Instant Pot Boneless Beef Short Ribs For Two

ByCarol Updated
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These delicious Instant Pot boneless beef short ribs are fork tender and full of flavor. Drizzled with a spicy asian inspired sauce over a bed of mashed potatoes, these short ribs are sure to please.

Beef short ribs on mashed potatoes with gravy.

What Are Boneless Beef Short Ribs

These ribs remind me of pot roast which isn’t coincidental. Short ribs are cut from the ribs right behind the chuck or upper shoulder which is where chuck roast is also cut. This is also the area that rib eye steaks are from. This meat isn’t steak but just as tender and delicious. And considerably cheaper.

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

  • Only two servings – This recipe serves two. Most recipes make servings for four or more. That’s fine but now that we’re empty nesters, it’s nice to make a meal where there’s no leftovers.
  • Ready in less than an hour – I love to use my Instant Pot for quick dinners. Between searing and cooking, you can have dinner on the table in less than an hour. No more taking hours to braise for tenderness. The Instant Pot makes this quick and easy.
  • Only dirty one pot – Because the Instant Pot has a sauté feature, you don’t dirty any extra pans.
  • Enjoy a rich sauce with little effort – This recipe uses two bottled sauces for convenience which enhances the flavor and speeds up time in the kitchen. A little short cut for great taste.

A plate of food in front of an Instant Pot.

Pro Tips

  • Choosing boneless beef short ribs – Look for beef shorts ribs that are well marbled. These layers of fat will result in tender ribs. The meat I used was about an inch thick.
  • Searing is an important step – Don’t skip this step. When preparing the beef, you want layers of flavor and searing adds that extra amount. You’re creating a rich brown crust on the meat that is actually caramelized. However, do not sear too long. You could burn or dry out the meat. Sear only till it is golden brown.
  • Prepare the garlic and onion first – Mince the garlic cloves and slice the green onions to save time. You don’t want to be cooking and stop to prep your aromatics.
ingredients for beef short ribs with an Instant Pot in the background.

Ingredients For This Recipe

  • Boneless beef short ribs – use well marbled meat for best flavor
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil – for searing the short ribs
  • chicken stock – the base for the sauce
  • garlic cloves – fresh garlic is my preference
  • green onions – thinly sliced, reserving some for garnish
  • hoisin sauce – a sweet and tangy glaze
  • sweet chili sauce – a sweet and spicy sauce
  • red pepper flakes – this adds a bit of heat to the sauce (optional)
  • cornstarch – combine with water for a slurry to thicken the sauce

How To Sear In The Instant Pot

This is a summary of the instructions. Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe card of ingredients and directions.

  1. Mince the garlic cloves. Thinly slice the green onions. Reserve a portion of the green stems for garnish, if desired. Set aside.
Adding salt to beef short ribs.
  1. Place the beef short ribs on a piece of parchment paper or wax paper. Then generously salt and pepper each side.
Adding meat to an Instant Pot with tongs.
  1. Drizzle olive oil into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Set to sauté. Once the oil is hot, add the meat. Do not crowd the pan. You may need to brown the meat in two batches.
Browning meat in an Instant Pot.
  1. Brown the ribs on each side till golden brown. This may take two or three minutes. You only want a good crust on each side. Don’t over cook or you could dry out the beef.
Browned meat with steam in an Instant Pot.
  1. Remove ribs from the pan. Set aside.
  2. Add the sliced green onions and minced garlic to the pan.
Scraping the bottom of the pan with tongs.
  1. To deglaze the pan, add the chicken stock to the pot, with the minced garlic and sliced green onions. Scrape the bits of beef from the bottom of the pan to get all the flavor into your sauce.
  2. Turn off the sauté function.

That is how easy it is to sear meat with the sauté function in the Instant Pot! I love being able to sauté and pressure cook in one pot.

Beef short ribs on mashed potatoes.

What Goes With This Recipe

These boneless beef short ribs are perfect when served over mashed potatoes. Drizzle plenty of sauce over both. This is so yummy. I find myself going back for more and more sauce.

Instant Pot potato salad would make a great side for this main dish if you didn’t want the mashed potatoes. You may also like these delicious honey wheat dinner rolls.

You could also serve over rice or noodles. Either would pair well with these short ribs.

Beef short ribs on mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot Boneless Beef Short Ribs Recipe

Carol
These delicious Instant Pot boneless beef short ribs are fork tender and full of flavor. Drizzled with a spicy asian inspired sauce over a bed of mashed potatoes, these short ribs are sure to please. 
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings

Equipment

  • Instant Pot 6 quart

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound boneless beef short ribs
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 green onions (thinly sliced – reserve some for garnish)
  • 6 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions
 

  • Generously salt and pepper the beef short ribs on both sides.
  • Select sauté on the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil to the inner pot.
  • Once the oil is hot, add the beef short ribs in a single layer, leaving plenty of space between them. Do not over crowd them. You may need to brown the meat in two batches.
  • Brown each side two to three minutes. The meat should look golden brown.
  • Remove the beef short ribs. Set aside.
  • Add the sliced green onions and minced garlic to the inner pot.
  • To deglaze the pan, next add the chicken stock. Scrape the beef bits from the bottom of the inner pot.
  • Cancel the sauté function.
  • Add the hoisin sauce, the sweet chili sauce and the red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
  • Add the beef short ribs back in.
  • Lock the lid onto the Instant Pot. Set the valve to sealing. Press the manual or cook button then press adjust to set the time using the +/- button for 30 minutes.
  • Once the cooking time is finished, allow for a Natural Release. Remove the lid when the float valve has dropped meaning all the steam has been released.
  • Test the beef short ribs for doneness with an instant read thermometer.
    It should read 165 °F when completely cooked. If not, continue cooking for an additional five minutes.
  • Remove the beef short ribs to a plate. Cover to keep warm.
  • Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Stir till the cornstarch is dissolved.
    Add this to the sauce in the Instant Pot and stir to combine.
    Press the sauté button. Cook till the sauce is thickened, stirring continually. This will only take a minute or two.
  • Cancel the sauté function. Add the beef short ribs back to the pot. Cover with the sauce.
  • Serve the beef short ribs over mashed potatoes. Spoon the sauce over both. Garnish with reserved green onions, if desired.
Keyword beef, instant pot, short ribs
Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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