This slow cooker oxtail and butter bean recipe has everything you could ever want in a beef stew. This is comfort food straight from my childhood.
It’s
About
To
Go
Down!!!
And I’m just going to start this off by saying, as with any good meat slow cooker recipe this one started off in a pot. On the stove. With a fire. And I’m not mad about that because the flavor that you get from doing this one extra step for this blessing to man-kind— is so WORTH IT!!! I just want to be up front with that because I tried to just toss it all in my slow cooker and walk away but the meat lacked that delicious caramel flavor. And let’s be for real I live for that taste.
This recipe came about when my best friend who works 10-hour shifts as a nurse asked me if I have a slow cooker oxtail recipe. It was so genius that I went out and bought 10 pounds of oxtail to “recipe test”. I will take any excuse to make oxtail. Any!
Growing up I loved Sunday dinners because I knew that my grandma being a creature of habit she would cook 1 of 2 things: Oxtail or Fried chicken. Do you guys get why I was the first one at the table and the last to leave?
No one had to ever tell me to finish my dinner that night. Never happened. No way. No how.
It is so funny to me that more people don’t enjoy stewed oxtail. The meat is tender because it is braised for hours. The gravy that it produces should be bottled. I’m just saying I would buy all of them. And I do mean all! You finally know my weakness. It is also encouraged around these parts to gnaw on the bones. Even though the meat falls off the bone, a part of the experience of eating oxtail is to enjoy the bone. Trust me, it is worth it! Forget manners, just dive in. As a matter a fact, my family would consider it an insult not to.
It is so easy to enjoy this dish. I might make it weekly if not daily. I seriously considered not telling my family that I made this dish just so that I could enjoy it all by myself. 
 It is usually served with rice and peas.
Enjoy!
- 1 can lima/butter beans
- 4 pounds oxtails trimmed
- 2 large onions chopped
- 3 scallions chopped
- 4 garlic cloves smashed
- 3 carrots chopped
- 1 bunch fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes or 1 scotch bonnet pepper seeds included
- 4 teaspoons hot paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth just enough to slightly cover the oxtail
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pimento seeds (optional)
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In a large pot, add oxtails, onions, scallions, garlic, thyme, red pepper, paprika, bay leaf, soy sauce, pimento seeds, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and marinate at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally.
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Remove the oxtail from marinade. In a large pot heat up enough oil to brown the oxtail. When the oil is hot not burning, place the oxtail in the pot and brown on all sides. Remove the brown oxtail and place in slow cooker. Add enough broth to cover the oxtail. Also toss in the marinade, tomatoes, and carrots. Set on high and cook for 7-8 hours. Until the meat becomes tender.
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Every hour check on the oxtail and keep oxtails slightly covered with liquid.
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At 6 hours, add the beans, tomato paste, and more of beef broth and/or water, if needed. Then simmer uncovered 1 hour, skimming fat off top and stirring occasionally. In the last 1/2 hour of cook time, season with 1- 2 tablespoons salt and fresh ground black pepper. Serve with rice and peas.
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*Don't forget to remove bay leaves.
If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy:
Slow-cooker corn on the cob
Jamaican Banana Fritters
Homemade Buttermilk biscuits.
This was really good, my oxtails were cut a little thinner than average so they cooked in less time but when they were done they were nice and tender with lots of flavor. I thicken my broth or sauce a little more for my own preference. Can’t wait to make it again.
Hey Ann! Making this recipe right now however I was not able to find actual pimento seeds…can I use allspice instead since it is basically ground pimento and if so how much should I add? Thanks for your help!
Wow! This is really cooking made easy indeed. Great job! Thanks a lot.
Hi! I’m in the process of making the oxtail with butter beans recipe. I have the oxtails marinating but am questioning the amount of liquid needed. All I put in was the: 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons ketchup,1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce as per the recipe.
Is that all the liquid needed?
