My Famous Braised Beef Shank Recipe | Tender, Flavorful, & So Easy

This braised beef shank recipe is so easy to make and so darn tasty. The shanks are slow cooked in a rich and savory tomato sauce until they're fall-apart tender and every bite leaves you wanting more. So, if you're looking for a hearty dinner recipe that's packed with flavor you've come to the right place.

The Best Braised Beef Shank

These braised beef shanks are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that'll have your mouth watering before they even hit the table.

And, as I mentioned just a second ago, they're surprisingly easy to make! All you need is a few beef shanks and a handful of common pantry staples to make this high-end meal.

Oh, and the best part is everything's made in one pot on the stovetop, and almost the entire recipe is passive cooking! Plus, you can even use a slow cooker - or crock pot - to finish off the beef.

How easy does that sound?!

Honestly, I have a feeling this rich and hearty braised beef shank recipe will become a part of your regular dinner rotation - it's definitely become a staple in our house.

Oh, and I highly suggest pairing this braised beef shank with these air fryer smashed potatoes, this Instant Pot Spanish rice, or this Longhorn steakhouse bread. All of those recipes compliment this beef recipe incredibly well.

And trust me when I tell you that you'll definitely want something that can soak up every last drop of that delicious braising liquid! So, even if you don't make one of those recipes, make sure to atleast have some fresh bread on hand to do that. 

Ingredients

Ok, all you need is just 10 simple ingredients to make this braised beef shank recipe.

And most of these are pantry staples, so I wouldn't be surprised if you have most of these on hand already!

With that said, here's everything you'll need to make these braised beef shanks:

• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• ½ Onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp. Garlic Clove, chopped
• ½ lb (250g) Beef Shanks
• 2 cups Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tbsp. Oregano
• 1 cup Water
• Salt and Pepper
• Fresh Parsley

Now, you can choose between boneless or bone-in beef shanks for this braised beef recipe. But I definitely recommend the bone-in ones if you can find them.

The bones bring a lot of flavor to the meat itself and the marrow melts into a rich, buttery, liquid that really takes this braised beef shank to the next level!

Oh, and just a heads up - you can actually use a lot of these same ingredients to make this copycat Texas roadhouse chili so you might want to give that a try next!

How to Make Braised Beef Shank

So this braised beef will take around 1-2 hours to make. But, don't be intimidated by the cook-time, almost all of it's passive.

In reality, you're only looking at about 20 minutes of prep and active cooking. The rest is just waiting for the beef shanks to slow cook to tender perfection!

Oh, and this beef shank recipe makes 2 large servings. So if you’re serving more people - or want leftovers - just follow this exact same recipe and double or triple the ingredients. Just keep in mind if you scale up the recipe you may need to sear the meat in batches and add an hour or so to the cooking time for the best results.

Anyway, with all that out of the way, let's jump right into the steps for making this braised beef shank!

Step 1: Sear the Braising Meat

First, heat a deep pot - or Dutch oven - to medium-high heat and add the olive oil.

When it’s hot, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes - or until they begin to turn transparent. Then, add the chopped garlic clove and cook for around 5 more minutes.

Once the onion and garlic are slightly browned and smell amazing, add the beef shanks to the pot and let them brown on both sides.

Step 2: Make the Braising Liquid

Next, without removing the meat from the pot, add the crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, water, and salt and pepper to taste.

Don't forget to scrape up the browned bits at the bottom of the pot for maximum flavor!

Step 3: Braise the Beef Shanks

Finally, cover the pot and cook on low heat for one to one and a half hours, or until the meat is fork-tender.

Also, as it's cooking, just check it once in a while to make sure there's enough liquid and the bottom isn't burning. If it's starting to get dry, add more water and move the beef shanks a bit so they don't burn.

You can also make this in the slow cooker or crock pot if you have one. Transfer everything from the pot to the slow cooker and set it to 8-10 hours on low, or 4-6 hours on high.

Then, once your braised meat is ready, garnish with fresh parsley and serve with your choice of sides.

Enjoy!

How to Store Braised Beef Shanks

As I mentioned, this beef shank recipe will make 2 large servings. But if you double or triple it, storing is pretty straightforward.

First, let the meat reach room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

You can also transfer everything to a freezer-safe bag, making sure to squeeze the extra air out and freeze for up to 6 months. 

How To Reheat Braised Beef

To reheat this braised beef, you can transfer everything back to a large pot on the stovetop.

Set the temperature to medium heat and heat for a few minutes until it reaches your desired temperature. And you can give it a mix once in a while to incorporate the flavors and reheat everything evenly. 

Wrapping It All Up

Well, that's how to make braised beef shanks!

This incredibly tender beef shank recipe is as rich and savory as an easy dinner recipe gets. It truly makes for an unforgettable meal that the whole family is sure to enjoy.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these braised beef shanks as much as we do at our house.

If you make it, don't forget to leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

More Recipes

If you liked this braised beef shank recipe, here are some more hearty and easy dinner recipes I'm sure you'll enjoy:

• Cube steak
• Carne guisada
• Great Northern beans
• Black pepper angus steak 
• Lamb Vindaloo
• Fried octopus
• Beef lasagna

Oh, and as always be sure to check out our YouTube channel and Instagram page for even more recipes!

Print