Beef Osso Buco

Whether it’s pork, beef or chicken, nothing beats braising when you’re aiming for fall-off-the-bone meat. And there’s no braised dish more iconic than beef osso buco. Thankfully, you don’t have to be in an upscale restaurant to enjoy this impressive dish. Time to cross the recipe off your cooking bucket list!

Like other five-star slow-cooker recipes, you’ll have to brown the meat before placing it in your crockpot. Then, you’ll braise it with vegetables and wine for up to nine hours. It’s served with sauce and gremolata, and you can sop it up with your favorite starch, be it polenta, pasta or crusty bread.

What cut of meat do you use for osso buco?

Osso buco is traditionally made with veal shanks, but this recipe uses beef shanks instead. Beef shanks are affordable and tend to be easily available in the meat department. It’s not a cut of meat that you’d throw on the grill for a quick dinner, but when it’s cooked properly, you’ll end up with the most tender piece of meat you’ve ever had. That’s because tougher cuts of meat like beef shanks soften with the low and slow cooking time.

Ingredients for Beef Osso Buco

• Beef shanks: You can find beef shanks in your grocery meat department. Call ahead to make sure they have them in stock; if not, they can usually order them for you.
• Flour: Toss the beef in flour before browning in order to get a good sear on all sides.
• Seasonings: This recipe calls for salt, pepper, dried thyme, dried oregano and bay leaves for a super flavorful meat and sauce.
• Butter and oil: The beef is browned in both butter and oil. While butter lends flavor, it can also burn more easily. Oil helps to dilute the butter and gets a really nice sear on the meat.
• White wine: White wine is used to deglaze the pan and contributes flavor to the braising liquid. If you don’t have wine, you can replace it with additional beef broth.
• Diced tomatoes: Use a can of undrained diced tomatoes in your braising liquid to get a rich, deeply colored jus.
• Beef broth: Store-bought beef broth will work well here. Homemade bone broth is another wonderful substitution if you have it.
• Braising vegetables: Like in many soups and slow-cooker stew recipes, carrots, onions and celery give the braising mix texture and depth.
• Cornstarch: Use cornstarch to thicken the braising liquid, just like you would use it to thicken gravy: by whisking cornstarch and water together to make a slurry.
• Parsley: Minced parsley is the main ingredient in the gremolata garnish, along with citrus zest and garlic.
• Citrus zest: Both lemon and orange zest bring brightness and a touch of acidity to the gremolata, countering the richness of the osso buco.
• Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic for the best gremolata.

Directions

Step 1: Coat the beef in flour

In a large resealable container, combine the flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Add the beef to the flour mixture, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat the beef. Remove the pieces from the flour.

Editor’s Tip: Make sure to dust off any excess flour from the beef. Set up a dry strainer and toss the beef in it to shake off extra flour before searing it.

Step 2: Brown the meat

In a large skillet, brown beef in butter and oil. Transfer the meat and drippings to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the wine to the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour the wine over the meat. Add the tomatoes, broth, carrots, onion, celery, thyme, oregano, bay leaves and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and stir.

Step 3: Braise the meat

Cover the pot and cook the beef on low for seven to nine hours. The meat should be so tender it’s falling off the bone. Discard the bay leaves.

Step 4: Make the sauce

Skim the fat from the cooking juices, then transfer the cooking juices to a large saucepan. Bring the juices to a boil. Combine the cornstarch and water and mix until they form a smooth slurry. Gradually stir the slurry into the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil. Cook and stir until the sauce is thickened, about two minutes.

Step 5: Make the gremolata

In a small bowl, combine the minced parsley, lemon zest, orange zest and minced garlic to make the gremolata. Serve the beef with the sauce and gremolata. If desired, serve the beef over creamy polenta.

Beef Osso Buco Variations

• Change the cooking liquid: Swap out the white wine for a red wine like cabernet or merlot. The red wine will lend a deeper color and flavor to your osso buco. You can also use chicken broth instead of beef broth, which will make a slightly lighter sauce.
• Use the traditional meat: Instead of using beef shanks, try this osso buco the traditional way with veal shanks. You’ll definitely want to ask ahead at the butcher counter to make sure they’re in stock.

How to Store Beef Osso Buco

Like most braised meats, osso buco stores really well and will even taste better on the second day. Once it’s cool, store it with the vegetables and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. Store the gremolata separately so it doesn’t get soggy.

How long does beef osso buco last?

Beef osso buco will last for up to four days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can you freeze beef osso buco?

Freezing beef osso buco is super easy, and won’t mess with the flavor or texture of the meat. Store it in its sauce in a freezer safe, airtight container for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating it.

How do you reheat beef osso buco?

You can reheat osso buco in the oven, on the stovetop or in the microwave. It just needs to be heated until the meat is warmed all the way through and the sauce starts to bubble.

Beef Osso Buco Tips

Do you eat the marrow in beef osso buco?

You can definitely eat the bone marrow in this beef osso buco. For many people, that’s the best part. You can eat it straight off the bone or scoop it out and spread it on Italian bread.

What can you serve with beef osso buco?

Because beef shank osso buco is so saucy, it’s best served over starchy bases like polenta, creamy mashed potatoes or a portobello risotto. In some places it’s served over pasta. Have crusty bread on the side to sop up the sauce, and round it all out with a simple side salad.

Can you make beef osso buco in the slow cooker?

As is evidenced by our recipe, beef osso buco is perfect for your slow cooker. It’s often cooked in a Dutch oven, but using a slow cooker means you can set it and forget it, making it perfect for days when you want to come home to a fancy meal.