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Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco

★★★★★★★★★★
4.6 stars, average of 349 ratings

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Osso Buco is a traditional Italian dish made with veal shanks that are browned and cooked with onion, garlic, carrots and tomatoes. Veal shanks contain marrow bones that add fantastic flavour (and healthy fats!) to this low-carb dinner dish. Don't forget to eat the bone marrow — it can be hard to extract from the bones but you can use the thin end of a teaspoon or a meat skewer to do that.

Traditionally, veal shanks are served with a simple gremolata, risotto or polenta. To keep this meal keto-friendly, I like to serve mine with Gremolata Cauli-Rice or plain cauli-rice.

This meal makes four generous servings or up to six smaller meals. I used three large veal shanks but you may have to use up to six pieces depending on the size (make sure to use the correct weight). If you are short on time you can skip the browning although I would advice against it because browning adds a lot of flavour and takes this popular Italian-inspired dish to a whole new level. I also like to finish mine in the oven just to crisp it up a little.

Looking for more keto Instant Pot recipes? Make sure to check out my Instant Pot Beef Stew and other low-carb recipes including soups and stews, all made in the Instant Pot.

Hands-on Overall

Allergy information for Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco

✔  Gluten free
✔  Dairy free
✔  Nut free
✔  Pork free
✔  Avocado free
✔  Coconut free
✔  Fish free
✔  Shellfish free

Nutritional values (per serving)

Net carbs4.4 grams
Protein34.5 grams
Fat24.4 grams
Calories389 kcal
Calories from carbs 5%, protein 37%, fat 58%
Total carbs6.6 gramsFiber2.2 gramsSugars3.6 gramsSaturated fat9.6 gramsSodium618 mg(27% RDA)Magnesium50 mg(12% RDA)Potassium797 mg(40% EMR)

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (70 g/ 2.5 oz)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced (65 g/ 2.3 oz)
  • 2 large celery stalks (80 g/ 2.8 oz)
  • 1.4 kg veal shanks, bone in (about 3 lbs) - will yield about 50% meat, 700 g/ 1.5 lbs raw meat)
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp coarse black pepper, or to taste
  • 3 tbsp ghee, duck fat or tallow (45 ml)
  • 1 small can chopped tomatoes (200 g/ 7 oz)
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (30 ml)
  • 1/2 cup water (120 ml/ 4 fl oz)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30 ml)
  • Optional: best served with Gremolata Cauli-Rice Quick & Easy Gremolata

Instructions

  1. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Dice the carrot and slice the celery. Set aside. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  2. Using a paper towel, pat dry the meat. Season with salt and pepper from both sides. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  3. Set your Instant Pot to Sauté and grease with 2 tablespoons of ghee (use 6 or 8-quart/L Instant Pot). Add the beef chunks and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and caramelised. This step is important as it will add flavour! Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  4. Remove from the Instant Pot and set aside on a plate. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  5. Grease the Instant Pot with the remaining 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add the onion and cook for just 3 minutes, until fragrant and then add the minced garlic. Cook for another 30 seconds.
  6. Add the carrot and celery and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  7. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, lemon juice and water.
  8. Add back the browned meat and cover with the sauce. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  9. Cover with a lid and set to Manual. Cook on high pressure for 40 minutes. When the program has finished, let the steam release naturally for 15-20, and then turn the valve to venting to release the remaining steam. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  10. Remove the lid once the pressure has dropped and the lid released. Season to taste and drizzle with olive oil and serve. Optionally, you can transfer the content of the Instant pot into a large shallow casserole dish and brown under a broiler preheated to high for about 10 minutes. Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco
  11. Serve with low-carb sides such as Cauli-Mash or Cauli-Rice Low-Carb Instant Pot Osso Buco

Don't Have an Instant Pot?

If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can use a large casserole dish or Dutch oven and prepare your Osso Buco in the oven. To do that, preheat the oven to 160 °C/ 325 °F. Brown the meat and cook the aromatics in the casserole dish — just like you would using the Sauté program on the Instant Pot. Add the browned veal shanks and the remaining ingredients. Cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 75 to 90 minutes.

