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My Instant Pot Short Ribs Melt In Your Mouth
Ingredients & Substitutions
How To Cook Short Ribs In The Instant Pot
My Recipe Tips
Instant Pot Short Ribs (5 Ingredients) Recipe card
Serving Ideas
Recipe Reviews

My Instant Pot Short Ribs Melt In Your Mouth

My mom and me enjoying Instant Pot short ribs. - 1

I’ve never disliked short ribs anywhere , but recently I ordered a bowl with them at a restaurant and remembered why I always choose Instant Pot short ribs when I make them myself. The restaurant ones weren’t the same. Here’s the difference:

Moist, fall-apart tender texture – This is a tough cut of meat, but when cooked right, they’re so juicy and tender that you can cut them with a fork. With my recipe, they fall apart and melt in your mouth. I’m obsessed.
Big flavor with 5 simple ingredients – My Instant Pot beef short ribs are so flavorful, rich, and savory, that it’s hard to believe you only need 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper). I do have a couple optional add-ins, but they are still delicious without them.
Works for bone-in or boneless short ribs – I’ve tested the recipe with both, so you can use what you’ve got.
Quick and easy – The Instant Pot cuts down cook time dramatically compared to traditional methods. This dish tastes like it took you all day, but it’s only about an hour (which is mostly hands-off).
Special, comforting meal – Short ribs are definitely a more expensive cut, but it’s so worth it for these amazing results. They are perfect for date night or a special occasion dinner .

Of all my Instant Pot recipes , this one is definitely my favorite. The last time I made it was when my parents came to visit (photo here with my mom), and we all fought over them. Cook your short ribs in the Instant Pot with me and you’ll see why!

Juicy, fall apart tender Instant Pot short ribs, with a piece picked up using tongs. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my Instant Pot beef short ribs recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Basic Ingredients:

Beef Short Ribs – I recommend getting them at the butcher for the best quality. Bone-in short ribs have a little more flavor, but boneless short ribs are easier to eat, so I prefer them. I just ask the butcher to remove the bones. You can use my recipe for either kind though, the cook time is just a bit different.
Olive Oil – For searing the meat. Avocado oil works great, too.
Beef Broth – The Instant Pot needs liquid to work its magic, and beef broth adds so much flavor. Swap in bone broth for an even richer sauce.
Coconut Aminos – Think of it as a soy sauce alternative with a slightly sweet, salty, and umami-packed flavor. You can use regular soy sauce if you like.
Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves give the best flavor, but a tablespoon of jarred minced garlic works if you’re short on time.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper

Labeled ingredients: boneless beef short ribs, beef broth, coconut aminos, olive oil, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper. - 4

Optional Flavor Boosters:

My recipe for pressure cooker short ribs only requires the above 5 ingredients, but sometimes I make these additions for extra flavor:

Dried Bay Leaves – I love adding these for an aromatic flavor. You can also opt for hearty fresh herbs instead, like fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs.
Veggies – Saute 1 cup of diced onions, carrots, and/or celery before adding the garlic to the Instant Pot.
Liquids – Replace 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the beef broth with red wine or balsamic vinegar if you like those flavors. A few tablespoons of tomato paste also make a nice addition.
Unflavored Gelatin Powder – If you prefer a thicker gravy rather than a runny sauce, you can mix this with the liquid at the end. Cornstarch or other cornstarch alternatives will achieve this, too.

How To Cook Short Ribs In The Instant Pot

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

Season the short ribs. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel, and season generously with salt and pepper.
Sear until browned. Use the Instant Pot’s Saute setting to brown the short ribs on all sides. Remove and set aside.

Generously seasoned beef pieces on a cutting board. - 5

Seared short ribs in the Instant Pot. - 6

Saute the garlic. Add the olive oil and garlic. Saute until fragrant.
Deglaze the pot. Stir in the beef broth and coconut aminos, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. (If you’re adding other liquids in my variations above, add them at this step.)

