Slow Cooker Bourbon Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits Recipe

Toss flour with salt and pepper and coat ribs well in the mixture. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the short ribs and brown well on all sides, working in batches so as to not crowd the pan.

When the short ribs are browned well, transfer them to a slow cooker.

Add the shallot, carrots, and celery to the skillet along with ½ cup of water. Use the liquid to scrape up any bits stuck to the pan. Transfer the vegetables (they don’t need to be fully cooked) to the slow cooker along with any liquid from the skillet.

Add beef broth, bourbon, brown sugar, Worcestershire, garlic, and bay leaf to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours (or High for 5 to 6 hours).

When there’s about thirty minutes left on the short ribs, heat the stock in a medium pot over medium heat until it’s simmering.

Whisk in corn grits in a steady stream. Turn the heat down to low, and cover the pot and simmer for about 20 minutes until grits are thick and tender. Stir regularly to prevent sticking.

When the grits are soft, add salt, pepper, butter, and cheese and stir to combine. Keep warm until ready to serve. If the grits get too thick (they hold their shape if stirred and don’t flow back into a single layer), add water by the ¼ cup to loosen the grits.

Divide the grits onto between plates and top each plate with a short rib. Add the veggies and a few spoonfuls of juice from the slow cooker as well and garnish with fresh orange zest.