Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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This rich and flavorful oxtail stew is lovely on a bed of mashed cauliflower for the perfect comfort food meal!

The leftovers keep well for several days and taste better the next day after the flavors have had a chance to meld together.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

I love slow-cooked meats like pot roast or beef back ribs. But there's something unique about this oxtail stew. It is incredibly flavorful! Wonderfully fatty, tender meat that literally falls off the bone. It's one of my favorite winter meals. Comfort food at its best!

You will love this recipe if you like rich and aromatic beef stews. And the fact that you can make it right in your slow cooker - pretty much set it and forget it - is a huge bonus.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variation
  • Oxtail Stew Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Slow-Cooked Meat Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card
  • Let's Connect

Ingredients

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2)

Here's a list of the ingredients needed to make this oxtail stew recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below:

  • Bone-in oxtails: I usually get them at Whole Foods. Sometimes, I need to special-order them. They're also available online.
  • Soy sauce: Or you can use a gluten-free alternative.
  • Sesame oil: I like to use toasted sesame oil in this recipe. It's so flavorful!
  • Rice vinegar: White wine vinegar works too. I don't recommend using distilled white vinegar. It's too acidic.
  • Honey: Just one tablespoon. It doesn't make the oxtails sweet - it merely balances out the other favors. You can use a sugar-free alternative if you wish.
  • Hot sauce: Much like the honey, this is not about making the dish spicy. It's more about adding a layer of flavor. I like to use sriracha sauce.
  • To season: Kosher Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. You can substitute the garlic powder with three cloves of fresh minced garlic.
  • Cornstarch: A small amount to help thicken the stew.

Variation

Sometimes, when pressed for time, I don't bother using the Asian-style ingredients listed in the recipe card. Instead, I sprinkle the oxtails with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and ground cumin.

I place them in the slow cooker pan, add ¼ cup of water, close the lid, and cook on low for 8 hours. The result is just as good, although it has a different flavor profile.

Oxtail Stew Instructions

The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

Place the oxtails in your slow cooker pan.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (3)

Whisk the remaining ingredients except for the cornstarch. Pour them over the oxtails.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (4)

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (5)

Reduce the cooking liquids over medium heat, adding a slurry of cornstarch and water to help them thicken.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (6)

Serve the oxtails with the rich sauce.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (7)

Expert Tip

Since the oxtail is the tail of cattle, the pieces you'll get at your butcher's come in different sizes - the larger pieces are from the top of the tail, while the smaller ones are from its end. You can see the difference in the photo below.

Despite the difference in sizes, you can cook all these pieces together, and they'll all come out perfectly tender.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (8)

Recipe FAQs

Are oxtails really the tail of an ox?

They used to come from the tails of oxen, hence their name. But nowadays, they come from cattle of both genders.

Much like internal organs (such as beef tongue, beef cheeks, or beef heart), eating them is an excellent way of utilizing the entire animal, the ethical choice for meat-eaters.

Do you have to brown oxtails before cooking?

No. Simply place them in the slow cooker pan without browning them first. They come out perfectly cooked and wonderfully tender.

How long does it take for oxtails to get tender?

This meat is tough, but slow cooking makes it tender, and the fat softens and melts. I cook this oxtail stew in the slow cooker on the low setting for 8 hours.

What is in the middle of oxtail?

In the middle of an oxtail, you'll find the bone and bone marrow. Around it are meat and fat. As you can see in the photo, the fat is trimmed by the butcher, but there's still a fair amount of it surrounding the meat; in addition, you can see the marbling - the intramuscular fat inside the meat.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (9)

Serving Suggestions

Since it's a wonderfully saucy dish, I like to serve this oxtail stew on top of something that would absorb those juices, such as:

  • Mashed cauliflower
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Zucchini noodles
  • Spaghetti squash noodles
  • Mashed butternut squash

I also like to add a green vegetable, such as:

  • Roasted asparagus
  • Roasted broccoli
  • Roasted green beans

Storing Leftovers

The leftovers keep well in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. In fact, like many slow-cooked stews, they taste better the next day since storing allows the flavors to meld.

I reheat them gently in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can freeze the leftovers for up to three months.

