This weeknight-friendly short rib bolognese (ragu sauce) is the ultimate easy Italian dinner. Featuring beef short ribs braised in the slow cooker until melt-in-your-mouth tender with fresh vegetables, herbs, red wine, and plenty of robust Italian flavors. Serve with pasta, polenta, pillowy gnocchi, or use in lasagna, on baked potatoes and more. This ragu in slow cooker is fuss-free, versatile, prep-ahead, and freezer-friendly!Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.
For Serving: Baguette, Buffalo Mozzarella or Burrata, Fresh Parsley or Basil
Instructions
Season short ribs on all sides generously with salt and pepper.
Brown short ribs: In a large Dutch oven or cast iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add half the ribs and sear on all sides until browned (about 2 minutes per side). Transfer meat to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining tablespoon of oil and ribs. OPTIONAL: With the heat still on under the pot, add 1/3 cup of wine and scrape off the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour wine and browned bits over meat in the slow cooker. ALTERNATIVELY, you can add all the wine directly to the slow cooker and skip deglazing the pan.
In the slow cooker: Add all the remaining ingredients (EXCEPT CORNSTARCH MIXTURE or HEAVY CREAM) to the slow cooker and season generously with salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir to combine.
Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours* or until short ribs are fork tender.
Shred meat: When ribs are tender, either shred the meat right in the slow cooking or remove them from the slow cooker and transfer to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat. Remove the bay leaves from the slow cooker and discard. Add the meat back to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover and switch slow cooker to WARM while you make the pasta.
OPTIONAL FOR A THICKER SAUCE: Add the cornstarch/water mixture to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes to thicken.-OR-OPTIONAL FOR A CREAMY SAUCE: Stir in heavy cream to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-10 minutes, or until heated through.
To Serve: Top with fresh parsley and/or fresh basil and grated parmesan. Enjoy!
OPTIONAL IF SERVING WITH PASTA: Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil and cook pasta to just barely al dente according to directions on package. Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup of cooking liquid, and return to pot. Add enough Ragu Bolognese sauce to coat, along with some of the cooking liquid. Quickly cook over medium-high heat, tossing/stirring gently to combine, for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a large serving platter or divide among serving bowls. Top with fresh parsley and grated parmesan. Enjoy!
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Notes
Wine: Make sure you use a high quality wine you would drink yourself. While white wine is traditionally used in bolognese, I personally prefer the rich taste of a dry red wine. I normally either use a Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or Chianti.
Pasta: While flat, wide pasta noodles are generally served with bolognese, you can use any type of pasta you prefer. Or, if you don’t fancy pasta, try serving this sauce over polenta, or in lasagna!
Sauce Consistency: If you don’t like your sauce too saucy, either switch the slow cooker to HIGH and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 10-15 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid, or use a slotted spoon to serve the ragu. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken significantly as it sits. If you need to thin the sauce, just add more broth or cream.
LOW Cooking: I recommend cooking this bolognese ragu sauce on LOW in the slow cooker. However, if you are pressed for time, you can cook it on HIGH for 4-5 hours instead. Please note that the meat will not be quite as succulent and tender.
Leftovers: Allow leftover short ribs bolognese to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or, this sauce freezes exceptionally well! To freeze, allow the sauce to cool, transfer to an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat the sauce, defrost in the refrigerator overnight if frozen and reheat in a sauce pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until fully heated throughout.
Recipe Serves: 8-10Nutritional information is an estimate based upon 8 servings (the approximation does not include pasta). Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.