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beef short rib mac and cheese

Sticky Beef Short Rib Mac & Cheese

Ridiculously creamy, cheesy mac topped with slow-cooked beef in a rich, sticky sauce.
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef short rib, Mac & cheese
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

For the sticky beef:
  • 1.4 kg beef short ribs
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 200 ml red wine
  • 400 ml beef stock
For the mac & cheese:
  • 400 g macaroni
  • 50 g butter
  • 50 g plain flour
  • 600 ml whole milk
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 250 g mature Cheddar grated
  • 80 g Parmesan grated

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 160℃.
  • Season the beef short ribs with salt and black pepper. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan over a high heat, then brown the ribs really well on all sides. Take them out and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a large ovenproof casserole dish over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute.
  • Pour in the red wine, beef stock and soy sauce. Add the browned short ribs to the casserole dish and bring it to a simmer.
  • Pop the lid on and cook in the oven for about 3 hours, until the beef is tender and falling away from the bones.
  • Take the ribs out and pull the meat away from the bones. Put the sauce over a high heat and let it bubble until it reduces into a rich, glossy sauce. Shred the beef, stir it back through the sauce and keep it warm.
  • Cook the macaroni in salted boiling water according to the packet instructions, then drain it.
  • Add the butter, flour, milk, garlic granules and smoked paprika to a large saucepan. Place it over a medium heat and whisk continuously until the butter has melted and the sauce is smooth and thickened.
  • Take it off the heat, then stir in the Cheddar and Parmesan until melted and smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  • Stir the macaroni through the cheese sauce until completely coated. If it’s a little too thick, loosen it with a splash of milk.
  • Spoon the creamy mac and cheese into bowls, then pile the sticky pulled short rib beef over the top. Finish with a little extra Parmesan if you like.