Tender juicy braised bone-in Beef Short Ribs grilled to perfection chopped, and piled high on a soft bun topped with BBQ sauce, creamy California Coleslaw, and homemade fried onion straws! It’s a scrumptious and delicious meat eaters delight!

I had this idea…and then it became a really amazing scrumptious reality! The End! (Yeah I know…y’all wish this is where the opening ended! Sigh!)

That’s my job! Create an amazing drool-worthy recipe and make it look simple. I love the creative process to produce recipes that can be found at a top eatery, but can be made in your kitchen, for a lot less! (Yes… even this recipe is pennies compared to what you’d pay if you ordered it out!)

This BBQ Beef Short Rib Sandwich is LOADED with five-star ingredients. Layer upon layer of tantalizing flavors. It starts with 3-4 large beautiful marbled bone-in beef short ribs! We’re blessed to have an amazing local Farm to Table Meat Shop! Dry Lakes Ranch Beef is my “go-to” when looking for exceptional cuts of top quality meats! (No this is not a sponsored post. I just love supporting a locally owned business!)

Beef short ribs are braised in a Instant Pot, then pressure cooked for 50 minutes, slow-released for another 25 until the beef is juicy, tender, and falling off the bone. They are tossed on a hot BBQ grill and slathered in BBQ sauce. (Are ya hungry yet?)

Roughly chop the beef, placed it on a soft sesame bun, drizzled it with a little more BBQ sauce…cause that’s my business! Top it with my favorite Creamy California Coleslaw with bacon, avocado, and blue cheese. Wowza!!! Finish it off with a stack of freshly made onion straws! HOWDY!!! Now that’s a Summer Sandwich we can all sink our teeth into! Grab yourself a napkin! You’re gonna need it for this Bad Boy!

Let’s do this!!!

How To Make Bone-In Short Rib Sandwiches

List of Ingredients for Beef Bone-In Short Ribs

3-4 Bone-in Beef Short Ribs (2-3 lbs)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil for braising
2 Tablespoons Dan O’s Meat Seasoning, or seasoning of your choice
3 Tablespoons Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 Cup water

How To Make Instant Pot Braised Grilled Short Ribs

Season 3-4 Beef Bone-In Short Ribs with your favorite Meat Seasoning or rub. I love Dan-O’s Original Seasoning. It has hints of citrus that work well with this recipe. However, any seasoning you prefer will work.

3 Beef Short Ribs on a mat seasoned with Dan-O's Seasoning.

TIP: I’m sharing how to make this recipe in an Instant Pot, however it can also be made by braising the ribs in a skillet on your stove top and slow cooking the ribs 4–6 hours on low.

Set your Instant Pot to Sauté. Place 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil in the bottom of your Instant Pot. Add seasoned ribs and “braise”.

What is Braising? To “Braise” food is to fry lightly and then stew it slowly in a closed container. Think of it as “browning” a piece of meat and then cooking it slowly in a small amount of liquid. An Instant Pot works perfectly for this method of cooking.

Once the meat is brown on all sides sprinkle the ribs with 3 Tablespoons of Lipton Onion Soup. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot.

Ribs sprinkled with Onion Soup and 1/2 cup of water in the instant pot.l

Seal the pot and make sure the valve is in the locked position. Select the “meat” option and set your cook time to 50 minutes.

Grilling Short Ribs

This next step is totally optional! You do not have to grill the meat as it is already completely cooked. You can remove the meat from the bone and skip to the “building your sandwich” section. However, if you want a nice char and smoky flavor on your beef ribs, I highly recommend the following steps.

Allow the Beef Short Ribs to “slow release” for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes release the valve to make sure all the steam has released, and carefully remove the lid.

Remove ribs and place on a platter. Let them cool slightly, so the meat can firm back up.

Tip: The meat can be cooked in advanced, several days, and refrigerated until you are ready to prepare this recipe. Remove the meat 1 hour prior to grilling.

Preheat your outdoor grill, or an indoor grilling skillet. Coat the meat in BBQ Sauce. Sweet Baby Ray’s is one of my favorites. It’s the perfect balance between sweet and tangy!

With the grill on medium high, place braised beef short ribs meat side down. Grill until there’s a little bit of char on the edges, or to your preference. About 5–10 minutes per side.