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (10)

More Slow-Cooked Meat Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
  • Keto Pot Roast
  • Boneless Short Ribs
  • Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks

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Recipe Card

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (15)

4.99 from 1087 votes

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Oxtail Stew

This rich and flavorful oxtail stewis lovely on a bed of mashed cauliflower for the perfect comfort food meal!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Total Time8 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 317kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds oxtails raw, bone-in
  • ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce (or a gluten-free alternative)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce such as sriracha
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Place the oxtails in your slow cooker.

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (16)

  • In a medium bowl, whisk the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, hot sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Pour over the oxtails and stir to coat.

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (17)

  • Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, until the meat is very tender.

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (18)

  • Temporarily transfer the cooked oxtails to a platter. Strain the liquids from the slow cooker into a measuring cup. Return the oxtails to the slow cooker, cover with the lid, and set to WARM.

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (19)

  • Skim the fat layer off the top of the cooking liquids. Pour them into a medium saucepan. Heat the cooking liquids over medium heat. Whisk the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water and stir it into the saucepan. Keep cooking the sauce, whisking often, until it has thickened into a rich glaze, 3-5 minutes.

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (20)

  • Remove the oxtails from the slow cooker onto a serving platter. Top them with the sauce and serve.

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (21)

Video

Notes

  • This recipe yields about 20 ounces of cooked meat without bones.
  • If too much fat remains in the cooking liquids, the glaze will separate when you try to reduce it. Sometimes, I place the cup with cooking liquids in the freezer for a few minutes. It enables the fat to solidify somewhat, and then it's easier to remove.
  • The leftovers keep well in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. In fact, like many slow-cooked stews, they taste better the next day since storing allows the flavors to meld. I reheat them gently in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can freeze the leftovers for up to three months.

Add Your Own Notes

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 5ounces meat without bones | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 799mg | Sugar: 4g

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Disclaimers

Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (32) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. JBL

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (33)
    Made it today and we all loved it. Next time, i will probably add carrots and potatoes.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it.

      Reply

  2. Jan

    Hi,
    I’m just wondering, due to the ingredients, is this an Asian-inspired version or does it taste more like a beef stew I would make? Sorry to be a pest! 🙂 It looks wonderful!! Many thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      No worries, Jan! That's a great question. It doesn't taste like an Asian dish. I use Asian ingredients to add a rich, umami flavor.

      Reply

  3. Chanel

    Hi!

    If I don’t have a slow cooker can I use a porcelain croc pot in the oven? What temp would I use?

    Thanks!
    Chanel

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi Chanel,
      I'm sorry - I only tested this recipe in the slow cooker.

      Reply

  4. Miranda

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (34)
    This oxtail stew was superb. So rich and flavorful! My entire family loved it - we had no leftovers! Next time, I'll double the recipe. 🙂

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Glad you liked it, Miranda! Thank you for leaving a comment.

      Reply

  5. M. Hager

    Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (35)
    I just made this last night. The only changes I made were to add 2 cups of water because I was using frozen oxtails and the Crock Pot manual said to add at least a warm cup of water to prevent thermal shock and I added 2 Tbs of table salt because I doubled the recipe and forgot the amount was different for table salt. Oops!

    I let it go until the meat was falling off the bones, then pulled all the meat off and portioned it for my meals. While doing that, I couldn't resist sucking on all of the bones.

    The only thing that didn't go right for me was the sauce at the end. Because I doubled the recipe, I also doubled the cornstarch that I added. I suspect I didn't need near as much. Either that or the drippings needed to be allowed to separate more before trying to reduce it. It essentially turned into fats and tar. The tar tasted good, but no way to mix it in with the meat.

    Had one serving for lunch today and the meat was incredibly rich and wonderful. This recipe will be done again.

    I may try it with other meats/cuts of meat.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe! I just made it this week. It's a family favorite. I suspect the glaze separated because too much fat remained in the cooking liquids. Sometimes it helps to place the cup with cooking liquids in the freezer for a few minutes. It enables the fat to solidify somewhat, and then it's easier to remove. I'll go ahead and add this tip to the recipe notes.

      Reply

Oxtail Stew Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Is oxtail stew healthy? ›

Oxtail is rich in Collagen, a vital protein for our body's growth and repair. Oxtail is high in fat so an ideal energy source for a Ketogenic, Paleo, or Carnivore Diet. With over 70% fat, Oxtail is Ideal for anyone on a high fat / low carb or no-carb diet.