Deglazing with beef broth and coconut aminos. - 8

Cook short ribs in the Instant Pot. Add the short ribs back in, along with the bay leaf (if using). Seal the lid and pressure cook. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes before finishing with quick release.
Thicken the sauce (optional). For a thicker sauce, remove the short ribs, leaving the liquid behind, and cover the short ribs with foil to keep warm. Sprinkle (don’t dump) gelatin powder (or cornstarch) into the liquid, and simmer using the Sauté setting until it reaches your desired consistency.
Enjoy! Serve your Instant Pot short ribs over your favorite base (see my serving ideas below) and drizzle with sauce. I did not thicken the sauce for my pictures here.

Short ribs in the Instant Pot before pressure cooking. - 9

Finished Instant Pot beef ribs recipe in the pressure cooker. - 10

My Recipe Tips

Cut the beef into 1.5 X 2 inch pieces. I find this is the perfect size to get lots of seared edges, and the cook time in my recipe is based on this size.
Do you have to brown the short ribs first? No, but I highly recommend it. The browning step adds a lot of flavor and takes just a few minutes. It makes a big difference in the final result!
Let the oil get nice and hot. After adding the oil, I wait for my Instant Pot to say “hot” before placing the beef short ribs in the Instant Pot. You can also add a drop of water — the oil is hot enough if it sizzles.
Sear the beef in batches. They won’t all fit at once. If you crowd the pot, they will steam instead of browning.
Make sure to brown all 6 sides. For the smaller sides, I find it helpful to lean the pieces against the sides of the Instant Pot to prevent them from falling over.
Time to come to pressure will depend on your Instant Pot size. I have this Instant Pot , which is the most popular size and comes to pressure quickly. If yours is larger, it will take longer to come to pressure but after that the cook time will be the same.
Don’t skip the pressure cooker natural release. The Instant Pot short ribs actually finish cooking during this step, so don’t skip it if you want tender results.
Want to scale the recipe up or down? You can adjust the number of servings on the recipe card below to change the weight of the beef to match what you have, and the other ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly. For the cook time, subtract 10 minutes if you have less than 1.5 pounds of short ribs, or add 10 minutes if you have more than 4 pounds. Keep the same time for natural release.
What to do if they come out tough? My timing in this recipe is designed to make your Instant Pot short ribs come out fall-apart tender. If they are tough, they likely needed more time, which can vary by beef weight (see my tip above) and the size of your Instant Pot. You can easily put the lid back and cook for 10 more minutes if needed.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

2 1/2 lb Boneless beef short ribs (weight without bones, cut into about 12 pieces; *see notes for using bone-in) ▢
2 tsp Sea salt ▢
1 tsp Black pepper ▢
1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
1 cup Beef broth ▢
1/4 cup Coconut aminos ▢
6 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
2 medium Dried bay leaves (optional) ▢
2 tbsp Unflavored gelatin powder (optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

Instant Pot Short Ribs:

Pat the short ribs dry with paper towels.
Use sea salt and black pepper to generously season the short ribs on both sides.
Set the Instant Pot to Saute on High (or “More”). Add oil and let it heat up until hot.
Once oil is hot, add the short ribs in a single layer. Sear for about 2 minutes per side, on all 6 sides, until browned. You will need to do this in two batches, so that they are not too crowded. Set all the short ribs aside outside the pan as you get through them.
Add the minced garlic to the empty Instant Pot, and saute for about 1 minute , until fragrant.
Add the broth and coconut aminos to the Instant Pot. Use a wooden spoon to release any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (deglaze it). Shut off the saute function.
Place the short ribs back into the Instant Pot, crowding them together in a single layer. Push the bay leaves into the broth, if using (optional). Close the lid and set the pin to Seal. Cook on High pressure for 40 minutes . Use Natural Release for 10 minutes , then Quick Release if there is any pressure left.
At this point, you can shred the short ribs or leave them whole.

