Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (2024)

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Osso Bucco is one of my favorite meals to make! This is an absolutely mouth-watering Italian comfort food that everyone should try at least once!

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (1)

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe)

This classic braised beef shanks recipe hails from 19th century Northern Italy and it really is the perfect evening meal for any occasion.

Just add a side dish of rice or some mashed potato cakes or twice baked potatoes, with a delicious glass of red wine and you have the perfect dish to enjoy with friends/family or dining alone when you’re unwinding after a long day.

Replacing the traditional veal with beef shanks in this Osso Bucco makes it super budget-friendly too!

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) Ingredients

The ingredients for this braised beef shanks recipe are easy to pick up and really inexpensive!

  • Beef shanks – cut into 3-4 inch pieces.
  • Butter – for frying and flavor
  • Minced garlic – adds fragrance and is a must in this dish.
  • Large white onion – sliced into rings.
  • Carrots – chopped.
  • Dry white wine – you can use chicken stock to deglaze the pan instead if you don’t want wine
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Beef stock
  • Salt and pepper – to taste.

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (2)

How to Make this Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) Perfectly

  • Dredge the beef shanks through the flour and coat it (skip this if you’re low-carb).
  • Melt the butter in a large oven-safe braising pan over medium to medium-high heat.
  • Fry the beef shanks in the butter until browned on the outside.
  • Remove the beef shanks to a plate.
  • Add the onion slices. Cook and stir until tender.
  • Add in the garlic and the carrots. Fry until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Pour in the white wine. Deglaze the pan. Stir in the beef broth and the tomatoes.
  • Return the beef to the pan. Make sure the shanks are submerged in the sauce.
  • Place the lid on top and cook the shanks in a 300 °F for 4-5 hours.
  • For stove top, cover and simmer on the stove top over low heat for 2-3 hours.

What to Serve with Osso Bucco

One of my favourite ways to serve Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks) is over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes with some pan-roasted vegetables on the side and nice red wine. The ultimate hearty meal!

Why not try one of these side dishes:

The BEST Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes!

Ukrainian Style Cream Dill Potatoes

What is Osso Bucco Beef?

The term Osso Bucco means “hollowed bone” in reference to the marrow-filled shin bone that its made from. The traditional version Italian favourite is prepared using veal shanks, but I personally prefer the beef shanks version that we’re using here!

What Part of Beef is Osso Bucco?

The meat cut in Beef Osso Bucco is a cross-cut of beef from the shank that’s around an inch and a half thick. It’s a pretty thick meat cut but it becomes deliciously flavourful and tenderized when braised.

If you’re looking for more mouth-watering beef recipes, give these a go:

The Perfect Herb and Garlic Bottom Round Roast Recipe

Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Root Beer BBQ Slow Cooker Brisket

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (3)

Happy cooking everyone!

Love,

Karlynn

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (4)

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Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (5)

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe)

Osso bucco is a delicious tender, flavorful braised beef shank dish that is the perfect way to enjoy this cut of meat.

4.93 from 325 votes

Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (6)

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Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
5 hours
Total Time
5 hours 15 minutes
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
Italian
Servings
4
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds beef shanks cut into 3-4 inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 large white onion sliced into rings
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • one 540 millilitres can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • If you want, dredge the beef shanks through flour and coat it. ( I skip this to keep it lower carb)

  • Melt the butter in a large oven safe braising pan over medium to medium-high heat.

  • Fry the beef shanks in the butter until browned on the outside.

  • Remove the beef shanks to a plate, and keep warm.

  • Add the onion slices to the skillet; cook and stir until the onion is tender. Add in the garlic and the carrots and fry until the garlic is fragrant.

  • Pour in the white wine and deglaze the pan at this point. Stir in the beef broth and the tomatoes.

  • Return the beef to the pan, making sure the shanks are submerged in the sauce.

  • The best way to cook now is to place the lid on top and cook the shanks in a 300 °F for 4-5 hours, until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.

  • For stove top, cover and simmer on the stove top over low heat for 2-3 hours, checking and moving the meat occasionally to ensure that the bottom is not burning.

Recipe Notes

  • I keep this lower carb by NOT dusting the shanks in flour, you can dredge them through flour before frying them if desired.
  • I prefer my shanks to be velvety and falling apart, you can cook it until it's tender but the shanks remain together like a steak more. The choice is yours.
  • Serve with gremolata for a traditional dish.
  • This goes well over polenta, as is traditional as well

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a co*cktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

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Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Meka says

    Reply

    The only mods I did were adding more seasoning after I put all the ingredients in the pot, and I couldn’t find beef shanks, so I used short beef ribs. I also used whole baby carrots, and they held together pretty well. I didn’t debone them or anything, and I cook the meat for about four hours and 30 minutes so they pretty much fell off the bone anyway. This was an absolute hit in my house, even my picky youngest kid ate it right up!Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (11)

  2. Sandra Comer says

    Reply

    Wow, this was spectacular! I did use red wine, an instant pot, and served over parmesan polenta. Since we very rarely see beef shanks for sale I rushed back to Safeway and bought all 5 packages for future meals.Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (12)

  3. Kim Reynolds says

    Reply

    Hi there, I have made this recipe several times and it’s amazing!
    I want to double the recipes, but only have one heavy cast iron Dutch oven. Can I do this in my regular Lagostina Dutch oven? Will it turn out the same or should I try to find another pot.

