Dr. Pepper Short Ribs

Fork tender, juicy Dr. Pepper short ribs braised in the oven low and slow for a sweet and spicy shredded beef dinner. A quick stove top sear and simmer of the ingredients then a few hours in the oven will yield fall apart braised boneless short ribs in an addictive sauce.

I love braised meat. There’s something succulent and indulgent about slow cooked meat, falling apart at the touch of your fork and soaked in rich liquid. What amazes me is how expensive a good braise can be when you eat out. Ordering red wine braised brisket? $40! No thanks, not when I can make triple the amount for half the cost!

Mastering a braise is an essential skill for an aspiring home chef. It can create a beautiful, upscale dinner for less money, like my Orange and Chicken Braise, which is so much more than a standard chicken thigh! Plus it makes cheaper, tougher cuts of meat into something tender and delicious without the price tag of those premium cuts. This particular braising recipe even uses an ingredient you’d otherwise throw out – some leftover cola! That’s right, with what was left of a 2 liter, I made this recipe for Dr. Pepper short ribs, and it has quickly become a favorite. We even buy soda just for this now.

Dr. Pepper as a Braising Liquid

So why cola? Well for one thing, soda is a wonderful tenderizer, second it tastes wonderful with many meats. It works in this brown sugar & coke glazed ham and it most definitely works for these short ribs.

It’s also the one indulgence my husband and I can’t ever seem to quit completely. Thankfully, we’ve realized that a cheap 2-liter will go flat before we finish it, so we can save ourselves the soda binge.

But, I hate wasting food – even leftover soda. I started thinking about ways to use it. I knew those iconic 23 flavors (find out what they are here) would be beautiful when enhanced and caramelized on a tender piece of beef.

Braising Ingredients

Aside from boneless short ribs and Dr. pepper, there are several other, carefully chosen and tested ingredients that are essential to creating this amazing luscious braise.

• Boneless Beef Short Ribs – Inexpensive and delicious, stick with beef for this one. You can absolutely use bone in short ribs, or even another tough braising cut of beef if you’d like.
• Dr. Pepper – This recipe is specifically catered to the flavor profile of Dr. Pepper, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have success if you decide to experiment with another. Root beer, or a cherry cola might be delightful. The soda does not need to be flat to work.
• Stock – I used my homemade vegetable stock for this, but chicken stock or beef stock will also work, it’s a very small component of the braise and while it will slightly affect flavor, it’s not a detrimental change in any case.
• Soy Sauce – I use soy sauce in a surprising amount of recipes, like Raspberry Glazed Meatballs. It’s salty, it’s got that rich umami flavor that can be hard to achieve, and it’s inexpensive.
• Molasses – One of the 23 flavors in Dr. Pepper, a little extra molasses is really essential for the richness of the braising liquid.
• Paprika – the powder of dried sweet red peppers, like a bell pepper, it adds a subtle spice, and floral sweet note.
• Cloves – I use whole cloves, and just toss them into the liquid. But ground cloves can absolutely be used as well. They’re also one of the flavors in the soda, and they’re a powerful addition in a small amount.
• Red Onion – I pretty much never make a braise without onion. Onion definitely helps take this from sweet to savory, and it’s delicious, enough said.
• Garlic – This really boosts the savory, spicy notes in the braising liquid.
• Carrot – Another classic addition to a braise (think mirepoix), I also just really like bulking up the braise and having tender carrots ready to eat when the meat is ready.
• Tomato Paste – The braising liquid needs some acid, and tomato paste is the perfect rich concentration
• Pepperoncinis – Just a meager quarter cup gives the sauce enough spicy and salt to be perfect. If you don’t want any spice, you can leave these out.
• Salt, Pepper, and oil – This isn’t added to the braising liquid, but you’ll need during for the short ribs while searing.

How to make Dr. Pepper Braised Short Ribs

The actual process of making Dr. Pepper ribs is very simple. The fun part is that once you know how to braise, you can literally apply the technique to any cut of meat with any liquid.

