Slow Cooker Garlic Herb Beef Shanks

Slow cooker garlic herb beef shanks is an easy & comforting meal. Beef shanks are a great cut of meat for the low & slow method of the crockpot. The result is tender beef that’s falling apart. You can also make this low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible recipe in the Instant Pot.

Garlic Herb Beef Shanks

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Garlic Herb Beef Shanks

• Beef Shanks
• Garlic
• Beef Broth
• Dried Herbs & Seasonings

How To Make Beef Shanks In The Crock-Pot

1. Slow Cooker
   1. Pour the broth into the slow cooker. Season beef shanks with dried herbs, salt, pepper,  garlic powder & onion powder. 
   2. Optional Step: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and sear until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes on each side. You might have to do this in batches. Remove the skillet and add the beef from to the slow cooker. 
   3. If you’re not searing the beef shanks, add the seasoned meat directly to the slow cooker.
   4. Add the garlic on top.
   5. Cook high 4-5 hours or low 8-10.

   Instant Pot

   1. Season beef shanks with salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic powder & onion powder.
   2. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot add oil to the pot. Add the beef and sear until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes on each side. You might have to do this in batches. Remove the beef from the pressure cooker and set aside.
   3. Add the garlic and broth and de-glaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Add the beef shanks back into the pressure cooker.
   4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 35 minutes. When cooking time is complete, let the pressure naturally release the pressure for 15 minutes then manually the any pressure.

What Are Beef Shanks?

Beef shank is a cut from the forearm and upper hind legs of the a cow. The meat is one of the tougher cuts of beef which makes it perfect for the low & slow cooking method of the slow cooker. When cooked properly, beef shank is falling apart succulent meat that’s full of flavor.

before

What Type Of Herbs To Use

I purposely left the herb ingredients generic with by only saying 2 tablespoons dried herbs. I used dried rosemary but as always,  I encourage you to use your preferred ingredients. Don’t like rosemary? Use thyme. Or basil, or parsley, or oregano, etc. Same concept goes with the garlic. I use 4 cloves of garlic. You can make this as garlicky as you like. 

Searing The Meat Beforehand

For the Instant Pot, searing the meat is listed as an instruction. If you’re using a slow cooker, browning or searing the meat before adding it to the slow cooker is an optional step. Don’t ever let someone say that you have to do this. 

FAQs For Slow Cooker Garlic Herb Beef Shanks Recipe

• Beef shanks are a tough cut of meat so be sure to cook your beef until it shreds easily with a fork. If your beef shank isn’t tender to that point, keep cooking it.
• Make this recipe more keto friendly by adding butter or ghee on top of the beef shanks before they cook.
• Store leftover beef shanks in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• My beef shanks were approxmitely 1.5 pounds each. I served this over mashed potatoes. 
• I used a 6-quart slow cooker (or Instant Pot).

Beef Recipes 

• Osso Buco

• Korean Inspired Beef Short Ribs

• Corned Beef

• Brisket

Slow Cooker Garlic Herb Beef Shanks

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• Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 pounds beef shanks
• 2 cups low-sodium beef bone broth
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons dried herbs
• 2 teaspoons salt (or more)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil

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Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Add the broth and the garlic cloves to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
2. Season beef shanks with dried herbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder & onion powder.
3. Optional Step: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and sear until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes on each side. You might have to do this in batches. Remove the skillet and add the beef from to the slow cooker.
4. If you’re not searing the beef shanks, add the seasoned meat directly to the slow cooker.
5. Cook high 4-5 hours or low 8-10.

Instant Pot

1. Season beef shanks with salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic powder & onion powder.
2. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot add oil to the pot. Add the beef shanks and sear until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes on each side. You may have to do this in batches. Remove the beef from the pressure cooker and set aside.
3. Turn off the pressure cooker. Add the garlic and broth and de-glaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Add the beef shanks back into the pressure cooker.
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 35 minutes. When cooking time is complete, let the pressure naturally release the pressure for 15 minutes then manually any pressure.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 mintues
• Cook Time: 5 hours

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive money if you make a purchase using one of the links. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/.

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