This Slow Cooker Beef Shank Recipe is perfect for those who love a hearty, comforting meal. The slow-cooked beef shank is cooked to perfection in a rich, tomato-based sauce that is full of flavor. The sauce is made with a blend of fresh vegetables, including bits of carrots, celery, and onion, which add a lovely depth of flavor to the dish.
The satisfaction of making something in a slow cooker and then abandoning it there is amazing beyond words. Also, the sensation of not needing to quickly prepare things at precisely six o'clock is incredibly liberating.
Using the slow cooker allows for more flexibility in one's hectic schedule and eliminates the stress of last-minute meal preparations. Additionally, the slow cooking process enhances the flavors and tenderness of merely whatever you put in it, resulting in a delicious and effortless meal.
What are Beef Shanks?
Beef shanks are a cut of meat that comes from the leg of a cow. They are known for their rich, flavorful taste and tender texture.
Also, beef shanks are seriously amazing - the marbling in the meat adds richness and depth to any dish you use them in. Beef shanks are so versatile! You can use them in all sorts of dishes, from classic stews and soups to more adventurous recipes like osso buco. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!
Jump to:
Ingredients Needed
- Beef shanks. When purchasing beef shanks, look for cuts that have a deep red color and marbling throughout the meat. Also, choose shanks with a good amount of connective tissue, as this will contribute to a rich and flavorful broth or stew.
- Onion. Use a medium-sized onion. Red, yellow, or white onions will be fine.
- Carrot. This ingredient will add a nice sweetness to the dish.
- Celery. For aromatics and flavor.
- Garlic. Every hearty stew should always start with a foundation of garlic.
- Tomato paste. For a nice subtle hint of tomato in the stew. It also gives the stew a more appealing look.
- Herbs. While the stew is cooking in the slow cooker, dried oregano will be added and fresh chopped parsley will be used as a garnish.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Cook Beef Shanks in the Slow Cooker
When using a slow cooker, it might feel like a bit of a chore to brown the meat and sweat the vegetables in a separate pan before adding them to the pot. But trust me, taking this extra step will give your dish so much more flavor. You've already put so much time and effort into slow-cooking it, so let's make sure that the result is worth it.
To prepare the beef shanks, sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the meat. Heat a nonstick skillet over high heat, and drizzle some olive oil or ghee once it is hot. Fry the beef shanks until each side turns golden brown. Remove the beef shanks from the pan.
In the same pan, add onion, carrot, and celery, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry until the onions have softened and scrape any brown bits on the bottom of the pan.
Transfer the shanks, vegetable mixture, tomato paste, herbs, salt, pepper, and water into the crockpot. Cook on high for 4 ½ hours.
Remove the fresh parsley. Give it a quick stir to check for doneness. The beef shanks should detach from the bone easily when lifted.
Advice: If preparing this recipe in advance, leave it on low in the crockpot until ready to serve. Additionally, just before serving, I like to garnish with freshly cut parsley. Lastly, you can present one bone with pieces of meat with the marrow remaining intact for each serving. Bone marrow lovers will adore this, especially if they use a smaller spoon to remove the marrow.
Recipe Tips and Variations
These beef shanks are easily customizable.
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes while cooking the onion, celery, and garlic mixture for some heat.
- Bulk it up - this recipe can be easily bulked up to feed a large family. Try adding potatoes, zucchini, or even butternut squash for 1 ½-2 hours before it's finished.
- Broth - although the recipe calls for water to cook the shanks, feel free to use beef broth for more flavor.
If you don't have a slow cooker, I also have Baked Beef Shanks on the blog!
Serving tip: Consider serving your beef shank dish with creamy mashed potatoes, rice, buttered noodles, or crusty bread to soak up all the delicious juices.
Storage Instructions
Here's how to store slow cooker beef shanks for optimal freshness and flavor.
First, allow the beef shanks to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
Additionally, label the container with the date of storage to keep track of its freshness. If freezing, it is recommended to consume within 3-4 months for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, beef shanks and short ribs are not the same. While both cuts come from the same animal, they are taken from different parts of the cow. Beef shanks are cut from the leg, while short ribs come from the rib section.
Yes, beef shank can become tender when cooked properly. Due to its tough and muscular nature, beef shank benefits from slow cooking methods such as braising or stewing, which help break down the connective tissues and result in tender and flavorful meat.
Beef shanks are commonly used in slow-cooked dishes like braises, stews, and soups. The connective tissue in beef shanks breaks down during cooking, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture and adding depth to the dish's overall taste. Additionally, beef shanks can be used to make flavorful bone broth or stock due to the collagen-rich bones they contain.
Beef shank has a rich and robust flavor that is often described as meaty and savory. It has a slightly gamey taste due to the connective tissues and marrow, which also contribute to its tender and gelatinous texture. Additionally, the slow cooking process enhances its natural flavors, resulting in a dish that is deeply flavorful and satisfying.
Slow Cooker Beef Shank Recipe
Enjoy a delectable beef shank recipe, simmered in a flavorful broth with aromatic herbs and garlic, perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor, perfect for impressing guests or family.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 people 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American, Beef, Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds beef shanks (about 4 pieces)
- 2 teaspoon salt (plus a few pinches)
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper (plus a few pinches)
- olive oil for frying
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1 head garlic, roughly chopped
- ½ bunch fresh parsley, stems include (keep the parsley as is, not chopped, it will be removed later)
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cups water
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Sear the Beef Shanks
- To prepare the beef shanks, sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the meat.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet has heated thoroughly, add a drizzle of olive oil. Place each shank flat side down. Cook in batches to ensure there's no overcrowding. Sear the beef shanks until each side turns golden brown.
- Once the meat is golden brown on both sides, remove them from the pan and place aside.
Sweat the Vegetables (mirepoix)
- In the same pan, add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry until the onion has softened. Scrape any brown bits on the bottom of the pan.
Putting it Together in the Slow Cooker
- Place the beef shanks, and vegetable (mirepoix) mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the parsley with stems, oregano, tomato paste, water, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Mix the tomato paste in a corner with the water. It will evenly distrubute during the cooking process.
- Place a lid over the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 4 ½ hours.
- Once the time has elapsed, give it a quick stir to check for doneness. The beef shanks should detach from the bone easily when lifted.
- Remove the fresh parsley with stems from the slow cooker.
Serve
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
- Generously top your favorite preferred starch such as mashed potatoes, polenta, or rice with chunks of beef and a ladle of broth with the marrow on the side.
Notes
Preparing for Guests
If preparing this recipe in advance, leave it on low in the crockpot until ready to serve. Additionally, just before serving, I like to garnish with freshly cut parsley.
Lastly, you can present one bone with pieces of meat with the marrow remaining intact for each serving. Bone marrow lovers will adore this, especially if they use a smaller spoon to remove the marrow.
Storage Instructions
Here's how to store slow cooker beef shanks for optimal freshness and flavor.
First, allow the beef shanks to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
Additionally, label the container with the date of storage to keep track of its freshness. If freezing, it is recommended to consume within 3-4 months for best results.
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Leave a Reply