Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks (with Red Wine Sauce) (2024)

Tender slow cooker lamb shanks, gently simmered in a flavorful, rich red wine sauce until the meat falls off the bone.

Meltingly tender lamb shanks are something I used to eat only in restaurants; the best ones I’ve ever had were in an Indian restaurant in Cardiff. But not anymore; cooking lamb shanks is easy, and this slow cooker lamb shank recipe is no exception.

This easy recipe would make a perfect meal for Easter this year; it is incredibly delicious, it can be cooked ahead and reheated, and (except for the hands-off slow cooking time) it's straightforward and quick to prepare.

And if you like shanks or hocks, try our Slow Cooker Pork Hocks or the German Crispy Pork Hocks. Or check out more lamb recipes; the Lamb Shoulder in the Slow Cooker, the Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder Recipe, or the Roasted Leg of Lamb in White Wine are perfect Easter centerpieces as well.

What are lamb shanks?

• Pieces of lamb cut from the bottom sections of the lamb leg, below the knee.
• They are an inexpensive cut of meat, more economical than other parts of the animal.
• Shanks are perfect for slow cooking and serving in a rich, thick sauce. The long cooking process makes the meat meltingly tender; it will fall off the bone.

Recipe ingredients

• Lamb shanks: one piece per person. I was a fool to think my tiny 10-year-old daughter wouldn’t manage a whole piece; she did…
• Vegetables: one large onion, carrots, celery sticks, garlic.
• Wine: Medium range price, full-bodied red wine. It should be a good quality brand, something you would enjoy drinking as well, but it doesn’t have to be super expensive. I tend to buy something that costs between 5 and 10 Euros.
• Stock: Lamb stock is the perfect fit, but replace it with beef or chicken stock if you don't have it. The beef stock has a more robust flavor, but the chicken broth or stock will be fine as well.
• Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, bay leaves. Fresh rosemary or fresh thyme is also great.
• Other ingredients: Cornstarch to thicken the gravy to your liking, a little sugar, and balsamic vinegar to deepen the sauce’s flavor. And, of course, you will need salt and pepper.

Step-by-step instructions

• Place lamb shanks in a large container (for instance, a baking dish) (1), sprinkle them with flour, salt, and pepper, and rub them to coat them all over. Shake or pat to remove the excess flour (2).

• Brown meat: Heat the oil in a large skillet or frying pan. Brown the meat on all sides; it will take about 10 minutes on medium-high heat. Turn them often to make sure that all the sides are nicely colored (3,4).

In the meantime, chop the vegetables (5).

• