The EASIEST Beef Shank Recipe You'll EVER Make! (2024)

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. Not to mention, the recipe is just a breeze to make. In fact, just 3 simple steps are all you have to follow to make it!

My Take On Braised Beef Shank

These braised beef shanks are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that'll have your mouth watering before they even hit the table. Well, that's what always happens to my mouth when I make 'em anyway.

And, as I mentioned just a second ago, they're surprisingly easy to make too! All you need are 2 to 3 beef shanks and a handful of common pantry staples, and you're off to the races.

And the best part is that everything's made in one pot on the stovetop - almost the entire recipe is passive cooking.

Now, I'm not going to lie, we've been incredibly busy at our house the past month or two, so I haven't had time to make anything too intricate for dinner lately. However, since this beef shank recipe is such a breeze to put together I've been making it for the fam at least once a week.

Even my 2 year old devours it. So, if you have picky eaters at home - like I do - then this recipe will be a hit with them too.

By the way, I highly suggest pairing this braised beef shank with these air fryer smashed potatoes, this Instant Pot Spanish rice, or this Longhorn steakhouse bread. I usually make one or two of those recipes to go with it and they're always a crowd pleaser.

Oh, and trust me when I tell you that you'll definitely want some food vehicle to soak up every last drop of that delicious braising liquid! So, even if you don't make one of the recipes I listed above, make sure to atleast have some fresh bread on hand to do that.

Ingredients

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it's made with just 10 simple ingredients. 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 I Recommend Storing 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 I Recommend 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 it as much as we do at our house.

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

More Of My Favorite Dinner Recipes

If you liked this braised beef shank recipe, here are some more hearty and easy dinner recipes to try next:

• Cube steak
• Carne guisada
• Great Northern beans
• Black pepper angus steak
• Lamb Vindaloo
• Fried octopus
• Beef lasagna
• Sirloin tip roast crock pot recipe

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