Dig out your Crock-Pot to prepare Slow-Cooker Osso Buco and get amazing results.
Believe it or not, there’s more to Italian food than just pasta and pizza. A classic Italian dish that revolves around meat is osso buco, a braised dish of veal shanks. Since it can be a labor-intensive meal, it’s a popular dish to order out. However, you can use a slow cooker, which means you don’t need to be an expert chef to make this yummy, succulent recipe. All you need is a little prep work and time to allow the ingredients to cook for eight hours.
Because of the slow cooking process, your osso buco will taste just as good as it would in any Italian restaurant. After all of that time in the slow cooker, the veal shanks come out tender with the bone marrow adding an enticing rich flavor. In addition to the mouth-watering veal, slow cooker osso buco includes big chunks of tasty veggies to create a hearty and unforgettable meal.
Is Slow-Cooker Osso Buco Healthy?
Osso buco can provide plenty of nutritional value. Veal shanks are a great source of protein, in fact, compared to beef, veal is leaner and contains fewer calories. The meat also provides iron and vitamins such as vitamin B12. The vegetables add in plenty of fiber, with tomatoes providing antioxidants such as lycopene, and carrots adding minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Some Slow Cooker Tips
It’s best to add the browned meat to the slow cooker first, with the sautéed vegetables on top, that way you can ensure it’ll be sitting in the broth. There should be just enough liquid in the slow cooker to cover the meat at least halfway, which is why it calls for 1 cup of beef broth. Otherwise, you run the risk of drying out the veal shanks and they won’t come out as tender as you’d like. Keep an eye on the meat during cooking, and if at any point it looks a little dry, add some extra beef broth.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftover osso buco should be cooled and then stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you reheat the leftovers, you can do so in the slow cooker for 1 to 2 hours, but reheating on the stove or in the microwave works too. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. The night before you want to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then reheat as directed above.
Serving Suggestions
To keep things simple, I usually like to make Healthy Mashed Potatoes or Mashed Red Potatoes as a side for this dish. Polenta and Risotto (or Cauliflower Risotto) are other delicious traditional sides. On the other hand, I understand if an Italian dish feels incomplete without pasta or noodles. You can always make a simple pot of spaghetti or complement osso buco with Spinach Pasta or Instant Pot Pasta Primavera for a more complete Italian meal. For a hearty veggie option, try Sautéed Squash and Zucchini or an Italian Salad.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 veal shanks about 1 1/4 inches thick
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup onion chopped into chunks
- 1/2 cup celery chopped into chunks
- 1/2 cup carrots chopped into chunks
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 1/4 teaspoons thyme
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 1 cup beef broth
- Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the veal shanks with salt and pepper, then brown them on all sides. Afterward, transfer them to the slow cooker.
- In the same skillet, sauté onion, celery, carrots, and garlic until softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another minute.
- Add the sautéed vegetables, crushed tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, and beef broth to the slow cooker.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or until the veal is tender.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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