Carnivore Diet Beef Shank Recipe
- Rachael Elizabeth
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Beef shank or "osso bucco" is one of the most under-rated cuts! This recipe is great for those on a carnivore diet, keto diet, animal-based diet, or low carb diet (but can and should be enjoyed by anyone).
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Beef shank or "osso buco" is one of the most underrated cuts! When cooked properly, it's very tender, flavorful, and delicious. It tastes great just made with salt for those that are strict carnivore, and adding some butter after it's cooked really tastes it to a new level!
If you're doing more of an animal-based or low carb diet, feel free to add in herbs or aromatics to your liking. This recipe is very versatile. The key is to make sure the beef cooks long enough and doesn't dry out.
You can use a dutch oven, crockpot, or instant pot for this recipe—they all work really well, but I prefer the dutch oven as it retains heat so well.
Cooking Tips & FAQ
Tips for making the best beef shank
The key is to cook it low and slow, allowing the connective tissue to break down. Be patient with it, this can take longer than you think (especially if your beef is grass-fed as it has more connective tissue than conventional beef). If it's still tough, it's not ready yet!
If you tolerate dairy, add some butter and extra salt to it after it's been cooked.
When storing the leftover meat stock, you can flip the mason jar upside down in the fridge. This will allow the fat to go to the bottom of the jar and make the broth easily accessible. To drink, just heat up on the stovetop. You choose whether you want to drink the fat or save it for cooking (some people have trouble digesting liquid fat and others don't)!
Where can I source high quality grass-fed beef?
If you can't find a good local source, these are some great regenerative farms that ship their meats right to your doorstep:
White Oak Pastures (code: RIBEYERACH)
Northstar Bison (code: RIBEYERACH)
REP Provisions (code: RIBEYERACH15)
Remember, just eat the best quality meat you can afford. Grass-fed is always best, but conventional is still an excellent option.
What type of broth should I use?
Any bone broth will work! Personally I prefer the flavor of beef broth to chicken, but they both will work just fine. If you don't have homemade, I'd highly recommend FOND bone broth—it's the best quality prepackaged broth I've found. They have lots of great flavors (the best for this recipe is the tomato thyme) and for those that are strict carnivore, they have an unflavored option.
Can I use water instead of bone broth?
Yes, absolutely. I like the richness of flavor broth adds, but water will work just fine!
What should I do with the bone marrow in the middle of beef shank?
You can eat some of it with a spoon before cooking (I love doing this, it tastes so good). Or you can leave it in while cooking. It's packed full of nutrients, so don't let it go to waste!
What is the "noodle" like stuff around the edges of beef shank?
Many people think this is fat, but it's not! It's collagen. It's packed with protein and nutrients! It's delicious with some salt on it. Don't be afraid to eat it!
Beef Shank Recipe - YouTube Video
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think in the comments down below! Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Be sure to follow along on Instagram and YouTube for more recipes and fun content!