These slow cooked Beef Cheeks are braised in a beautiful red wine sauce until they are so meltingly tender, you can eat it with a spoon! The braising liquid in this Beef Cheeks recipe is infused with incredible flavour and when pureed, transforms into a thick, luscious gravy-like sauce.
Perfectly accompanied with creamy mashed potatoes, this is a very easy dish that is suited to an elegant dinner party or a hearty midweek meal. Make this in your slow cooker, pressure cooker or on the stove!
Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks
This is a magnificent dish that takes a budget cut of beef and transforms it with little effort into a dish that you’ll find on the menu of fine dining restaurants.
Except it’s 80% cheaper. 🙂 I had lunch at an upscale bistro on the weekend where Beef Cheeks were on the menu for $35 a serving!
Little known fact: Beef cheeks are the KING of all slow cooking cuts of beef!
What are beef cheeks?
Beef Cheeks are the cheek muscle of cows and they are a very tough cut of meat that needs to be cooked long and slow to make it tender. It absorbs the flavours of braising liquid well and when you cut into it, it is stringy, almost like pulled pork.
But unlike beef chuck (used for Beef Stew and Pot Roast), Brisket and even Beef Short Ribs which have patches of really juicy sections and also some that can (sometimes) be a bit dry, not a single part of the beef cheek is dry. Every mouthful is juicy and luscious and even just typing up this post is making my mouth water!
And THAT is what makes them so special!!
What you need for this Beef Cheeks recipe
We’re making a fine dining quality dish here, but it just calls for a trip to your local grocery store! Here’s what you need:
Beef Cheeks
5 years ago, they were cheaper and weren’t always available in the large supermarkets here in Australia. But nowadays, thanks to shows like Masterchef and My Kitchen Rules, the price has been driven up but on the plus side, they are now regulars at mainstream stores like Coles and Woolies!
If you can’t find Beef Cheeks, other slow cooking beef cuts will work fine – Beef Short Ribs would be an ideal substitute. Cut them into 250g/8oz chunks so the same cooking times and liquid quantities in this recipe will apply.
This is a magnificent dish that takes a budget cut of beef and transforms it with little effort into a fine dining restaurant dish!
Red Wine for cooking
My Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks recipe is made with a classic Italian red wine braising liquid. The deep, warm, complex flavours of red wine are perfect for using as the stock base for slow cooked beef dishes.
Go to your local liquor outlet and look for end of bin specials and pick up a bottle of a full bodied red wine like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
A pet peeve of mine are recipes that tell you that you must use good quality drinking wine for slow cooking recipes. I do not believe that at all for slow cooked dishes – and the New York Times agrees.
For quick sauces, yes, absolutely. But not for a braising liquid. I bet not even the greatest food critic in the world would be able to tell if it was a discounted $5 end of bin special or a $40 reserve Cab Sav. (Seriously. Who would make a slow cooked beef recipe using a $40 bottle of wine??).
You won’t use the whole bottle. If the wine is not to your standard for drinking, measure out cups and pour them into ziplock bags and freeze them. Handy to have when you need wine for other recipes!
How to make this Beef Cheeks Recipe
Though it does take time to slow cook, it’s an incredibly straightforward recipe:
Brown beef cheeks aggressively – this is key for flavour!
Saute garlic, onion, carrots and celery – our soffrito, the flavour base for the sauce;
Add braising liquid ingredients;
Slow cook the beef cheeks until they are fall apart tender – stove 2.5 hrs, oven 3.5 hrs, slow cooker 8 hrs, pressure cooker / Instant Pot 1 hr;
Puree sauce to thicken into a gravy-like consistency;
Serve beef cheeks with sauce over creamy mashed potato (go all out with Paris Mash!) or for a low carb option, Mashed Cauliflower.
Don’t let the length of the recipe directions fool you, this really is a simple recipe. It’s just long because I’ve provided directions for 3 different cooking methods.
This Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks is a recipe that is elegant enough for a dinner party and if made using a slow cooker, easy enough for mid week.
