How to Cook Beef Tongue: Best Methods for Tender Results

Beef tongue offers a versatile and delicious way to change up your main dish favorites. Perfect for lunch or dinner, this flavorful cut is gaining popularity for good reason.

While it may be less common here, in the American mid-west, beef tongue is popular around the world. Its rich taste and tender texture make it a great choice for discovering and enjoying new recipes. After a slow cook to tenderize, you can slice it up for tasty lengua tacos, stir-fry, or sandwiches.

Adding beef tongue to your diet gives you a nutrient-dense, tasty cut that helps support the sustainable nose-to-tail approach. In addition, choosing grass-fed beef ensures you get high-quality meat free from hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs, making it a healthier and more ethical choice.

In this guide, we’ll explore three methods to cook beef tongue to perfection. Ready to try this lesser-known cut and prepare a delicious meal that will have your family and friends asking for more?

• Prep time: 30 minutes

• Cook time: 3-4 hours

• Servings: 4

Tips for Cooking with Beef Tongue

Cooking with beef tongue might seem intimidating at first. Most people don’t know the right way to prepare it, unless they were fortunate enough to enjoy organ meats in their family’s traditional cooking. But here are some of our best tips to help ensure your meals come out great every time.

• Use a cooking method that tenderizes the beef tongue (braise, boil, or pressure cooker)
• Remove the tough outer skin, make sure to let the cooked tongue cool slightly first – but don’t let it cool too much, as the skin will become tricky to remove. 
• Remove the tough skin after it’s cooked and slightly cooled
• If you prefer a slightly crispy texture, pan-fry the beef tongue in a couple of tbsps of extra virgin olive oil for 5-6 minutes after cooking and removing the skin. 
• Explore different cuisines by changing the herbs and spices you use. 
• Get high-quality, ethically sourced meat products to ensure you get the best taste and highest nutritional value.

How to Cook Beef Tongue

Our recipe is a like a classic beef stew, but the cooking method works great for any flavor profile. Swap out the seasonings and vegetables for whatever dish you’re making. For example, if you want to whip up some beef tongue fajitas, adjust the seasonings (paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, etc.) and slice the meat into strips when it's done.

Once you’ve got your ingredients together, it’s time to get cooking. Here are the best three ways to cook beef tongue. 

What You’ll Need

You’ll need a few things to make a delicious meal with beef tongue, here’s what’s on the list for our recipe.

• 2 lbs. grass-fed beef tongue, cleaned and trimmed
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cube butter 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine (optional)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instant Pot Beef Tongue

This instant pot beef tongue recipe is delightfully simple and takes less than two hours to prepare. If you don’t have an instant pot, you can also use a pressure cooker, following the same steps below. 

1. Place a tab of butter in the instant pot with chopped onions, carrots, and minced garlic. Saute until the onions start to brown.
2. Saute and add in the beef tongue, plus all other ingredients. 
3. Put the lid on the pot and set it to sealing. Leave for 90 minutes.
4. Release the pressure and take out the beef tongue. Once cooled, remove the skin. 
5. Cut into slices and pour on the sauce from the pressure cooker. Serve. 

Beef Tongue in the Dutch Oven 

This braised beef tongue recipe produces incredibly tender meat. It takes a little more time to cook, but the wait is well worth it. 

1. Put the beef tongue in your Dutch oven or a roasting pan. Add all the other ingredients and stir well. 
2. Place the lid on top and braise in the oven at 375 degrees for 5-6 hours. 
3. Remove the beef tongue and let cool for about 15 to 20 minutes. Peel the outer layer of skin and discard, cutting the remaining meat into slices. 
4. Pour on the sauce and serve!

Slow Cooker Beef Tongue 

No Dutch oven? No problem! Here’s how to make beef tongue in the slow cooker. 

1. Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker. 
2. Cook on the low setting for 8 hours.
3. Transfer the beef tongue to a work surface and let it cool for a few minutes. Peel the outer layer of skin and discard. Then slice the remaining meat. 
4. Pour on the sauce and serve!

Side Dishes to Pair with Beef Tongue

Beef tongue is a super versatile cut of meat. Here are some delicious side dishes to pair it with for lunch and dinner:

• Shredded beef tongue tacos with salsa verde and avocado
• Teriyaki beef tongue with sticky rice and pak choi 
• Braised beef tongue with buttery mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli 
• Beef tongue sandwiches with honey and mustard dressing 

Recipe FAQs

What does beef tongue taste like?

Beef tongue has a rich, meaty flavor and tender, buttery texture. It’s also exceptionally versatile, making it the perfect base for a variety of dishes.

Is beef tongue chewy or tender? 

Beef tongue only becomes chewy if you cook it incorrectly. The best way to cook it is low and slow. 

What is lengua meat?

Lengua is the Spanish word for tongue. If you see lengua on a menu in South America, it will probably mean beef tongue. 

How do I ensure my beef tongue is tender?

For tender results, cook beef tongue low and slow. 

Ready to cook? 

Try these delicious recipes for yourself. Order Seven Sons’ grass-fed beef tongue today. 

As always, we’d love to know what you think! So, let us know if you tried our recipes and how it turned out!

Curious for more? Try this simple Pickled Beef Tongue recipe or these authentic Mexican Beef Tongue Tacos!