Thanks,
Leonard
Hi there Leonard! That is the right amount for the marinade. Make sure you rub it all together in the ziplock bag. Then when you add the beef to the slow cooker the 4 cups of broth will be add per the recipe. Hope that helps and you enjoy it!
Curious about using the high setting for so long… Seems like most recipes are low for 7-8 hours.
Hi Aaron! That is the right setting. You are in essence using the slow cooker to tenderize the oxtail. That is why so much liquid is used. Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Thank you for sharing, the Jamaican woman that I first taste of tails with died. I miss her cooking, I will definitely be trying this recipe.
I made this for dinner. It was amazing! I licked my bowl clean.
Great recipe, thanks! You never mentioned what to do with the ketchup though – I assume it’s folded into the marinade…
Hey Dagon!!! You are so right! Thanks for catching that. I updated the recipe 🙂 I hope you like it. 🙂 🙂
This was AMAZING!!!!! Now can you please post a rice cooker rice and peas recipe, my family was so proud of me. Lol
My grandma used to make this, so this recipe just took me back! Yum!!!
This really looks amazing.
This looks delicious! I’ve never had butter beans but given that they have butter in the name they sound so good!
I love slow cooker recipes. You just set it and forget it! 🙂 Your pics are awesome! The oxtails look so tender. My dad loved butter beans. I haven’t been a fan. But I think this recipe might make me a believer. Pinned!
I’ve never tried oxtails but your recipe sure looks tasty! The corn looks so fancy, love it. And your biscuits look to die for 🙂 !
Looks amazing! I love oxtail but I’ve never tried to make it at home.
Nellwyn | http://www.thecardinalpress.com
This sounds & looks really good.
Oh my 🙂 Oxtails! Previously, I have not seen this. Very interesting!
Just look at those pictures! Making me so very hungry! And yes, I also wonder why people don’t love oxtail more. It’s delicious. (My grandma is the same, on Sundays she would cook the same dishes but nobody ever seemed to mind – the whole spread would be gone in 60 seconds lol)
Hahahahaha! <60 seconds on thanksgiving and christmas...lol! Grandma's are just the best! I'm glad you liked it Jolina. 🙂
I didn’t even read this post Ann.. hahaha.. I just staring at the oxtail. Looks soo good. Was feeling for some this weekend but the pieces at my supermarket were so fatty!!! Def pinning this to the Caribbean Board on pinterest.
I’m not mad at all lol… I literally wrote the post around the pictures!!! Ugggggh, I think it’s a waste it the oxtail is too fatty. I stood in line for 1 hour for 10 pounds of these oxtail because it was super lean. Needless to say I’m making another oxtail dish….soon. That’s not too much right? 🙂 🙂
Hello! I was in a hurry this morning and threw everything in the slow cooker so I was unable to marinate the oxtails. Will everything come out ok
Wow does this look hearty and fulfilling meal. Home cooking at its best.
I am so glad you liked it Candy! I love when a meal gives me a hug. 🙂 🙂
Oh I’m making this ASAP, I have a few pounds of ox tails in the freezer right now
Carmella, I get super excited when people say they have oxtail in their freezer. You and I will be life long friends. 🙂 🙂
Slow cooker recipes are my favorite. I’m a lazy cook! Pinning this for Winter dinners!
I’m so glad you liked it Amy!!! 🙂 This oxtail stew is making me crave the cooler months and all that! Winter is coming— I had to! Sorry not sorry! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I wil try this!!!
Awesome Lori!!! Let me know how you liked it. 🙂 🙂 🙂
This looka yum yum!
I’m so happy you liked it Eleanor. 🙂 🙂
I am a huge fan of comfort food, and this looks like it would qualify. I also like using the crockpot for cooking. Thank you for posting this recipe.
I just got a crockpot last month and I’m so enjoying making new recipes with it. Oxtail is all I need for the next 10001 days. 🙂 🙂