Instant Pot Beef Shank

When chilly weather strikes, it’s always nice to have something cozy for dinner. And this Instant Pot beef shank recipe is an excellent candidate! It captures all the homey flavor of slow-cooker beef stew or coffee-braised roast beef but cooks more quickly, so you don’t have to wait all day for home-cooked comfort food.

This recipe was adapted from one of our favorite meaty braising recipes: classic beef osso buco. The pressure cooker version keeps with the original by using hearty beef shanks, red wine, beef broth and a selection of fragrant aromatics that infuse the dish with irresistible flavor. It omits some traditional osso buco ingredients—like tomatoes, garlic and herbs—which lets the flavor of the beef really shine. While the original recipe requires all-day cooking, this version can be on your table in about an hour thanks to your pressure cooker.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Beef Shanks

• Beef shanks: Beef shanks are well-worked muscles from the cow’s leg. It’s a cut that benefits from low-and-slow cooking with moist heat to make the tough meat tender. We use an electric pressure cooker for this recipe, but you could use a slow cooker, pressure cooker, Dutch oven or Instant Pot to braise beef shanks.
• Salt: When searing beef shanks in an Instant Pot, don’t forget to season them with salt. Doing so draws out the moisture and creates a flavorful meat brine that’s reabsorbed by the meat as it cooks, making the beef juicier.
• Canola oil: We use this neutral cooking oil to sear the beef shanks and give them a flavorful crust.
• Vegetables: The aromatic combination of onion, carrot and green pepper adds flavor to the braising liquid.
• Beef broth: Beef broth functions as the braising liquid in the recipe, which helps keep the beef shanks moist, tender and juicy as they cook in the Instant Pot.
• Red wine: You can use any type of red wine for this recipe. We like dry red wines like cabernet sauvignon or merlot to add depth of flavor and richness without sweetness. If you prefer to omit the wine, swap in an equal amount of beef broth.
• Lemon: A single lemon slice adds a touch of acidity and brightness that contrasts with the rich beef shanks.
• Cornstarch: Mixed with a bit of water to make a simple slurry, cornstarch helps thicken the flavor-packed broth and transform it into a heavenly, velvety sauce. If you don’t want to use cornstarch, you can thicken sauce with flour or arrowroot instead.

Directions

Step 1: Brown the beef shanks

Season the beef shanks on all sides with salt. Select the saute or browning setting on a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. Adjust for medium heat, and add the oil. When the oil is hot, brown the beef in batches. Press cancel.

Editor’s Tip: Searing the beef shanks on all sides is the key to developing flavor in this recipe. It creates a desirable appearance and enhances the beef’s taste and texture. After adding the beef to the Instant Pot, leave it undisturbed for a few minutes to ensure a nice, brown crust forms. See our cast-iron steak recipe for more tips on searing beef.

Step 2: Add the veggies and cooking liquids

Return all the browned beef shanks to the pressure cooker. Add the onion, carrot, green pepper, red wine, beef broth and lemon.

Step 3: Pressure-cook the beef shanks

Lock the lid and close the pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 40 minutes. Once the 40 minutes are up, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure. Remove the meat and vegetables from the pressure cooker and keep warm. Discard the lemon.

Editor’s Tip: New to pressure cookers? Read up on the difference between Instant Pot natural release and quick release methods.

Step 4: Thicken the sauce

Skim the fat from the cooking juices. Select the saute setting and adjust for low heat. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth, then stir the resulting slurry into the cooking juices. Simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened, one to two minutes. Serve the sauce with the beef and vegetables.

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Instant Pot Beef Shank Variations

• Add extra veggies: You can add up to 2 cups of additional veggies to this Instant Pot beef shank recipe. Chopped celery, mushrooms, parsnips, turnips or rutabagas would all work well.
• Toss in fresh or dried herbs: When preparing a beef shank in an Instant Pot, you can layer flavors by adding with your favorite fresh or dried herbs. Thyme, oregano, bay leaves, rosemary, parsley or basil are great options.
• Include tomato: Adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato paste would make this recipe taste more like a traditional Italian osso buco.

How to Store Instant Pot Beef Shanks

Leftover Instant Pot beef shanks should be kept refrigerated. Store the meat and sauce together in an airtight food storage container.

How long does Instant Pot beef shank last?

Instant Pot beef shanks will last for up to four days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze Instant Pot beef shank?

This Instant Pot beef shank recipe is an excellent make-ahead freezer meal. Store the beef shanks and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Defrost the beef shanks overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How do you reheat Instant Pot beef shank?

Reheat Instant Pot beef shanks in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. Alternatively, this beef shank recipe may be warmed in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish until heated through.

Instant Pot Beef Shank Tips

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

How else can you cook beef shanks?

If you don’t own an Instant Pot, you can use another low-and-slow cooking method like slow-cooking or stovetop braising in a Dutch oven. Slow-cooker beef bourguignon or our cold-weather braised beef recipe could be easily adapted to be made with beef shanks.

What can you serve with an Instant Pot beef shank?

A beef shank in an Instant Pot can be paired with a whole host of rib-sticking, cozy side dish recipes. Fluffy buttermilk mashed potatoes, cooked egg noodles, steamed wild rice or dreamy polenta are just a few options to consider.

Can I make this Instant Pot beef shank recipe with another cut of beef?

If you don’t have access to beef shanks, other cuts of beef may be used in this recipe. A bone-in or boneless chuck roast is typically the most affordable swap. Alternatively, bone-in or boneless short ribs would also work well in this recipe.