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Grass-fed Beef Recipes

These simple grass-fed beef recipes are easy to make and loaded with nourishing bone broth, vibrant herbs, and plenty of fresh, seasonal vegetables. You'll see recipes for stews, soups, steaks, and other classic dishes using grass-fed beef and other grass-finished meats.

Jump to Recipes | What is it? | Benefits | Tips

What is it?

Most cattle begin their lives on the range and are raised eating their natural diet which mostly consists of wild grasses. Almost all cattle (nearly 100%) are then transported to feedlots or concentrated animal feed operations (CAFOs) where they finish the remaining months of their lives eating grain. The animals in feedlots are also often subject to the routine use of antibiotics as well as the use of growth hormones.

By contrast, grass-fed beef comes from cattle that are raised and finished entirely on pastureland, eating only grass their entire lives. And it represents less than 1% of all beef raised in the United States, although that number is slowly shifting as consumer interest in wholesome and sustainable food increases.

Benefits

Grass-fed beef tends to be richer in key micronutrients than conventional beef, particularly carotenoids which act as a precursor to vitamin A and vitamin E. In addition, grass-fed beef tends to have less fat and, of the fat it does contain, it tends to have a better ratio of omega-3s, monounsaturated fat, and conjugated linoleic acid when compared to grain-fed beef. For this reason, the recipes you make with grass-fed beef will more nutritious than had you used conventional beef.

Tips for Cooking with Grass-fed Beef

While grass-fed beef is more nutritious than conventional beef, it can be a little trickier to cook. That's because it tends to have a little less fat. Additionally, because the cattle are free to move around freely on the pasture, they get plenty of exercise. That means the meat develops excellent flavor, but it can also be a little tougher.

So, when you use grass-fed beef in your recipes, you'll need to treat it gently. It tends to benefit from a fast, hot sear or long, gentle slow-cooking with little room for the in-between. Good grass-fed beef recipes, keep those differences in mind, yielding mouth-watering results.

Grass-fed Beef Recipes

These grass-fed beef recipes are simple to make and deeply nourishing. They include long-simmered stews with plenty of fresh vegetables and herbs, as well as steaks and other dishes.