Go Back

Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

A warm, simple dish featuring tender lamb shanks that are slow cooked to perfection in a rich, flavorful sauce.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 pieces lamb shanks
  • 3 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 3 pieces carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 3 pieces celery stalks, chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 2 cups lamb stock (or beef stock)
  • 1 tsp rosemary
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 4 leaves bay leaves
  • 2.5 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • to taste salt and pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the lamb shanks dry and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in a skillet and sear the lamb on all sides for about 10 minutes.
  3. Transfer lamb to the slow cooker.
  4. In the same pan, sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 3 minutes, then add garlic and cook for another minute.
  5. Stir in tomato paste and cook for a minute.
  6. Pour in red wine, scraping up browned bits, and let simmer for a minute.
  7. Add stock, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves.
  8. Pour the mixture over the lamb shanks in the slow cooker.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
  2. Remove the lamb shanks and keep warm.
  3. Pour the liquid into a saucepan, whisk in cornstarch slurry, and simmer until thickened.
  4. Adjust seasoning and stir in balsamic vinegar.
  5. Serve the lamb shanks hot, drizzled with sauce.

Notes

Serve on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or with buttered egg noodles. For added flavor, drizzle the lamb with a freshly prepared sauce and garnish with fresh herbs like parsley.