  4. Danielle Hask says

    Reply

    Do you drain the canned tomatoes?

  5. Stacie Rokosny says

    Reply

    I made this for my in-laws for dinner. I received compliments throughout the meal. The only substitution I made was I swapped out the beef broth for chicken broth. I cooked it the length of a pro football game (it did go into OT, I’d say it was 3 1/2 hours). I served it over mashed potatoes and I did make the gremolata (it’s worth the extra few minutes). Great recipe- perfect for prepping ahead of time so you can still watch the game!Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (13)

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Osso Bucco (Braised Beef Shanks Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between osso bucco and beef shank? ›

Osso Bucco is from a beef shank which is a cross-cut of meat that comes from the lower leg of the cow. Beef Osso Busso also contains a bone with marrow in the center. While you can make Osso Bucco with either veal or beef, it is more common to use beef because it is widely available and less expensive than veal.

Which cooking method is best for shanks? ›

Shank is best cooked using slow and moist cooking methods to tenderize the meat and bring out its flavors. Some popular cooking methods include braising, slow roasting, or using a slow cooker. These techniques allow the meat to become tender and develop a rich, flavorful gravy or sauce.

How long does beef shank take to get tender? ›

Even with the braising step, a beef shank can easily take nine or 10 hours to tenderize fully. But when it does, it's worth it. The meat goes from stringy and chewy to soft and delicate, and you get loads of gelatin-rich juices from it that mingle with and add to the braising liquid.

Which cooking method is most commonly used for beef shanks? ›

Cover and braise in the oven for about 2-3 hours at 325 – 350˚F or until fork tender. This is our preferred method of cooking. Crockpot: Ideal for set-it-and-forget-it cooking. The crockpot's consistent low heat makes the shank tender and flavorful without much effort.

Why is osso buco so expensive? ›

This was essentially once a peasant dish that has become so popular that veal shank is now incredibly expensive. In North America and in Britain, it's expensive, and hard to find. Even in Italy, veal shank is so expensive now that butchers have come up with a substitute.

What is the best cut of meat for osso buco? ›

Beef Osso Buco uses Cross Cut Shanks for a traditional Italian dish topped with fresh parsley, garlic and orange zest.

Why is my osso bucco tough? ›

Osso Buco requires slow and gentle simmering to achieve that melt-in-the-mouth tenderness. Ensure that you've given it enough time on low heat, typically around 2 to 3 hours for beef Osso Buco, until the meat easily separates from the bone. If it's tough, you can return to cooking it until it is tender.

Can you overcook shanks? ›

It's difficult to overcook shanks, especially in a slow cooker. However, if you leave them in the cooker for many more hours than the recipe suggests, they may completely fall apart, and the meat can eventually turn stringy and dry. It can still be eaten, however it won't be as succulent and delicious.

What makes shanks so special? ›

Shanks is particularly skilled in the use of 'Haoshoku Haki', which allows him to control his own presence and even intimidate powerful creatures into fleeing. He can infuse this Haki into his body or weapons, notably his sword Gryphon, making his attacks incredibly potent.

What temperature should beef shank be cooked at? ›

Preheat your smoker to 250-275 degrees. I suggest using yellow mustard as a binder as it imparts no flavor but does help develop a really nice bark. Season the shank liberally with your favorite BBQ beef rub. Put it in the smoker for 5-7 hours until the internal temp is between 160-180 degrees F.

Is there another name for beef shank? ›

The shank cross cut is the only real cut, but it goes by different names. These include the beef fore shank and the beef Osso Bucco cut. Shank meat is generally cut horizontally in thin slices. The cut resembles a steak with a leg bone circle.

Can you pan sear beef shank? ›

Heat skillet to medium-high heat. Salt and pepper shanks on each side. Pan fry each shank about 3 minutes on each side, or until browned.

Is beef shank the same as osso bucco? ›

Yes, osso buco and beef shank refer to the same cut of meat.

What cooking method is most appropriate for preparing the shank of a large animal? ›

Stewing or braising the meat is the best way to achieve this as you can stop the meat from drying out with the liquid and the long cooking time on the low heat gives the meat enough opportunity to break down the toughness and become amazingly soft and tender.

Is beef shank like oxtail? ›

Oxtail tends to have a more supple and soft texture, however. Oxtail vs Beef Shank: Beef shank is another cut that requires slow cooking to break down the tough muscle fibers. Shank is leaner, resulting in a more rigid texture.

What is a good substitute for osso buco shanks? ›

If veal shank is unavailable or out of your budget, substitute short ribs or nice meaty oxtails for a less expensive dish that will be every bit as delicious!

What is another name for osso buco? ›

Ossobuco or osso buco is Italian for 'bone with a hole' (osso: 'bone', buco: 'hole'), a reference to the marrow hole at the center of the cross-cut veal shank. In the Milanese variant of the Lombard language, this dish's name is òss bus.

What meat is closest to beef shank? ›

Conclusion. To wrap it up, there are several substitutes for beef shank that you can use in your recipes. The top 5 choices are chuck roast, brisket, short ribs, skirt steak, and oxtail. While these options may all be different, they will help you create a tasty meal without anybody noticing that you used a substitute.

What part of the beef is the Osso Bucco cutting? ›

The Osso Buco is the shank (forearm) of the animal and includes a marrow bone at its center. This hard working muscle starts tough, but the right treatment will yield a tender and decadent final dish.

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