Best Leftover Short Rib Recipes You’ll Love
Short ribs are a rich, flavorful cut of meat, but leftovers can be tricky to repurpose. Instead of reheating them the same way, why not transform them into something new and delicious? With their deep, beefy taste and tender texture, short ribs are the perfect base for a variety of creative dishes.
Shred them into tacos, fold them into creamy pasta, or use them as the star ingredient in a comforting stew. Their intense flavor also makes them ideal for fried rice, sandwiches, or even gourmet-style nachos. If you have extra sauce from braising, you can incorporate it into soups or reduce it into a glaze for another meal.
Repurposing leftovers isn’t just about avoiding waste—it’s an opportunity to elevate your cooking. By thinking beyond the usual, you can turn last night’s dinner into something just as exciting the next day. Whether you want a quick meal or an impressive dish, your leftover short ribs are a shortcut to bold, satisfying flavors.
In this post, I’ll share some of the best ways to give new life to your short rib leftovers. Get ready for easy, delicious ideas that will make you look forward to leftovers!
Leftover Short Rib Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds leftover cooked short ribs shredded
- 1 onion diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups beef broth or vegetable broth
- 2 cups tomatoes diced
- 1 cup peas frozen
- 1 cup corn frozen
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- salt and pepper to taste
- olive oil for cooking
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the shredded short rib meat and cook for another 2-3 minutes to heat through.
- Pour in the beef or vegetable broth and diced tomatoes. Add the dried thyme and rosemary—season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let the soup simmer gently for about 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed. If the soup is too thick, add more broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
- Add the frozen peas and corn to the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes until heated through.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve the short rib soup hot, accompanied by crusty bread or your favorite side dish.
Notes
What to Do With Leftover Short Ribs
Dish Name | Description |
| Short Rib Croquettes | Mix shredded short rib meat with mashed potatoes or béchamel, form into balls, bread, and fry until crisp. Serve as an appetizer or snack. |
| Short Rib Fried Rice | Stir-fry cooked rice with shredded short rib meat, vegetables, soy sauce, and scrambled egg for a flavorful one-pan meal. |
| Short Rib Gnocchi | Toss shredded short rib meat with potato gnocchi and a rich sauce like brown butter, sage, or a creamy Parmesan sauce. |
| Short Rib Hash | Sauté diced potatoes, onions, and bell peppers until crispy, then add shredded short rib meat. Top with a fried egg for a hearty breakfast or brunch. |
| Short Rib Nachos | Layer tortilla chips with shredded short rib meat, cheese, beans, jalapeños, and bake until bubbly. Top with sour cream and guacamole. |
| Short Rib Omelet or Frittata | Fold shredded short rib meat into an omelet or frittata with cheese, spinach, and herbs for a hearty breakfast or brunch. |
| Short Rib Pasta Bake | Combine short rib meat with cooked pasta, sauce, and cheese. Bake until bubbly for a casserole-style dish. |
| Short Rib Pizza | Top pizza dough with marinara sauce, shredded short rib meat, mozzarella, and other toppings like mushrooms or arugula. Bake until crisp and bubbly. |
| Short Rib Polenta Bowl | Serve the shredded meat over creamy polenta with sautéed greens or roasted vegetables. Drizzle with pan juices or gravy. |
| Short Rib Quesadillas | Fill flour tortillas with shredded short rib meat and cheese. Cook on a griddle until golden brown and melted. Serve with salsa and sour cream. |
| Short Rib Sandwich | Pile shredded short rib meat on crusty bread or a roll. Add melted cheese, caramelized onions, and your favorite condiments. Serve warm. |
| Short Rib Shepherd’s Pie | Layer shredded short rib meat and vegetables in a baking dish. Top with creamy mashed potatoes and bake until golden brown. |
| Short Rib Sliders | Serve shredded short rib meat on small slider buns with slaw, pickles, or cheese for a great party bite. |
| Short Rib Soup | Simmer shredded short rib meat in broth with vegetables, noodles, or beans for a comforting soup. |
| Short Rib Stuffed Peppers | Fill halved bell peppers with a mixture of shredded short rib meat, rice, vegetables, and seasonings. Top with cheese and bake until tender. |
| Short Rib Tacos | Shred the leftover short rib meat and serve in warm tortillas with toppings like pickled onions, cilantro, avocado, and salsa. |
Pasta Ideas
Using leftover short ribs on pasta is a no-brainer. There are so many ways to use them. Here are a few:
Dish Name | Description |
| Short Rib Pappardelle | Shred the leftover short rib meat and toss with cooked pappardelle pasta and your favorite pasta sauce. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. |
| Short Rib Ragu | Simmer shredded short rib meat with diced tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs for a rich ragu. Serve over rigatoni or fettuccine. |
| Short Rib Lasagna | Layer shredded short rib meat between lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, and mozzarella. Bake until bubbly and golden brown. |
| Short Rib Carbonara | Add shredded short rib meat to carbonara sauce with eggs, Parmesan, pancetta or bacon, and black pepper. Toss with spaghetti. |
| Short Rib Bolognese | Simmer shredded short rib meat with onions, carrots, celery, tomato paste, and red wine to create Bolognese. Serve over tagliatelle or spaghetti. |
| Short Rib Stuffed Shells | Stuff cooked pasta shells with shredded short rib meat, ricotta, spinach, and herbs. Top with marinara and mozzarella, then bake. |
| Short Rib Mac and Cheese | Mix shredded short rib meat into macaroni and cheese. Bake until bubbly and golden brown. |
| Short Rib Linguine with Mushrooms | Sauté mushrooms in butter, add shredded short rib meat and cooked linguine. Toss with cream or broth for a creamy pasta dish. |
These pasta dishes will surely be a hit with your family and friends, and they’re a great way to use leftover short ribs in a delicious and creative way!
4 Responses
Who the #$^%#$ has LEFTOVER short ribs? Eat ’em up!
Eric Illicitizen, when you have a table full of short ribs and you fill your plate, ate so much that you can’t eat anymore from your own plate you are not going to throw it away right! why not take them home and leave it for the next day. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
I too am a stay-at-home dad. It’s called RETIRED. Like to cook. Will follow your blog.
Questions: Do you shred the beef or do you chop it like Pulled Pork? Or does it even matter ? Is the Port better than a dry red wine for deglazing ? Good luck !!
Tex, I’m finding there are a lot more of us stay-at-home dads around. If doesn’t really matter if you shred it, chop it or leave as large pieces. It really depends on how you enjoy serving it. As for ports versus dry red wine, I have read that ports are better for “chocolate sauces, chocolate cakes, Port reduction syrup, and savory Port sauces for steaks with blue cheese”, but I use them for many of my reduction sauces especially when I’m not opening a red wine for dinner or the red wine is so good I don’t want to cook with it but consume it. I typically have a bottle of Port open for cooking purposes. If handled properly, it can last a long time.