How to cook beef shank with bone on the stove in a rich tomato sauce packed with flavor on the stove in a Dutch Oven or pan. If you loved our slow cooker Ossobuco Beef this is another way to make them fork tender fall off of the bone delicious.
Beef shanks are flavorful and relatively cheap cut of meat that comes from the lower leg of the cow. With a rich, beefy flavor we will show you how to slow cook in a pan so it comes out perfect every single time. An Italian dish that has become a family favorite dish. (affiliate links present)
How to Cook Beef Shank
In this case we are not cooking the whole thing, that would take much longer. If you did want such a large roast of sorts you would need to follow the steps in How to Cook Pork Shank which is quite similar. Slices this way give you the same flavors but cooked quickly (or relatively so).
Cut beef shank with a bone pairs well with a variety of seasonings such as garlic, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, red wine, and beef broth. These ingredients can be used to create delicious braises, stews, soups, and tacos like we do with Oxtails on the Stove.
Braised veal shanks on the stove typically takes around 2 to 3 hours. Veal shanks are a tough cut of meat that benefits from slow cooking to break down the connective tissues and collagen, resulting in tender and flavorful meat.
SO if you chose meat from that animal instead you could follow these same steps but would need to increase the timing by almost double. Ossobuco or How to Cook Beef Shin which this is also called many times will use one of the two.
Ingredients
- 2 beef shanks used here which fit snuggly in a large pan. You could use a Dutch Oven to make this too and fit one more probably.
- Olive oil will allow you to sear and brown both sides before you slow cook them to get that rich flavor.
- All purpose flour or cornstarch is used to coat the meat to thicken the sauce and get a great outer texture.
- An onion diced fine will add flavor and a bit of texture you’ll love.
- Garlic I add to everything, minced fine
- Carrot peeled and diced is a nice add in for texture
- Salt and pepper is a given and may be desired at the end too
- I like a pinch of coriander
- Thyme gives it an Italian punch to the sauce
- Tomato paste will give it that rich flavor too
- Diced tomatoes, I use canned
- Beef broth is better than water, even wine could be used half and half for added richness
Variations
There is plenty of liquid left in the pan you can use to drizzle on the shredded beef once removed but if you wanted more, or to make them spicy I would make our Birria Sauce. OH Yes.
You could add bay leaves into the pot too if you wanted to. Always make sure you remove those at the end of course before serving.
How to Cook Osso Buco on Stove Top
Put flour on a plate. Blot meat with paper towels, sprinkle salt, pepper and coriander on both sides. (or seasonings of your choice) Cover beef shanks in flour or cornstarch can be used.
- Set skillet over medium high heat and add olive oil or any other oil, add the shanks to fry on both sides for 4 minutes each side, then turn the heat to low.
- Transfer meat to a plate and scrape off browned bits that may have become stuck.
- Place onions, carrots and garlic in the skillet.
- Fry for 5 minutes over low heat, stirring until they begin to soften.
- Add tomato paste, canned tomatoes and broth (or use white wine) to the pan. Stir and wait 2 minutes. Place thyme and fried shanks in the pan and cover with a lid.
- Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, then turn over and continue simmering for another 60 minutes cooking time or to break down connective tissues until tender.
How do you know when beef shank is done?
Test with a fork. If it easily pulls away and shreds with very little effort you know it is done. If there is any effort to do so it needs more time. No need to rest, just serve with the sauce from the pan.
How to Serve Beef Shank Marrow
If you have never had the middle of beef bones before it can be quite delicious. You may or may not have some present in the center. If you do it will cook along with everything else in the sauce and get almost as tender as our Instant Pot Beef Bone Marrow. You can enjoy as is with the meat, or spread on bread on the side. 😉
How to Make Beef Shank Tacos
Once cooked, this osso buco recipe can be served in a variety of ways. It’s delicious served with mashed potatoes, polenta, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful juices. You can also shred the meat and use it as a filling for tacos, sandwiches, beef shank stew or pasta dishes.
Yes this may be more unusual than using another cut or ground beef but try it!! I did this before when I made Cow Tongue Tacos and didn’t tell anyone what was inside. 😉 They actually thought it was so delicious. I kept the secret to myself except later when I told my husband and he was super surprised but said I should make them again.
Beef Shank with Bone
Equipment
- 1 skillet
- 1 plate
Ingredients
- 2 slices beef shanks
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 c all purpose flour, or cornstarch
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 c diced tomatoes, canned
- 2 c beef broth
Instructions
- Put flour on a plate. Blot meat with paper towels, sprinkle salt, pepper and coriander on both sides. Cover beef shanks in flour.
- Set skillet over medium high heat and add olive oil or any other oil, fry the shanks on both sides for 4 minutes each side, then turn the heat to low. Transfer meat to a plate.
- Place onions, carrots and garlic in the skillet. Fry for 5 minutes over low heat, stirring until they begin to soften.
- Add tomato paste, canned tomatoes and broth to the pan. Stir and wait 2 minutes. Place thyme and fried shanks in the pan and cover with a lid. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, then turn over and continue simmering for another hour or until tender.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
