This recipe for braised beef shank in a deliciously rich sauce produces the most tender beef you will ever try! These absolutely mouth-watering ossobuco beef shanks are slow-cooked, full of flavor, and super easy to make for any home cook.
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
Braised beef shanks are a classic Italian comfort food dish that is easy to make using a Dutch oven and a few vegetables, herbs, and spices to enrich the gravy. The succulent meal takes around 3 hours to make because it is slow-cooked, which helps the shanks release their delicious juices and become fork-tender.
The dish is also great for feeding large families because beef shanks are an inexpensive cut of beef yet are just as tasty and tender when slow-cooked as sirloin or ribeye.
The traditional Italian recipe known as "Osso Bucco" uses veal shanks, however, since veal shanks are harder to find and more expensive than beef shanks, this recipe is commonly made using beef shanks instead.
To flavor the dish, the beef shanks are lightly dusted with flour before being seared in a pan for a lovely golden color, and the smooth sauce is enriched with garlic, onion, beef broth, fresh herbs, Worcestershire sauce, and crushed tomatoes.
The star of this dish is, of course, the cooked beef shanks, but the flavor of the braising liquid is what takes this recipe to the next level.
For more beef recipes with delicious gravy, try our paprika beef, beef stroganoff, and beef bourguignon, which are all made with tender beef and have their signature sauce to go with it.
🍽 Key Ingredients
This beef shank recipe requires bone-in beef shank and a few staple pantry ingredients for the sauce.
Beef shank - The key ingredient is the beef shank. It's important to use bone-in beef shank for this recipe as the marrow from the bones adds extra flavor to the rich sauce.
Fresh herbs - Sprigs of rosemary and thyme are added to the pot to enrich the flavor of the gravy. Fresh parsley is added at the end as a garnish.
Flour - Flour is added to the beef shanks before searing to help create a nice golden crust.
Crushed tomatoes - Tomatoes are a key ingredient in Osso Bucco for the flavor and color of the sauce.
Beef stock - To create a rich and flavorful sauce, beef broth is used to deglaze the pan after searing the braised beef shanks.
Vegetables - Garlic, carrots, and onion are added to the pan to create the base for the sauce.
Worcestershire sauce - Worcestershire sauce adds a hint of sweetness and complexity to the sauce.
Substitutions
Beef shank
If you can't find any shanks, a chuck roast or short ribs will work as substitutes.
Beef stock
You could use chicken stock instead of beef, but the flavor of the sauce won't be as beefy.
🔪 How to make beef shanks
This beef shank recipe is the perfect meal to whip up on any occasion that will delight everyone's taste buds at the dinner table, and it's so easy to make too! All you need to do is sear the beef in the Dutch oven and cover it with the other ingredients for a few hours until the beef is fork-tender.
Preparations
- Finely dice the carrots, garlic, and onions.
- Pour the flour into a shallow bowl.
- Finely chop the fresh parsley for garnishing later.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Season the beef shanks with 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper.
Step 2
Dredge the shanks through the flour and shake them to remove any excess.
Step 3
Set the Dutch oven over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil until hot and sear the shanks for 3 to 4 minutes per side until caramelized.
Step 4
Remove the shanks to a plate and add the chopped onions, carrots, and garlic to the Dutch oven, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 5
Next, add 1 cup of beef broth, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven.
Step 6
Then, turn the heat down to medium heat and pour in the 2 cups of crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, and pepper into the Dutch oven and continue to stir.
Step 7
Place the beef shanks back in the Dutch oven along with the drippings from the plate and stir in the other 1 cup broth with the fresh herbs.
Step 8
Cover with a lid and simmer on low for 2 ½ hours or until the meat is tender and the gravy is reduced. (If the gravy is reduced too much, add ¼ cup of water).
Step 9
Remove the pot from the heat and discard the sprigs of rosemary and thyme.
Step 10
Sprinkle the freshly chopped parsley over the top and serve the braised beef shanks over polenta, mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
💭 Cooking tips
Thicker gravy
If you want your gravy to have a thicker consistency, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and slowly pour that into the liquid until it becomes thicker.
Using dry herbs
If you're using dry rosemary and thyme, use half the amount, as they have a stronger flavor and will be overpowering.
Use the salt and pepper sparingly
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 of pepper, but it is best to adjust the amount to your taste buds, especially if you're using a high-sodium beef stock,
📖 Recipe Variations
If you want to add more flavor to the beef shanks recipe, you can by adding in some red wine for a richer gravy, adding bacon, or even cream for a creamier texture.
Braised beef shank in red wine
After sautéing the carrots, onion, and garlic pour in 1 cup of dry red wine until it has reduced by half, then add the tomatoes and follow the instructions from that point. Add 1 or 2 bay leaves to the Dutch oven with the fresh herbs.