Why do you soak oxtail before cooking? ›

By soaking and blanching the oxtail before cooking any impurities are removed. To cook: Oxtail requires long, slow cooking to produce tender, succulent meat.

Why put vinegar on oxtails? ›

To clean oxtails with vinegar, use white distilled vinegar to rinse oxtails. Soak oxtails in the vinegar for approximately 5 minutes. Drain oxtails, then rinse with cold water. This helps remove any blood from the oxtails while tenderizing them simultaneously.

Is oxtail bone broth healthy? ›

The Connective tissues in an Oxtail bring Glucosamine and chondroitin to the picture. These two contribute to joint health. The protein Collagen breaks down into a protein called gelatin which gives the bone broth the gelatinous trait when cooled and this is where some important amino acids come into play.

What is the healthiest meat for stew? ›

The best cuts of stew meat are lean with a high concentration of collagen-rich connective tissues—such as chuck or shoulder cuts—that also have some fat marbling for flavor. Lean cuts of meat come from parts of the animal that have lots of muscle, like the legs.

Is oxtail anti inflammatory? ›

Packed with B vitamins, including B-12 for nerve function and DNA production, and niacin for digestion and energy production. Higher in grass-fed oxtail, known for anti-inflammatory properties. Found more in grass-fed oxtail, associated with reduced body fat and improved immune function.

Does oxtail get softer the longer you cook it? ›

Braising oxtail is strongly recommended because it adds flavor to the stock and the low and slow cook will tenderize the meat and cartilage and bring out flavor from the bones and marrow. Your oxtails should be tender and safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should I brown oxtails before cooking? ›

Browning or searing the meat before slow cooking locks in all the flavors and juices in the meat. Plus, we season the oxtails with our seasonings and Worcestershire sauce before browning, which seals even more flavor into the meat. It's not a necessary step, but one that's well worth doing.

What happens if you don't brown oxtails? ›

While it's not absolutely necessary to brown the oxtails before stewing them, it is highly recommended. Browning meat results in caramelization which greatly enhances the flavor of the finished stew.

What is the difference between Jamaican oxtail and southern oxtail? ›

The two are slightly similar but the flavor varies immensely. For Jamaican oxtails, you use scotch bonnets, green onions, browning, and spices like nutmeg and allspice. For southern-style, it's a lot tamer. I make mine with a hearty onion brown gravy.

Why do my oxtails taste bitter? ›

OK, so if you find that your brown stew 'oxtail' dish has a more bitter taste, this is more than likely due to using too much browning sauce. No worries---you can fix this! Simply break up the bitter taste with a bit of ketchup, brown sugar, and additional stock. This should help!

What is the downside of bone broth? ›

While bone broth is generally considered safe to consume, there are some potential risks to be aware of. Lead contamination. Some studies show elevated levels of lead in bone broths, which can be harmful to health if consumed in large amounts. Bacterial contamination.

What is the healthiest meat broth? ›

Non-gmo beef or chicken bone broth is the healthiest option to drink. Beef and chicken are both great options because they are high in protein, collagen, gelatin and amino acids for gut health and skin hydration.

Why are oxtails so expensive? ›

Another reason for the price spike is how oxtail is processed. Each cow yields only about six to eight pounds of the fat-coated tail, typically butchered into thick vertical slices, with lots of bones and collagen.

How many calories are in oxtail stew? ›

How many Calories are in this Spicy Oxtail Stew? There are 585 Calories per portion in this Spicy Oxtail Stew, which means it falls into our Special Occasion category. To cut down the amount of calories even more, you can simply halve the portion size and serve with a healthy accompaniment.

Is oxtail soup nutritious? ›

Based on the data of RI Ministry of Health (TKPI), every 100 grams "Oxtail soup, cooking" contains 286 mg calcium, 3.2 mg iron and 7.5 grams protein. This shows that the content of calcium, iron and protein including high and quite high. Minimize bone loss ➠ Benefits from high content of protein and calcium.

Is oxtail high in carbs? ›

Beef oxtail, visible fat eaten (3 ounce) contains 0g total carbs, 0g net carbs, 12.9g fat, 22.7g protein, and 213 calories.

How long does oxtail take to digest? ›

But in a normal, omnivorous diet, the meat will complete its journey through your digestive system in 12 to 48 hours, along with everything else.

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