Boneless Beef Short Ribs Substitute: What Should You Buy To Replace Boneless Beef Short Ribs?

Beef short ribs are a favorite cut of many people.

That’s why it often quickly runs out of stock in most butcher shops or supermarkets.

So what other cuts or ingredients can be used to replace boneless short ribs without changing the flavor or texture of the resulting dish? Let’s figure it out in this article.

What are boneless beef short ribs?

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Boneless beef short ribs are actually not cut from the rib section, but rather from the plate or chuck cut of the cow.

It has a similar cut to the beef ribs, but without bones.

Boneless beef short ribs have a perfect amount of marbling fat, making them very flavorful but also tough.

Therefore, to tenderize the meat, boneless beef short ribs are often slow-cooked like roasting, barbecuing, smoking, or stewing.

The resulting dish can be crispy on the outside or not, but the meat is fork-tender or can even melt in your mouth.

Since this cut is sold without the bones, it is much easier to handle and cook the boneless beef short ribs.

Moreover, the dish can be served even if your family has kids or the elderly.

Can you substitute boneless beef short ribs in cooking recipes?

What if you are unable to buy boneless beef short ribs in your local butcher or grocery store because they have just gone out of stock? Don’t worry, boneless beef short ribs are easy to replace in any cooking recipe.

You can opt for other cuts of beef or even a plant-based ingredient if you want to go vegan.

What can you use to substitute for boneless beef short ribs?

There are many options that can help you substitute for boneless short ribs.

Even if you are a meat-lover or a vegetarian, the following alternatives are worth trying:

1. Bone-in beef short ribs

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Bone-in beef short ribs are an excellent option to substitute for the boneless version.

The only two reasons why people often buy boneless beef short ribs instead of their bone-in counterparts are they are cheaper and easier to eat without the bones.

Bone-in short ribs are real ribs that come from the rib section of the cow.

This cut is more flavorful thanks to the bones.

However, as already mentioned, bone-in short ribs are more expensive and also one of the sought-after cuts that quickly run out of stock.

2. Chuck roast

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Another option to substitute for boneless beef short ribs is chuck roast.

Since boneless short ribs are typically taken from the chuck cut, using the chuck roast cut will be a wise choice.

Chuck roast is a tough cut that is also perfect for slow-cooking methods like braising, roasting, or smoking.

3. Flank steak

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Flank steak is also another option to replace boneless beef short ribs.

It is cut from the flank cut next to the plate.

The flank steak looks similar to boneless short ribs, but a bit thinner.

Moreover, flank steak works better in pan-searing, stir-frying, or grilling recipes because it easily turns dry if overcooked due to the leaner texture.

4. Beef shoulder

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Beef shoulder is a similar cut to the chuck.

Both come from the shoulder section, but the chuck is in the top and near the back whereas the shoulder is lower.

Therefore, the beef shoulder can work as a great substitute for boneless beef short ribs which are cut from the chuck.

It can work in any recipe that calls for boneless short ribs without creating any change in the flavor and texture of your dish.

5. Seitan

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If you are looking for a vegan substitute for boneless beef short ribs, this is the answer.

Seitan can work great in place of real meat.

This gluten-based product can come in different shapes and sizes, so there are many options for you to choose from to look for the one that looks closest to real boneless short ribs.

Seitan also easily absorbs the flavors from spices and marinades, so just season it with whatever you like, or classic condiments that are used in the conventional boneless short ribs recipe like barbecue sauce.

6. Tempeh

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Our last suggestion to substitute for boneless beef short ribs is tempeh.

Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans, so it has a flavor of soy.

It is a nutritious vegan-friendly ingredient that can replace the protein from beef.

Moreover, tempeh is not soft like tofu but has a meatier texture that is perfect to mimic boneless beef short ribs.

The bottom line

In this article, we have discussed a number of different ways to replace boneless beef short ribs in your next recipe.

Even though some options, especially the vegan-friendly ones, might not taste like real beef, you can still have delicious dishes from these substitutes.

So now you will never have to worry every time you shop for boneless beef short ribs but they are out of stock because there are various substitutes available on the market that can help.