Jamaican Oxtail Slow Cooker Recipe: A Delicious, Easy Dish to Make

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Jamaican oxtail is a delicious, hearty dish that is perfect for a winter meal. It can be made in a slow cooker, so it’s easy and convenient. In this blog post, we will show you how to make a Jamaican Oxtail Slow Cooker Recipe. This dish is sure to please your taste buds!

Are oxtails budget-friendly?

Times have changed and oxtail is no longer as budget-friendly as it once was.

The days of oxtail being really affordable, usually between $4-6 per pound and a lot cheaper than bone-in short ribs if over. In those long-ago days, oxtail was one of the most budget-friendly cuts of beef you could buy. It was in the same price category as soup bones. It is literally the meaty, bony tail of a cow.

To use that meaty, bony tail of a cow is an African American culinary tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation in times when every part was used so nothing could go wasted. Unfortunately, this also meant it became more expensive over time as people started recognizing its value and quality – let’s face it: once something is considered “gourmet” the price always jumps.

I will let you know that this slow cooker oxtail recipe used approximately $25 of oxtail.

So, that would mean that this would be a great recipe for those special occasions instead of a batch of your weekly comfort food.

If you wanted to make this oxtail recipe more budget-friendly? Look into soup bones. That should only set you back $8-10, but you WILL notice a slight difference in the texture as there seems to be very little meat on a soup bone. Check with the meat guy at your local grocery store before you try to make this easy beef stew recipe with ground beef, chicken, or other kind of meat. It will alter the sauce you are creating for this dish over the cooking time. Your dinner simply won’t be the same.

This recipe is Jamaican

OK – I know you could probably tell from the whole Jamaican Oxtail Slow Cooker Recipe thing. This recipe is not from the UK, China, or South Africa.

Jamaicans know oxtail. They love our oxtail stewed, curried, browned, and then simmered in a gravy of carrots, white beans, onions, and scotch bonnet peppers. Chalk it up to supply chain issues, we use habanero instead of the elusive (in our area) scotch bonnet pepper.

Can you cook oxtails in a slow cooker?

Yes! Here is the beauty of a slow cooker: time. It gives you the time to not only tenderize the meat to the point it literally falls off the bone, but you also get that rich bone broth at the same time.

Check out our tips

We wrote all about cooking healthy meals in the slow cooker here: Tips For Cooking Healthy Meals in the Slow Cooker

Oxtail slow cooker recipe without wine

This recipe wouldn’t pair well with wine in it. Now if it were a French oxtail recipe slow cooker dish, that might be different as I am sure they would use red wine. It simply doesn’t work with the Jamaican flavors that we were going for. Knowing the French, they would add bay leaves too…but that might be a dish for another day.

Can you make Jamaican Oxtail Slow Cooker Recipe in the Instant Pot?

Yes, you would simply use the slow cooker setting. I would avoid using my air fryer though as this doesn’t translate well to air fryer recipes.

Can you cook oxtails in a slow cooker?

Yes! Here is the beauty of a slow cooker: time. It gives you the time to not only tenderize the meat to the point it literally falls off the bone, but you also get that rich bone broth at the same time.

How long does it take to cook oxtails?

Oxtails will take approximately eight hours in a slow cooker on low for the best results. When you add other ingredients like we are? you might be able to get away with only 6. The trick is a low temperature and slow cooking to get the best results. That helps the meat fall off the bone literally and you end up with nice oxtail gravy.

I really think slow cooker oxtails are the way to go.

What do you serve with Jamaican Oxtail?

It really can be a one-pot meal but if you feel inclined to add to the dish, or even want to stretch it a bit for a crowd? We suggest serving it with traditional favorites like fried plantains and yellow rice.

How do you store leftover oxtail stew?

If you have any leftover Jamaican oxtail stew, just place it in an airtight container, and then it can be stored in the fridge for up to four days. We do not recommend freezing this dish, as it will affect the taste and texture.

Reheat Jamaican oxtail over low heat on the stovetop until heated through.

Jamaican Oxtail Soup or Stew Recipe

While is this close to a traditional Jamaican dish, I am not sure if you would find it at a Jamaican restaurant. It would be very pricey.

What you need to make our Jamaican Oxtail Slow Cooker Recipe:

• 2 ½ lbs tender oxtail – for us that was about 10 pieces of oxtails
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon dry thyme
• 1 can white bean, drained – butter beans, lima beans, or northern beans would work fine. Just think broad beans.
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 white large onion, chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 habanero pepper, seeds out, chopped – any hot pepper would do in a pinch.
• 1 cup beef broth or beef stock – honestly, you do NOT need more cups of beef broth!
• 1 tablespoon ketchup or tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Rinse oxtails in vinegar and water, then pat them dry with paper towels.

In a shallow dish combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, allspice, and thyme to make your oxtail seasoning.

Roll oxtails in the mixture, coating all sides then places oxtails in the base of your slow cooker.

In a skillet over medium-high heat saute the onion, green onion, carrots, garlic, and habanero in vegetable oil until soft

Stir in broth and ketchup then pour over oxtails that are in your slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until the oxtail meat is falling off the bone.

Remove oxtails from the cooker and set them aside.

30 minutes before cooking time is finished mix cornstarch and water to form a slurry and stir into the cooker along with the white beans. This will help to thicken your broth.

Return oxtails and cook for the last 30 minutes.

Other slow cooker recipes you may like:

• The Most Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes to Warm You Up
• Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken in the Slow Cooker
• Slow Cooker Recipes You Have To Try This Summer
• Crock Pot Cuban Pork Roast Recipe
• Slow Cooker Hearty Guinness French Onion Soup

Get our recipe card below – it is a free printable!