Beef Shanks in a Bag - Justin Wilson Looking Back

Tender beef shanks slow-baked with carrots, potatoes, and onions in a wine-spiked Cajun sauce—sealed in a cooking bag to lock in every bit of bold, savory flavor.

Justin Wilson knew how to turn a simple cut of meat into something special, and this Beef Shanks in a Bag recipe is a perfect example. Seasoned with salt, cayenne, and garlic, then smothered in a blend of wine, Rotel, and bold sauces, these beef shanks are baked low and slow with hearty vegetables—all sealed in a cooking bag to keep them juicy and tender.

Justin Wilson’s Beef Shanks in a Bag is an easy, one-pan meal that brings flavor and comfort. I gar-on-tee your kitchen’s gonna smell like heaven!

———

justin wilson beef shanks in a bag 21965537-g.jpg

Justin Wilson’s Beef Shanks in a Bag

Justin Wilson’s Beef Shanks in a Bag

Tender beef shanks slow-bake with carrots, potatoes, and onions in a wine-spiked Cajun sauce, sealed in a cooking bag to lock in every bit of bold, savory flavor.

SERVINGS: 6-8 people

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 2 hours

TOTAL TIME: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 large turkey-size cooking bag
  • 2 tablespoons of flour
  • Salt
  • Ground cayenne pepper
  • 6 beef shank bones, cut 2.5"- 3" thick
  • 12 whole medium carrots
  • 2 lbs. potatoes, cut in half
  • 6 small onions, cut in half
  • 4 whole cloves of garlic
  • 1 - 10 oz. can of Rotel Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
  • 1 Tablespoon of soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon of bitters
  • 2 cups of Sauterne wine or dry white wine

Cooking Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Grease the baking pan. Shake the flour in a turkey bag and coat the sides well, and place the bag in the pan.
  3. Season the beef shanks with salt and pepper, to taste, and place them in the bag. Evenly distribute the carrots, onions, and potatoes over and around the meat.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the can of Rotel with the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, bitters, and wine. Mix well, and pour over the shanks and vegetables.
  5. Tie the bag, and punch 12 holes in the top with a fork.
  6. Bake in the oven for 2 hours.

———

Justin Wilson’s videos are brought to you by Lehman’s On the Square.

Related Stories
Small, locally focused wineries are finding resilience through direct sales and regional loyalty rather than scale alone.
Analysts say that while low-income households are facing financial pressures, other middle- and higher-income consumers are helping fill the gap for retail beef demand.
Tim and Sharyn Abbott of the Music City Celebration Sale recap the weekend’s premier auction, which drew top dairy breeders and buyers to Nashville again this year from across North America.
China’s pullback is hitting core U.S. commodities hard, reshaping export expectations for soybeans, cotton, grains, and livestock.
Plan for sharp, short-term volatility after unexpected outages; permanent closures rarely trigger major price spread disruptions.
Rising beef supplies and lower cattle prices, weaker hog markets, and softening dairy prices will shape producer margins heading into 2026.
She joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share more about her new cookbook, “Dishes and Devotions: Make Every Day Delicious,” which recently hit #1 in Amazon’s Cajun & Creole Cooking category.

Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
“California Bountiful” brings you up close with the people, places, food and farms that make California so delicious! The weekly show delivers a fun, entertaining and educational look at California’s farm to fork lifestyle, and everything in between.
“America’s Gospel Music” presents the nation’s premiere Gospel Music artists live in concert from The Wonders Center in Dickson, Tennessee.
The Presley Family built Branson’s Original Show on the Strip. “Presleys’ Country Jubilee” was a smash hit, and people from across the country lined up every night for a chance to hear the country music and comedy the Presley Family loved to perform.
RFD-TV’s newest music series, “On the Record,” presented by John Deere, takes viewers on a journey through the heart of country music. Hosted by renowned broadcaster, Suzanne Alexander, the show features long-form interviews with today’s biggest artists and the veterans who inspired them. “On the Record” also gives viewers a front row seat to intimate performances and exclusive music video releases, highlighting the broad scope of Nashville’s talent.
One of RFD-TV’s many efforts to showcase stellar American musical craftsmanship, “The Bluegrass Trail” showcases the greatest Bluegrass artists across the USA performing time-honored songs—many presented for the very first time. It’s a celebration of this nation’s musical roots right here on our Nashville stage!