Bacon and beef shanks
At the beginning of the recipe, fry ¼ cup of diced bacon until crispy, then remove it, leaving the fat to brown the meat. Add the cooked bacon to the sauce at the same time as the beef.
Braised beef shank in creamy sauce
Give your braised beef shank recipe a lovely creamy beefy sauce by pouring half a cup of heavy cream into the Dutch oven during simmering.
🥗 What to serve with
Since this beef shank recipe has a delicious rich sauce, it is best served over starchy side dishes that will soak up the gravy, like pasta, rice, or polenta, but it also goes well with vegetable side dishes and potato recipes. Here are some of our favorites:
Rice
Any type of rice is great for serving with these tender shanks, but if you like your rice white and fluffy and are not sure how it's done, then our guide on how to make perfect fluffy jasmine rice is just for you.
Vegetables
A side of steamed veggies or roasted veggies are also other great options to serve with most meat dishes, but if you're looking for something with a bit more flavor, check out the flavorsome Southern-fried style cabbage with bacon or our quick and easy green bean casserole.
Potatoes
Although mashed potatoes are a popular choice for meat and gravy dishes, roasted potatoes and Hasselback potatoes also deserve a mention to serve with this braised beef shank recipe.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can you make braised beef shanks in the slow cooker?
Yes, you can. The process is very similar to the stove top method but instead of using a Dutch oven, use a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
Can I use a boneless beef shank?
Yes, but bear in mind that you will need to reduce the cooking time, as boneless shanks will cook much quicker than bone-in shanks.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
This beef shank recipe tastes even better the reheated from the fridge the following day and is perfect for freezing also.
Fridge - Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container or simply cover a dish with the leftovers in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 3 days.
Freezer - Use a large freezer bag or a freezer container to freeze any leftovers for up to 6 months.
Reheating - The quickest and best way to reheat your leftover braised beef shank is in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Alternatively, you could reheat them in a pan for 8 minutes until hot.
🍳 Related recipes
If you love slow-cooking recipes as much as we do here at Comfortablefood, try our 35 best crockpot recipes and slow-cooker meals. And now that fall is upon us, these 50 best comforting fall recipes are bound to please you and your family during the colder weather.
👪 Serving size
You can expect this braised beef shank recipe to serve 3 to 4 people. Although if you have a large Dutch oven, you can double the recipe to cater to a bigger family.
The sublime gravy and tender pieces of beef shank are guaranteed to be loved by everyone at your dinner table, and you’ll be asked to make this dish time and time again! Let me know what you think of this delicious recipe in the comments. Enjoy!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Braised Beef Shank Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Garlic clove - chopped
- 3 Beef shanks - bone in
- ½ cup All-purpose flour
- 2 cups Crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups Beef broth - +1 cup water if get too thick
- 1 large White onion sliced into rings
- 2 medium Carrots chopped
- Sprig of fresh thyme
- Sprig of rosemary
- 2 tablespoons Salt - divided
- 1 tablespoon Black pepper
- Fresh parsley - chopped for garnish
Instructions
Preparations
- Finely dice the carrots, garlic, and onions.
- Pour the flour into a shallow bowl.
- Finely chop the fresh parsley for garnishing later.
Cooking instructions
- Season the beef shanks with 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper.
- Dredge the shanks through the flour and shake them to remove any excess.
- Set the Dutch oven over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil until hot and sear the shanks for 3 to 4 minutes per side until caramelized.
- Remove the shanks to a plate and add the chopped onions, carrots, and garlic to the Dutch oven, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Next, add 1 cup of beef broth, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven.
- Then, turn the heat down to medium heat and pour in the 2 cups of crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, and pepper into the Dutch oven and continue to stir.
- Place the beef shanks back in the Dutch oven along with the drippings from the plate and stir in the other 1 cup broth with the fresh herbs.
- Cover with a lid and simmer on low for 2 ½ hours or until the meat is tender and the gravy is reduced. (If the gravy is reduced too much, add ¼ cup of water).
- Remove the pot from the heat and discard the sprigs of rosemary and thyme.
- Sprinkle the freshly chopped parsley over the top and serve the braised beef shanks over polenta, mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Alice Segura
I needed more prep time. I also added more crushed tomatoes, onion, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and less salt. This dish is extremely flavorful. I will add more shanks next time to make all the prep and fresh herbs worth it. Love, love this dish.
Jo
OMGOODNESS! Talk about butter soft! This recipe was absolutely delish. We like plenty of garlic, so I truly indulged. If you come across this recipe, you’ve got to do it. I’m serving over rice.
Just wondering though, how would a lil red wine do?
Rohani Mahmud-Azmi
IMO recipe is bland, it needed something to perk it up. I added coriander powder and cumin. I did everything on the stove and put it in the oven for 2 hrs at 350F.
Laura
How would you do this starting with the Dutch oven on the stovetop and finishing most of it in the oven