(I was making a few jalapeño poppers at the same time! Just ignore those for now…that is a future recipe heading your way!)

Remove ribs from grill and cool slightly!

Remove bones by pulling them loose from the meat with a fork. They should easily slide out. Using a sharp knife trim excess fat off the beef ribs, chop into bite size pieces.

It’s completely up to you if you leave the fat on the meat. These short ribs remind me of Burnt Ends. Super juicy, tender, and flavorful burnt ends…but nonetheless the same…and without a smoker!

Chopped Short Rib Meat on cutting board.

Place the chopped meat in a bowl and cover until ready to assemble the sandwiches!

How To Make Onion Straws for BBQ Short Rib Sandwich

These can be made ahead of time while the ribs are cooking in the Instant Pot!

Homemade Onion Straw Ingredients:

1 Large Sweet White Onion, sliced into thin rings
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
Pinch of salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1-2 Quarts Canola Oil

Peel the onion. Slice one Sweet White Onion into thin rings. Separate the onion slices and place them in a shallow baking dish or bowl.

Tip: You can use a mandolin to slice the onion into thin rings…however I love my fingers! I’ve grown attached to them. So I slice by hand! Carefully!!

Submerge the onion ring slices in Buttermilk. Let them soak one the counter for 30 minutes. If necessary stir them around halfway through the soaking.

Onion Rings Soaking in buttermilk in a glass bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, a pinch or two of salt, black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of paprika! Mix until well combined. Set aside.

Pour 1 to 2 quarts of canola oil in a heavy pot or Dutch Oven. Heat to 375° degrees F, or until a pinch of flour sizzles when sprinkled over the pot.

Add a small batch of buttermilk soaked onion rings immediately into the flour mixture.

Coat the onions in the flour mixture, and then tap off an excess flour on the inside of the bowl.

Using Tongs, plunge the coated onion rings in the hot oil. Carefully!!! With a spoon, or long fork, fiddle with them a bit to just break them apart. Watch them! They’ll be ready to remove from the oil in no time!

Onion rings frying in a sauce pan full of hot oil.

When they are golden brown (this should only take a minute or two), remove them from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate.

Repeat with the remaining onion slices.

Onion Straws on a paper towel-lined plate.

How To make California Coleslaw

The step-by-step instructions and recipe for this California Coleslaw is in the salad section here on the blog. To help keep things simple I’ll just post it here again for y’all!

This salad comes together in just a few minutes! I only made half a recipe for 4 sandwiches. You can make the full recipe and serve it as a side dish with this sandwich.

In a medium bowl add 2 cups of shredded cabbage, 1 diced Roma tomato, 1 medium ripe avocado diced, 1/2 cup of blue cheese crumbles, 1/4 cup crumbled bacon, and 3/4 cup bottled coleslaw dressing to bring it all together! Keep chilled up to one hour before making sandwiches.

Building a Braised Beef Short Rib Sandwich

Let’s bring this all together! Stack ’em high friends! That’s what this meal is all about!

Gather all your ingredients! The Beef Short Ribs, Fried Onion Straws, California Coleslaw, and 4 of your favorite hamburger buns!

Ingredients for Short Rib Beef Sandwiches gathered on a large cutting board.

Using tongs, grab a healthy portion of the chopped Beef Short Ribs and pile it high on the bottom of the bun. Drizzle a bit of your favorite BBQ sauce over the top of the beef ribs.

Add a large scoop of the California Coleslaw!

Add a stack of fried onion strings on top of that creamy delicious slaw. Top with bun!

Now you know what’s left right?

Adding Shoestring Onion Straws on top of slaw and beef short ribs.

It’s time to dig in! Oh, I know…it’s a tall order, but if you’re determined you can fit that big ol’ sandwich in your mouth for the perfect bite!

This hearty meat lovers sandwich is worth the extra effort! It’s a fun dish to make, and nibble at, as you prepare all the different elements.

I was snacking on the beef short ribs as I was chopping them up. A few of those onion straws may have found their way past my lips. Bacon always needs to be tested before added to any salad! I take my job seriously my friends!!

Braised BBQ Short Rib Sandwich with all the fixings.

