump roast. Prior to cooking they are tough and full of connective tissue. When cooked low and slow, short ribs transform into the most tender and succulent fall apart beef you will ever have!

    How long does it take to braise beef short ribs?

    On the stove top short ribs take between 2.5-3 hours to cook. In the oven it’s about the same. In a slow cooker they can take between 5-8 hours and in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker they’re ready in under an hour.

    Can I make Short Rib Ragu in a Slow-Cooker or Instant Pot?

    Yes, you can use a slow cooker or Instant Pot to make Short Rib Ragù.
    Slow-Cooker: Sear the meat and sauté the vegetables in a separate pot, deglaze with the wine then add to the slow cooker with the chicken stock. Cook on low for 8 hours or 5 hours on high. 
    Instant Pot: Sear the meat and sauté the vegetables in a separate pot, deglaze with the wine then add to the slow cooker with the chicken stock. Choose the manual high pressure function and set it to high. Cook the short ribs for 45 minutes, followed by a 10 – 15 minute natural release.

    a plate of pappardelle pasta with braised short rib ragù with a bottle of wine and white linen napkin

    Check Out More Great Recipes

    • Creamy Parmesan Polenta
    • The Best Baked Meatballs
    • Creamy Calabrian Chili Bolognese
    • Pork and Fennel Bolognese
    • French Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots

    I love to hear from readers and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment and/or give it a rating! Don’t forget to follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    a plate of pasta with parmesan cheese and a glass of wine

    Short Rib Ragù with Pappardelle

    This rich and creamy red wine braised short rib ragù with pappardelle pasta will warm you up from the inside out! Top it off with a mountain of parmesan cheese and a bold glass of red wine and you've got the coziest dinner ever!
    4.33 from 49 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 1001kcal
    Author: Leigh Anderson

    Ingredients

    • 3 lbs bone in short ribs
    • 1 large onion diced
    • 2 large carrots peeled and diced
    • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped or grated
    • 3 tbsp tomato paste
    • 2 c red wine
    • 4 cups chicken stock or beef stock
    • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
    • ¼ c mascarpone cheese
    • ½ lb pappardelle pasta pappardelle is typically sold in 8.8oz packages which is perfect for this recipe
    • 1 c grated parmesan cheese
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat a large dutch oven, or large pot with a lid, to medium-high heat. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper, add a splash of oil to the pan, then sear the ribs on all sides until golden brown. You may need to do this in batches. Remove the short ribs from the pan and set aside.
    • Turn the heat down to medium and sauté the carrots, onions and garlic until soft and fragrant. Next, stir in the tomato paste, cook for 2-3 minutes, then deglaze with the wine. Let the wine reduce by half.
    • Add the short ribs back into the pan along with the chicken stock and thyme. Bring to a simmer then cover and reduce the heat to low. Let the ribs gently simmer on the stovetop, or in a preheated 350F oven for 2.5-3 hours. Check them every hour or so, stirring the bottom of the pot to ensure the braising liquid isn't scorching. Use a ladle to skim away the excess fat that forms at the surface.
    • The ribs are done cooking when the bones are falling out and the meat is fork-tender. At this point remove them from the pot and set aside until they are cool enough to handle. Discard the thyme stems from the pot as well, then use an immersion blender to blend the sauce and break up the carrots and onion. If you don't have an immersion blender you can just blend 1 cup of the braising liquid in a regular blender. Skipping blending all together is fine too, the sauce will just be a little bit thinner.
    • Remove and discard the bones and any excess fat or cartilage from the ribs then shred the meat with your hands or two forks and add it back into the braising liquid.
    • Turn off the heat then fold in the mascarpone cheese. Lastly, add the cooked pappardelle to the pan and toss it with the ragù. Divide between bowls and serve immediately with lots of shaved parmesan on top. 

    Notes

     
    Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
    • Bone-in Short Ribs: This recipe will work great with any almost any cut of braising meat like; chuck, brisket, or rump or bottom roast. Just be sure to cut down larger cuts of beef into smaller, pieces. Boneless short ribs are fine too.
    • Tomato Paste: Substitute ½ c canned, crushed tomatoes.
    • Red Wine: Cabaret sauvignon or pinot noir. For alcohol-free use extra chicken stock.
    • Chicken Stock: Beef broth works too.
    • Mascarpone: Sour cream, cream cheese or even regular ol’ heavy whipping cream will do!
    • Pappardelle: Egg noodles are a perfect substitute or you can even serve this ragu over creamy polenta or mashed potaotes.
     
    Alternate Cooking Methods:
    • Slow-Cooker Instructions:  Sear the meat and sauté the vegetables in a separate pot, deglaze with the wine then add to the slow cooker with the chicken stock. Cook on low for 8 hours or 5 hours on high. Proceed to Step 4.
    • Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot: Sear the meat and sauté the vegetables in a separate pot, deglaze with the wine then add to the slow cooker with the chicken stock. Choose the manual high pressure function and set it to high. Cook the short ribs for 45 minutes, followed by a 10 – 15 minute natural release. Proceed to Step 4.
    Storing Leftovers and Re-heating:
    • Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium/low heat or in the microwave with a splash of water. 
     
    Equipment:
    Dutch Oven |Immersion Blender | Shop all Kitchen Essentials

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1001kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 1031mg | Potassium: 1697mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 6726IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 385mg | Iron: 8mg
    Did you make this recipe?Share a picture on Instagram and tag me: @Craving_California and use the hashtag: #CravingCalifornia!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David Williams

      December 05, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      Trying it out with beef shanks right now because short ribs were too pricey and I’m a marrow slut. Wish me luck!

      Reply
      • Leigh

        December 06, 2021 at 8:59 am

        Beef shanks should work perfectly! Good Luck!

        Reply
    2. Addie

      October 04, 2021 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      I made this a few weeks ago when I saw it on Tik Tok and it was so good! Am planning on making a huge batch of it for my dads birthday this weekend, just wondering if you think there are any tips or tweaks that I should make if I plan on making slightly more than double the recipe

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        October 04, 2021 at 11:54 am

        Hi Addie! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. 🙂 You shouldn’t have any trouble doubling or even tripling the recipe. Just make sure you use a big enough pot and leave yourself an extra hour of cooking time just in case. Making the ragù the day before is also a good option to save yourself some effort on the day of. Good luck!

        Reply
    3. Alyssa

      September 15, 2021 at 8:09 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! So rich and delicious! Made no changes to the recipe and it turned out just perfect! Thank you for sharing!!!

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        September 16, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        Thank you Alyssa! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

        Reply
    4. Gabby

      September 01, 2021 at 5:12 pm

      5 stars
      This was soooooo delicious! I found you on TikTok and had to make this right away. I did the instant pot directions at the bottom of the recipe and everything came out tender and perfect.
      My sauce was a little runny but I just mixed a little corn starch with some chicken stock and that did the trick. Thank you for this recipe, I’m a fan of yours now.

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        September 01, 2021 at 7:29 pm

        Thank you so much for this sweet message Gabby! So smart of you to add a little corn starch to the sauce, I may just add that tip to the recipe notes!

        Reply
    5. Effie A Rodriguez

      August 23, 2021 at 4:50 pm

      4 stars
      great flavor but I didnt expect it to be so soupy

      Reply
      • Leigh Hyatt Anderson

        August 23, 2021 at 7:34 pm

        Hi Effie, Sounds like you need to reduce the sauce a bit more next time. After you take the ribs out, let the braising liquid simmer a bit more so that it’s not “soupy”. The sauce should be creamy and velvety and coat the pasta!

        Reply

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