Step 1 – Prep your ingredients

Before you do anything, turn your oven on to 300°F. Then get an oven and stove top safe deep pan out. I use my ceramic dutch oven, I absolutely love it, it’s a 6 quart Lodge Dutch Oven and it’s a much more inexpensive option than a lot of dutch ovens out there.

Wash and chop your carrots, rounds are fine since they’ll cook for quite a while in the liquid. Chop your onions and mince the garlic, and get everything out on the counter. I like the measure everything out ahead of time but if you don’t like the idea of extra clean up then at least have the appropriate measuring spoons and cups ready to go.

Step 2 – Sear the Short Ribs

It’s essential when braising any meat that you sear it first. When you apply high heat to the surface of meat it triggers the Maillard reaction, or browning, which concentrates intense flavor in the resulting crust and releases flavor aromas.

To do this heat your dutch oven or pan of choice over medium high heat until hot. Add a tablespoon of high heat oil, like grapeseed, avocado, or canola. Salt and pepper all sides of the short ribs liberally then place in the hot oil. You should hear a sizzle, but not ridiculous popping. Don’t move it or touch it, when the meat has the appropriate crust, it will lift effortlessly from the pan. Flip it over and repeat.

Searing first also leaves a lovely thing at the bottom of the pan called fond. That’s what those yummy little brown specks are at the bottom of the pan. As you add the remaining ingredients, you’ll lift those delicious bits and they’ll add flavor the braising liquid.

Step 3 – Add Remaining Ingredients and Transfer to Oven

After the sear, it’s just a series of additions before you transfer the short ribs to the oven and let it finish the work for you.

1. When your short ribs are browned on both sides, remove from the pan and set aside on a plate to catch all the juices.
2. Add your chopped veggies and pepperoncinis and stir, let them saute for a few minutes, just until the onions take on a little bit of color.
3. Next add the molasses, tomato paste, soy sauce, cloves, and paprika. Stir until everything is combined.
4. Pour in the stock, and then the Dr. Pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil and add your short ribs and any juices accumulated on the plate back to the pot. Boiling before transferring to the oven helps the liquid maintain the proper temp in the oven so the meat will cook evenly and steadily without the oven having to work too hard.
5. When boiling, cover and place in the oven for 3.5 to 4 hours. The meat should be partially submerged, but not completely covered in liquid.

And that’s it! Let it cook remove, and serve! Cooking longer than the 4 hours may require extra liquid, and thus diluting the braise flavors, which is why 3.5 hours is my preferred time. When it comes out, it will be tender and falling apart. Simply spoon the meat, carrots, and some liquid over your side of choice. We like grits, rice, or polenta.

I hope you’re inspired…

That’s it! That’s all there is to braising. You can see how simple it would be to adjust this recipe for other cuts or pork. Here a few of my favorites!

• Pork – Pork shoulder and pork ribs
• Beef – Short ribs, brisket, or chuck roast (the cheapest, and really really good!)
• Chicken – Bone in chicken thighs or whole chicken legs

The best braising meats are the tough ones you wouldn’t want to sear – lots of fat, connective tissue, and sinew. Don’t fear bone in cuts, the marrow in them often leads to an even richer broth. On the other hand, if boneless is on sale, they braise just as well!

Recipes to Serve with these..

• Homemade Drop Biscuits
• Homemade Garlic Bread Rolls
• Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon
• Cornbread Muffins with Fresh Corn

Give this a try!

As much as I hope you’ll be inspired to get your braise on, I really hope next time you see that Dr. Pepper sitting in your fridge, or those lonely leftover cans, you’ll give these braised boneless short ribs a try. It’s caramelly, spiced, and finger licking good with a rich sauce that just begs to be soaked up by a grain or bread. The meat will come out with this gorgeous sticky crust from the sugars, and the center will be melt in your mouth tender.

This is a recipe you’re whole family will love, I promise! I sincerely hope you enjoy this recipe. Happy Eating!

Originally published June 1, 2019, last updated September 17, 2019