Other Favorite Sandwich Recipes

This is a fantastic Summer Sandwich Treat! I’m going to have to eventually do a separate post just for those onion straws! They’re so good, and they’d be great on a burger too!

Thanks for stopping by today! Leave a comment and let me know how you like this epic sandwich!

Happy Nesting!

Photo of Norine from Norine's Nest and Signature.

Yield: 4 servings

Instant Pot Braised Beef Short Rib Sandwich

Name: Instant Pot Braised Beef Short Rib Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3-4 Bone-in Beef Short Ribs (2-3 lbs); 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil for braising; 2-3 Tablespoons Dan O's Meat Seasoning, or seasoning of your choice; 3 Tablespoons Lipton Onion Soup Mix; 1 Cup water; 1 Cup BBQ Sauce; 4 Sesame Hamburger Buns; 1 Large Sweet White Onion, sliced into thin rings; 1 Cup Buttermilk; 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour; Pinch of salt and pepper; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; Oil for frying; 2 Cups Shredded Cabbage; 1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced; 1 medium avocado, diced; 1/2 Cup Blue Cheese Crumbles; 1/4 Cup Bacon, Crumbled; 3/4 Cup Bottled dressing

Tender juicy braised bone-in Beef Short Ribs grilled to perfection chopped, and piled high on a soft bun topped with BBQ sauce, creamy California Coleslaw, and homemade fried onion straws! It's a scrumptious and delicious meat eaters delight!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

Braised Beef Ribs

3-4 Bone-in Beef Short Ribs (2-3 lbs)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil for braising
2-3 Tablespoons Dan O's Meat Seasoning, or seasoning of your choice
3 Tablespoons Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 Cup water
1 Cup BBQ Sauce
4 Sesame Hamburger Buns

Onion Straws

1 Large Sweet White Onion, sliced into thin rings
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
Pinch of salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Oil for frying

California Coleslaw

2 Cups Shredded Cabbage
1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
1 medium avocado, diced
1/2 Cup Blue Cheese Crumbles
1/4 Cup Bacon, Crumbled
3/4 Cup Bottled dressing

Instructions

Season short ribs with meat seasoning on all sides of the beef ribs.
Place Olive oil in the bottom of instant pot and set to saute. Carefully place the ribs in the bottom of the pot and braise them until golden brown on all sides. About 5-10 minutes cook time. Turn off instant pot.
Sprinkle the top of the ribs with onion soup mix. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pot. Place the lid securely on top of instant pot. Lock into position and place the valve in the lock position as well. Select the "meat" setting. Pressure cook for 50 minutes. Slow release for 25 minutes. Release the valve to be sure all the steam has released, and carefully remove the lid.
There are two option for finishing the short ribs. Option 1: Remove the meat from the bones, chop, and place in bowl until ready to build the sandwiches. Option 2: Remove the ribs from the pot, cool slightly. Heat BBQ grill to medium-high. Brush ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce and grill each side 10 minutes until they have a slight char around the edges. Remove from the grill. Carefully remove the meat from the bone. Chop into bite size pieces and place in a bowl until ready to build sandwiches.
While the ribs are pressure cooking prepare the Onion Straws.
Place onion rings in a shallow bowl. Cover with buttermilk and soak for 30 minutes. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
In a dutch oven, or heavy sauce pan, add oil. It should be about 3-4 inches deep. Heat to 375° or until a pinch of flour sizzles when sprinkled over the pot.
Add a small batch of buttermilk soaked onion rings immediately into the flour mixture. Coat onions in flour. Tap off excess flour on inside of the bowl.
Using Tongs, CAREFULLY Plunge coated onion rings into the hot oil. With a spoon, or a long fork, fiddle with the onions a bit to break them apart. Watch them, they'll be ready in minutes. When golden brown, remove from oil with slotted spoon, and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
Repeat with the remaining onion straws.
To make the coleslaw combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined.
To assemble the sandwiches place 1/4 of the short rib meat on the bottom of the hamburger bun. Drizzle with BBQ sauce. Add a heaping spoonful of California Coleslaw and top with freshly made Onion Straws. Season with Salt and Pepper to taste. Place the top of the bun on the Onion Straws and serve.

Instant Pot Braised BBQ Short Rib Sandwich