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Braised beef short ribs over a bowl of corn grits.
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5 from 7 votes

Chipotle Short Ribs over Creamy Grits

These slow-cooked Chipotle Short Ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender! Juicy beef is seasoned to sweet, spicy, and smoky perfection.
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time3 hours 20 minutes
Total Time4 hours 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 537kcal
Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

For the Short Ribs

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 lbs bone-in beef short ribs about 6-7 ribs
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 medium onion chopped or sliced
  • 3 slices bacon diced into small pieces
  • 5 small carrots chopped into big pieces
  • 5 stalks celery chopped into big pieces
  • 8 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 3 Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce plus 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce from the can
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 3/4 cup red wine
  • 1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Fresh parsley chopped for garnish

For the Grits

  • 2 cups half and half
  • 2 cups water
  • Salt
  • 1 cup old-fashioned grits make sure they aren’t instant
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter plus more as needed
  • 1/4 cup goat cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Short Ribs

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Add olive oil to a dutch oven over medium high heat. Liberally season short ribs with salt and pepper on all sides then add a few to the dutch oven to sear. You should get a nice sizzle sound.
  • Brown in batches, making sure they are separated with enough space so they aren’t touching. Make sure they are totally browned on all sides then remove from the pot and set aside.
  • Drain out fat leaving just 1 tablespoon. Scrape the bottom of the dutch oven and add in the onion, bacon, carrots, and celery and stir everything together and cook until veggies are tender and bacon has browned.
  • Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds then sprinkle flour on and stir in.
  • Stir in the chipotle peppers and adobo sauce then deglaze with the beef stock, red wine, and tamari. Stir in brown sugar, cocoa powder, and cumin and add in the bay leaves. Bring the braising liquid to a simmer
  • Once simmering, add the short ribs back into the liquid, cover, and cook in the oven for 2 1/2 - 3 hours or until ribs are completely tender (easily separated with a fork) and the liquid has thickened.

For the Grits

  • Add half and half and water to a large pot over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Add some salt to the liquid.
  • Once liquid starts boiling, briskly stir in grits and bring heat down to low and cover with lid. Cook according to instructions on the back of the package (about 20 for stone ground) stirring twice during this time to maintain smoothness. They should be completely tender and thick.
  • Once ready, stir in butter and goat cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Optional: add more butter if needed, but it will already taste rich with the short ribs and sauce on top.

Notes

  1. Start with good short ribs. Look for ones that are well-marbled and meaty. None of that gray, sad-looking stuff. A local butcher is your best bet for quality.
  2. Don't crowd the pan when searing. Give your ribs some space in the Dutch oven so they brown up evenly on all sides.
  3. Take your time. These Dutch oven braised short ribs need low and slow cooking to break down and get tender.
  4. Stir those grits, y'all. Don't just throw a lid on and walk away. Stirring a few times while they cook helps keep them smooth and creamy.
How to Store & Reheat Chipotle Short Ribs
  • Fridge: Store the short ribs in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Keep the grits separate boos. They'll last about 3-4 days.
  • Freezer: Let the ribs cool, shred the meat off the bone, and pack it into a freezer-safe container. You can freeze the sauce with it or on its own. They'll keep for up to 3 months.
  • Reheating: Warm the ribs on the stove in a covered pot for about 20 minutes, or pop them in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 537kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 715mg | Potassium: 897mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 6862IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 4mg