What To Do With Beef Marrow Bones: 10 Delicious Ideas

Beef marrow bones are a treasure trove of flavor and nutrition. The rich, fatty marrow inside provides a meaty umami flavor, while also being packed with vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, collagen, and other nutrients for bone and joint health.

While beef marrow bones were once difficult to find outside of high-end restaurants, they are now readily available at many butcher shops and grocery stores. So what should you make with these nutrient-dense bones? Here are 10 delicious ways to use beef marrow bones at home.

1. Make Bone Broth

One of the most popular uses for beef marrow bones is to make bone broth. The marrow helps create a rich, gelatinous broth perfect for soups, stews, and sauces.

To make bone broth:

• Roast beef marrow bones at 450°F for 15-20 minutes until fragrant and starting to brown.

• Add bones to a pot and cover with water. Add aromatics like onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs.

• Simmer for at least 8 hours, up to 48 hours for maximum extraction. Top off with water as needed.

• Strain out solids and use the collagen-rich broth for soups, risottos, gravies, and more! Can be frozen for later use.

2. Make Bone Marrow Butter

Roast bone marrow until soft and scoop it out. Mix the marrow into softened butter along with fresh herbs, lemon, shallots or garlic. Spread on bread or use to top steaks, potatoes, and veggies.

3. Serve Roasted Marrow Bones

Roast marrow bones cut lengthwise until the marrow is soft and wobbly but not melted out. Scrape and spread onto crusty bread. Top with sea salt, parsley, shallot and lemon. A restaurant-worthy appetizer!

4. Make Marrow Pommes Puree

Roast marrow bones and scoop out marrow. Blend into warm mashed potatoes along with butter, cream, and seasoning. Top with crispy shallots or bacon. Fancy and delicious.

5. Stuff Bones for Appetizers

Scoop softened roasted marrow from bones, mix with fresh herbs, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, lemon zest. Pack mixture back into bones and roast again until browned and bubbling.

6. Make Bone Marrow Pasta

Saute garlic in olive oil, add roasted bone marrow and toss with cooked pasta. Grate Parmesan on top, and finish with parsley, lemon, and black pepper. Simple but rich.

7. Add to Gravy or Sauce

Add some scooped out roasted marrow to pan sauces, gravies, or tomato sauce for an extra richness and meaty flavor.

8. Make Scotch Eggs with Marrow Butter

Instead of sausage, wrap hard boiled eggs in marrow butter seasoned with herbs before breading and frying for unique scotch eggs.

9. Top Baked Potatoes

For an indulgent twist, top baked russet potatoes with roasted bone marrow, sour cream, chives, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

10. Make Pet Treats

Scoop out roasted marrow and allow to fully cool and solidify. Cut into bite sized treats for dogs to enjoy. Be sure to check with your vet first!

Tips for Cooking with Beef Marrow Bones

Cooking with beef marrow bones may be new to you. Follow these tips for marrow bone success:

• Ask Your Butcher for Bones – Have your butcher slice bones lengthwise for easier roasting and removal of marrow. Or cross-cut for broth making.

• Soak Bones First – Soak marrow bones in salted water overnight to draw out impurities for a cleaner presentation.

• Roast Thoroughly – Roast at 450°F until marrow is hot and separating from bone but not burnt. 15-20 minutes usually.

• Season Aggressively – Marrow is naturally fatty so it needs ample salt and pepper. Don’t be shy!

• Add Acid – Brighten rich marrow with something acidic like lemon juice, vinegar, or salsa.

• Use Quickly – Roasted marrow can melt and separate quickly. Serve immediately before it breaks down.

• Make Ahead – Bone broth and compound butters infused with marrow can be made ahead and frozen.

Nutrition and Benefits of Beef Marrow Bones

In addition to being delicious, beef marrow bones provide some great nutritional perks:

• Bone Marrow is Full of Fat-Soluble Vitamins – Including vitamin A, vitamin K2, and vitamin D which are essential for immune function, brain health, blood-clotting, and calcium absorption.

• Excellent Source of Minerals – Like zinc, iron, selenium, and magnesium. These support energy, immunity, thyroid function, blood health, and nerve transmission.

• High in Collagen – Vital for joint health, skin elasticity, gut integrity, and anti-aging. The collagen is extracted into bone broth.

• Contains Vitamin B12 – Necessary for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and neurological function.

• Provides Healthy Fats – Rich in monounsaturated fats and omega-3s that reduce inflammation and protect the heart.

• Supports Bone Health – The nutrients in marrow help maintain strong and healthy bones.

• Protects Joints – The collagen may prevent cartilage breakdown and reduce joint pain.

So don’t throw those beef marrow bones away! Put them to use with these tasty recipes to boost the nutrition in your diet. From elegant appetizers to rich bone broth, beef marrow bones are a true nose-to-tail superfood.