Instant Pot Osso Buco
Step by Step

★★★★★★★★★★
4.6 stars, average of 349 ratings
Instant Pot Osso Buco
Tender veal shanks cooked in a pressure cooker with onion, garlic, thyme and vegetables. A classic Italian veal dish made low-carb!
Hands on15m
Overall1h 45m
Servings4
Calories389 kcal
Pin it

Ingredients

  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (70 g/ 2.5 oz)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced (65 g/ 2.3 oz)
  • 2 large celery stalks (80 g/ 2.8 oz)
  • 1.4 kg veal shanks, bone in (about 3 lbs) - will yield about 50% meat, 700 g/ 1.5 lbs raw meat)
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp coarse black pepper, or to taste
  • 3 tbsp ghee, duck fat or tallow (45 ml)
  • 1 small can chopped tomatoes (200 g/ 7 oz)
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (30 ml)
  • 1/2 cup water (120 ml/ 4 fl oz)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30 ml)
  • Optional: best served with Gremolata Cauli-Rice Quick & Easy Gremolata

Instructions

  1. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Dice the carrot and slice the celery. Set aside.
  2. Using a paper towel, pat dry the meat. Season with salt and pepper from both sides.
  3. Set your Instant Pot to Sauté and grease with 2 tablespoons of ghee (use 6 or 8-quart/L Instant Pot). Add the beef chunks and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and caramelised. This step is important as it will add flavour!
  4. Remove from the Instant Pot and set aside on a plate.
  5. Grease the Instant Pot with the remaining 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add the onion and cook for just 3 minutes, until fragrant and then add the minced garlic. Cook for another 30 seconds.
  6. Add the carrot and celery and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  7. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, lemon juice and water.
  8. Add back the browned meat and cover with the sauce.
  9. Cover with a lid and set to Manual. Cook on high pressure for 40 minutes. When the program has finished, let the steam release naturally for 15-20, and then turn the valve to venting to release the remaining steam.
  10. Remove the lid once the pressure has dropped and the lid released. Season to taste and drizzle with olive oil and serve. Optionally, you can transfer the content of the Instant pot into a large shallow casserole dish and brown under a broiler preheated to high for about 10 minutes.
  11. Serve with low-carb sides such as Cauli-Mash or Cauli-Rice

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories389kcal
Net Carbs4.4g
Carbohydrates6.6g
Protein34.5g
Fat24.4g
Saturated Fat9.6g
Fiber2.2g
Sugar3.6g
Sodium618mg
Magnesium50mg
Potassium797mg

Detailed nutritional breakdown (per serving)

Net carbsProteinFatCalories
Total per serving
4.4 g34.5 g24.4 g389 kcal
Onion, brown (yellow), raw
1.1 g0.2 g0 g6 kcal
Garlic, fresh
0.5 g0.1 g0 g2 kcal
Carrot, fresh
1.1 g0.2 g0 g7 kcal
Celery stalk, fresh
0.3 g0.1 g0 g3 kcal
Veal, shank (fore and hind), separable lean and fat, raw
0 g33.5 g6.1 g198 kcal
Salt, sea salt
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Pepper, black, spices
0.1 g0 g0 g1 kcal
Ghee
0 g0 g11.3 g102 kcal
Tomatoes, canned (unsweetened)
0.8 g0.4 g0.1 g8 kcal
Bay leaf, dried
0.1 g0 g0 g1 kcal
Thyme, fresh
0 g0 g0 g0 kcal
Lemon juice, fresh
0.4 g0 g0 g1 kcal
Olive oil, extra virgin
0 g0 g6.8 g60 kcal

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Martina Slajerova
Creator of KetoDietApp.com

Martina Slajerova

I changed the way I ate in 2011, when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. I had no energy, and I found it more and more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

That’s when I decided to quit sugar, grains, and processed foods, and to start following a whole-foods-based ketogenic approach to food.

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Comments (10)

I can never print any of your recipes. I can save as PDF but not print. Wish I could.

I'm sorry to hear that Antonietta! I've tested this on several different browsers but can't find the issue with printing. You should be able to:
a) save as PDF, then print on your computer (just like any other PDFs)
b) print using the print button (again, this will open as PDF and then it should print just like any PDFs)

Would the cook time be the same if I used a pork shank instead?

I think that would depend on the size. These are sliced so I assume if you use whole pork shank then I'd cook it for 60-70 minutes. It could be less, it really depends on the thickness of the cut.

I want to cook your recipe. Can a 14 oz chopped tomatoes preserve do the trick? Adding tomatoes to other ingredients will not cause problems? I always learned that you had to put the tomatoes on top.
Thank you!

Not at all! You can use tomatoes directly in the recipe. The only tomatoes that may not be ideal are unpeeled (fresh or canned) tomatoes - some people don't like the skins 😊

Just made this and it was sublime!! So tasty and delicious 😋 had it with cauli mash and the easy gremolata. Was so good I wish I had leftovers

Thank you Jem!

I have to say; this is my first Keto meal and oh my!  My spouse and I gobbled it up.  This is incredibly tasty and guest-worthy in our books.  We had it with your Quick and Easy Gremolata Cauli-Rice and completely enjoyed it! Thank you!

Thank you so much Gigi! What a great way to be introduced to keto!