Optional Steps For Thicker Sauce:

Remove the short ribs, leaving the liquid behind, and cover the short ribs with foil to keep warm. Set the Instant Pot to the Saute function.
Sprinkle gelatin (don’t dump it) over the liquid in the Instant Pot, one tablespoon at a time, whisking rapidly and immediately after each sprinkle.
Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes , until the sauce thickens. If it’s still not as thick as you like, add more gelatin and repeat.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size : 2 pieces with sauce, or 1/6 of the entire recipe

Option for bone-in short ribs: If you prefer to use bone-in, the weight you’ll need is 3-3.5 lb, and you will need to increase the cook time to 50 minutes.
Tips and scaling: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor and texture in your Instant Pot short ribs, and how to adjust the time for more or less beef.
Store: Keep leftover short ribs in refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Pour the liquid over them to keep them moist. It will solidify when cold, which is normal.
Reheat: Transfer the beef and sauce (which may be solid — this is fine) to a baking dish, cover in foil, and warm in the oven for 10-15 minutes. The microwave works okay, but is a bit more dry.
Freeze: Cool completely, place in an airtight container or zip lock bag (with the sauce/cooking liquid), and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Winter Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

Instant Pot Short Ribs

Serving Ideas

There are many ways to enjoy these Instant Pot beef short ribs. Here are some ways I serve them:

Mash – This is my favorite option to soak up all the juices, plus it’s such a comforting pairing. You can opt for regular mashed potatoes, or make my creamy mashed cauliflower (pictured above) for a lighter option. Roasted potatoes work, too.
Vegetables – You know I always have to have a pop of green! My roasted zucchini , broccolini , or smashed brussels sprouts pair well with Instant Pot short ribs. If you prefer to use your pressure cooker again, try my quick Instant Pot cauliflower or Instant Pot broccoli .
Salads – Serve the short ribs over a salad for a lighter dinner (or lunch) in one bowl! Try them in place of steak on my steak salad or instead of chicken on my Cobb salad .
Tacos – Stuff the meat into your favorite tortillas with some taco slaw , or with a combo of fresh salsa , avocado or guacamole , shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and red onions.
Soups – Add leftover beef to my vegetable soup for a hearty meal, or swap out the pork in my pork stew .

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Understanding Macros
Keto Food Swaps
Keto Food List
Electrolyte Basics
Keto Diet Types
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 15

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A Protein	Pick A Veggie	Add Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison	Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery	Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Pancakes	Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
Oatmeal	Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rolls	Fathead cinnamon rolls
Cereal	Keto nut granola
Muffins	Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
Donuts	Almond flour donuts
Scones	Almond flour scones
High-sugar smoothies	Smoothie with berries or avocado
Hash browns	Cauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casserole	Breakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whites	Whole eggs
Turkey bacon	Bacon
Waffles	Chaffles

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Bagels	Fathead bagels
English muffin	Almond flour English muffin
White bread	Keto white bread
Multigrain bread	Coconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wraps	Coconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shells	Cheddar cheese taco shells
Burger buns	Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
Breadsticks	Cauliflower breadsticks
Biscuits	Almond flour biscuits
Cornbread	Almond flour cornbread
Croutons	Parmesan crisps
Rice	Cauliflower rice , konjac rice

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Breaded wings	Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultry	High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoes	Mashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoes	Roasted or fried radishes
Tacos	Taco salad
Pizza	Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
Lasagna	Eggplant lasagna
Potato salad	Cauliflower “potato” salad
French fries	Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater tots	Cauliflower tots
Wraps	Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
Sushi	Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fish	Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
Spaghetti	Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Nachos	Cheese crisps
High-sugar fruit	Berries & other keto fruits
Crackers	Almond flour crackers
Hummus	Cauliflower hummus
Soft pretzels	Fathead pretzels
Popcorn	Puffed cheese
Granola bars	Grain-free granola bars
Jam	Sugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurt	Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressing	Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
Ketchup	Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauce	Sugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butter	Natural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayo	Avocado oil mayo
Maple syrup	Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chips	Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds

Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 19

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Sugar	Monk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugar	Powdered monk fruit or allulose
White flour	Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewy	Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
Breadcrumbs	Pork rinds or almond flour
Margarine	Butter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oil	Olive or avocado oil
Bananas	Banana extract
Chocolate chips	Sugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour roux	Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrup	Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat

Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 20

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Lemonade	Water with lemon
Soda	Flavored sparkling water
Milk	Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
Latte	Butter coffee
Coffee creamer	Heavy cream
Sweet wine	Dry wine
Beer	Ultra light beer
Mixed drinks	Hard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 22

Foods To Eat On Keto

Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Avocados
Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
Almond flour and coconut flour
Eggs
Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

White flour & sugar
Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
Cereal
Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 23

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Sodium	Magnesium	Potassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles	Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens	Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!