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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Instant Pot

One-Pot Short Rib Ragù with Pasta

6 Servings

FAST: 1½ hours
Slow: 9 - 10 hours 35 minutes active

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Using either the pressure-cooker or slow-cooker function, the Instant Pot allows you to put pasta sauced with a rich, meaty ragù on the table with minimal effort. We use boneless short ribs, which are nicely marbled and rich in flavor. After cooking, the chunks of beef are tender enough to break into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon. If you have a piece of Parmesan rind, add it along with the meat; it will add depth and savoriness. When the ragù is done, we pressure-cook a pound of pasta directly in the sauce, so there’s no need to boil a separate pot of water. The noodles cook in just minutes, and the starch they release gives the ragù a full, rich consistency. Short, tube-shaped pasta—penne, ziti or rigatoni—work best in this recipe.

6

Servings

Tip

Don’t forget to add ½ cup water along with the penne. The liquid ensures the noodles fully hydrate and the mixture doesn’t stick and scorch. When cooking is complete, be sure to stir the pasta-and-sauce mixture and let stand for 10 minutes to allow the consistency and textures to even out.

FAST: 1½ hours
Slow: 9 - 10 hours

35 minutes active

Ingredients

  • 1

    tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2

    medium celery stalks, finely chopped

Directions

Reviews
Christine H.
November 4, 2025
More a question than a review
I don't have an instant pot or a pressure cooker. Can you provide directions for cooking this the old-fashioned low tech way?
Krista M.
February 23, 2025
I've made over and over again
Everyone loved it- young to old- a real crowd pleaser!
Kathryn W.
January 9, 2024
This is to die for
I feel like I just made a Michelin-starred meal.
Emily A.
September 25, 2023
Delightful with Modifications (gotta use what you have!)
My husband woke up from a nap with an intense craving for pasta with short rib ragu. I said, no problem, we can use the InstantPot! I didn't have any fennel on hand, so added more carrot and onion. Chucked a frozen 2.5 # package of bone-in flanken cut short ribs into the pot after I browned the veggies. Added a little dried Italian seasoning (the fennel adds a lot of flavor that I needed to replace). It was wonderful.
Robert R.
August 26, 2024
Excellent all around Pasta Dish
Excellent all around ragu
Dante G.

Do you have any recommendations if you were going to cook in a Dutch oven (don't have a pressure cooker)?

Janelle C.

This is a great question. Would you post it in our Q&A Forum for Milk Street Insiders and Digital subscribers? It's currently free for all to use and we're sure others would love to hear the answer to this one.

https://www.177milkstreet.com/discussion/

Best,
The Milk Street Team

Felicity L.

This makes a delicious, hearty dinner (with leftovers) and has become a favorite in our house. I couldn’t find fresh fennel last time and substituted chopped celery and teaspoon of fennel seeds. Turned out very well.

Timothy M.

Did anyone ever come up to a solution to how to do this with a Dutch oven? I would like to try this recipe, but don't have a pressure cooker.


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