The other great thing about these Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks is that the leftovers freeze 100% perfectly, OR can be transformed into two other incredible dishes that I’ve shared:
Beef Cheek Ragu Pasta – the rich braising liquid was made for tossing through pasta!
Cook once, eat thrice!! – Nagi x
Try these on the side
Paris Mash (ultimate creamy mashed potato!) or Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Crisp salad with tangy Balsamic Dressing or French Vinaigrette
Watch how to make it
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Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil , separated
- 1.5 kg/3lb beef cheeks , (4 large or 6 small beef cheeks)
- 1 onion (white, brown or yellow), roughly diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 celery stalk , roughly diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 carrot , roughly diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 4 garlic cloves , minced
- 6 stems of fresh thyme or 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 4 dried bay leaves (or 3 fresh bay leaves)
- 1 cup (250 ml) beef stock (broth)
- 2 cups (500 ml) red wine (full bodied eg. cabernet sauvignon or merlot)
- 2 – 3 tsp salt , separated
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the beef cheeks: cut off any large, fatty membrane. Pat dry then use 1 tsp of salt and black pepper to season the beef all over.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy based pot over high heat. Sear half the beef cheeks on each side until nicely browned. Remove beef cheeks onto a plate, repeat with remaining cheeks.
- Turn down the heat to medium high and heat the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic and onion. Sauté for 3 minutes until onion is becoming translucent.
- Add the celery and carrot,s sauté for a further 3 minutes.
- Follow directions for your chosen cooking method below.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Pour the onion mixture into the slow cooker and place the beef cheeks on top.
- Pour the wine into the pot and return to heat. Turn the heat up to high, bring to simmer and let it simmer for 1 minute (to cook out the wine a bit). Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan so it mixes in with the wine.
- Pour the wine into the slow cooker, then all the remaining ingredients, starting with a pinch of salt and pepper (add more to taste later).
- Cook in the slow cooker on Low for 8 hours or High for 6 hours for 250g/8oz size beef cheeks or Low for 10 – 12 hours or High for 8 hours for 350g/12oz beef cheeks.
- Open the slow cooker and remove the beef cheeks. Discard the thyme stems and bay leaves.
- Use a handheld stick blender to puree the braising liquid into a smooth Sauce – it will change from a dark brown to a lighter brown colour.
- Transfer liquid into saucepan, simmer on stove on medium high until the Sauce turns a darker brown colour and reduces by about 1/4 to 1/3, to a gravy consistency – about 10 minutes.
- Do a taste test and adjust the seasoning (salt and pepper) to your taste.
- Remove from heat, return beef cheeks to the Sauce, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
Pressure Cooker Directions
- Follow the Slow Cooker directions but cook on high in your pressure cooker for 1 hour on high for small cheeks (around 250g/8oz each).
Stovetop and Oven Directions
- Pour the wine into the pot / casserole dish (with the onion mixture) and stir to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot. Bring wine to simmer for 1 minute.
- Add remaining ingredients, starting with a pinch of salt and pepper (add more to taste later), the place lid on.
- Stove: Simmer on medium low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until the cheeks are very tender, turn at least once during cooking.
- Oven: 160C/320F for 3 to 3 1/2 hours .
- Remove the beef cheeks from sauce. Discard the thyme stems and bay leaves.
- Use a handheld stick blender to puree the braising liquid into a smooth Sauce – it will change from a dark brown to a lighter brown colour.
- Bring the Sauce to simmer over medium heat and simmer until it turns a darker brown colour and reduces by about 1/4 to 1/3, to a gravy consistency – about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Do a taste test and adjust the seasoning (salt and pepper) to your taste.
- Remove from heat, return beef cheeks to the Sauce, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
To Serve
- Serve beef cheeks on Paris Mash (ultimate creamy mashed potato!) or Creamy Mashed Cauliflower, drizzled with a generous amount of Sauce. Garnish with finely chopped parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published August 2014. Updated August 2019 with new photos, new process photos, new video, new writing. No change to recipe. I wouldn’t dare touch it, readers love it as it is!
Life of Dozer
His bib was soaked by the time the beef cheeks were in the pot…..
Heavenly! Just my taste. I only had 2 cheeks so adjusted recipe accordingly. Can’t wait to make it again for my parents.
can I use chuck if I cannot find beef cheeks or boneless short rib?
Hi Nonhlanhla, yes you can use chuck, I find it doesn’t have as much flavour as cheeks but will be delicious. Just make sure the chuck is similar size to beef cheeks so it cooks in the same amount of time – or you can cube it smaller and it will cook quicker. N x
Hi Nagi. It’s the first time I tried one of your recipes and it was amazing. Super easy and so so tasty. Somehow I over salted the meat is there any way to save it and reduce the salty flavor?
To reduce saltiness in any dish, simply pop chunks of raw potato into the stew. The potato will absorb some of the salt. Remove the potato before serving .
Loved this! Made the whole 3 dishes and it didn’t disappoint. Thanks for another super easy but delicious recipe Nagi, you are amazing!
I’m the worst cook and this recipe turned out so so good and I loved making it. Thank you
Just completed this on stovetop. I needed to cook for 3 1/2 hours as my 1kg of beef cheeks were not tender, however I think this might have been because they were slightly frozen in the middle. The sauce was delicious! Will try again in the slow cooker.
Made this for the second time yesterday and it was just as successful. I use the slow cooker method which I put on in the morning, makes it so easy. Guests loved it.
A very easy recipe to follow, even I was able to make a delicious meal that met my wife’s approval.
I have made this 3 times and every time it’s been fantastic. However….a word of warning. Beef cheeks are very hard to find. In my area we need to find a butcher who will order them for you and they are pricey. To make dinner for 3 the beef checks were $40.00 each time I bought them. You need to plan for this recipe otherwise, at least where I live, you may not be able to find any cheeks anywhere. I have always made them in the oven.
If you’re in Australia, Woolies sell beef cheeks year-round and are more affordable.
Excellent!! No such thing as leftovers.
These turned out ah-maaaazing! So very tender and full of flavour. I made mashed taters and your recipe for Parmesan crusted Brussels sprouts. Yum yum!!
That was tasty. I used orange wine instead of red one and cooked for around 4 hours. And it was still good
I loved these beef cheeks so much I wanted to make them again but could only find pork cheeks so I substituted the red wine with tawny port and they were divine.
Hi. I have pork cheeks and am curious which cooking method you used.
Thanks
As I am non – alcoholic, what can I substitute for red wine. I am looking forward to make this for my birthday. So I would like your kind reply. Thanks.
Hi Nagi, is 160° for fan assisted or non fan oven? Thanks a lot
Hi Reshma, unsweetened Grape, pomegranate or cranberry juice is the next best thing here – N x
Hi Nagi, it seems 1 hour on low is enough when using a pressure cooker as I burnt my first lot by 1 hour on high.. love your site and recipes so glad if this helps..!? Thank you. x
I cook beef cheeks fairly often ( I have recipes on my blog) and have never burnt the beef cheeks, cooking them for 80 minutes on the high setting. I think it may happen if there isn’t enough liquid underneath the beef cheeks.
After years of enjoying beef cheeks made by skilled chefs, I was forced by the pandemic to give it a try. The result of following this recipe was outstanding — seriously, I think they may have been the best I’ve ever enjoyed. Thanks!
This Covid pandemic will drive out a lot of unnecessary pricing in restaurants hopefully since people realize all the great things they can make at home
Nagi I made this last night in the slow cooker and it was AMAZING!
Can you please recommend which cut of lamb would work well with this recipe?
I’ve always used leg of lamb – it’s so tender and tasty!
These always turn out soooo good. My partner sits down for dinner and says ‘this is restaurant quality’…. so we know we’re in for a good meal 🙂
Thanks Nagi! x
Can I use venison instead of beef?
Hello, why do you use Chicken stock and not beef stock?
Hi Tijana, it’s a little more gentle in flavour here 🙂 N x
The photo says chicken stock but the recipe says beef stock