Take your average sloppy joe to a whole other level with these BBQ Braised Short Rib Sloppy Joes! Rich, decadent short ribs braised low and slow in a wonderful bbq tomato sauce that will leave you reaching for a napkin between every bite. That’s what a sloppy joe is all about, right? The messier, the better! Your tastebuds won’t believe what’s happening to them when you bite into one of these bad boys.
How to Make the Best BBQ Sloppy Joe
I might be biased, but these BBQ Braised Short Rib Sloppy Joes are the BEST. Short ribs are seared until golden brown and then braised low and slow in a homemade, velvety smooth sauce. Then, shredded and swirled into the bbq sauce so that it fills every nook and cranny of the meat.
Searing the meat before braising it builds another layer of drool-worthy flavor. The golden brown crusts on the short ribs tenderize as they braise. The result: a simply decadent sloppy joe!
After the short ribs have been shredded, pile it high on a sesame seed bun, top with some creamy coleslaw and dig in! Napkins will be needed.
Why Use Short Ribs for a Sloppy Joe?
It may seem ultra fancy to use a short rib for a sloppy joe, but it is the best decision ever! The short ribs seriously take this sandwich to the next level of goodness.
Naturally, short ribs are very decadent and loaded full of flavor from the meat, bone and fat on the short rib. Which makes an average sloppy joe sandwich SO much more flavorful! With that being said, they do require a little bit more time to cook! Sear them on the stovetop, stir in the sauce, cover with a lid and then let the oven do the rest of the work! You’ll have fall-off-the-bone short ribs ready to go in a couple hours.
Make these BBQ Braised Short Rib Sloppy Joes for a weeknight meal, Sunday dinner, birthday party, holiday party, backyard bash or any other reason that you can come up with because they are that good. The beauty of these sloppy joes is that the longer the short ribs soak in the velvety sauce, the better they get. Make these ahead of time and be ready for any occasion!
Looking for another sloppy joe recipe? Check out these Turkey Sloppy Joes for a lighter option!
A good, quality Dutch oven helps bring this recipe to life! I love my Le Creuset Dutch Ovens!
BBQ Braised Short Rib Sloppy Joes
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Take your average sloppy joe to a whole other level with these BBQ Braised Short Rib Sloppy Joes! Rich, decadent short ribs braised low and slow in a wonderful bbq tomato sauce that will leave you reaching for a napkin between every bite. That’s what a sloppy joe is all about, right? The messier, the better! Your tastebuds won’t believe what’s happening to them when you bite into one of these bad boys.
Ingredients
- 8 short ribs
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 29 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 cups bbq sauce
- 2 cups beef stock
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or braising pan. Generously season all sides of the short ribs with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown all sides of the short ribs and set aside after browning.
- Add in the onion and garlic and saute until fragrant, about a couple minutes. Pour in the tomato sauce, bbq sauce and beef stock and stir to combine. Add the short ribs back into the sauce and nestle them in. Bring the sauce to a low boil.
- Cover the short ribs with a lid and carefully transfer them to the oven. Braise and bake them for 2 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender and falls off the bone. Remove the meat from the bones (discard the bones), shred the meat and stir to combine with the sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- Short ribs can be sold a couple different ways: cut into pieces or whole. If they are whole and long, use 4 short ribs. Otherwise, use 8 3-4 inch short ribs.
- This recipe does very well made in advance! It can even be kept warm in a slow cooker for transferring or serving.
- Serve the short rib sloppy joe’s on sesame seed buns, topped with creamy coleslaw and potato chips for a fun twist!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 1905
Keywords: BBQ Braised Short Rib Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joes Recipe
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Recipe originally posted on 3/12/2018. It has since been updated with additional words and photos. Enjoy!
Hi, I’m KJ!
Here you’ll find simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. I strive to make wholesome meals with easy-to-find ingredients that you feel comfortable making in your own kitchen—but I won’t shy away from a few indulgences! (I see you: butter, bacon, cookies!)
