Oxtail vs Short Ribs: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Oxtail contains 257 calories and 25.9 g of protein, while short ribs have 250 calories and 28.8 g of protein. Short ribs are higher in protein, while oxtail has slightly more calories.

Oxtail and short ribs are both flavorful cuts of meat, often used in hearty dishes. This comparison highlights their nutritional profiles to help you make informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Oxtail and Short Ribs?

Oxtail is the culinary term for the tail of cattle, typically used in soups and stews, known for its rich flavor and gelatinous texture. It is often slow-cooked to enhance its tenderness. Short ribs are a cut of beef taken from the rib area, known for their rich flavor and tenderness when cooked properly. They are often braised or grilled and served as a main dish.

Oxtail vs Short Ribs: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of oxtail and short ribs per 100 g.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Oxtail	Beef short ribs (braised)
Calories	257 kcal	250 kcal
Protein	25.9 g	28.8 g
Carbs	0 g	0 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	16.5 g	14.9 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	357 mg	75 mg

Which Is Better, Oxtail or Short Ribs?

For weight loss: Oxtail has 257 calories, while short ribs have 250 calories, making short ribs slightly lower in calories.

For muscle and protein: Short ribs contain 28.8 g of protein, whereas oxtail contains 25.9 g of protein, making short ribs the better choice for protein.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both oxtail and short ribs contain 0 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of sugar, making them suitable for low-carb or low-sugar diets.

How to Track Oxtail and Short ribs Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when preparing or serving meat dishes. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Short ribs have 28.8 g of protein, while oxtail has 25.9 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Short ribs have 250 calories, while oxtail has 257 calories.

What is the fat content of oxtail?

Oxtail contains 16.5 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in short ribs?

Short ribs contain 75 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Do both cuts have carbohydrates?

Both oxtail and short ribs contain 0 g of carbohydrates.

What is the fiber content in oxtail?

Oxtail contains 0 g of fiber per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Oxtail: 257 calories, 25.9 g protein, 16.5 g fat, 357 mg sodium.
• Short ribs: 250 calories, 28.8 g protein, 14.9 g fat, 75 mg sodium.
• Both cuts have 0 g of carbohydrates and sugar.
• Oxtail has 16.5 g of fat, while short ribs have 14.9 g.
• Short ribs are higher in protein than oxtail.
• Oxtail has more calories than short ribs.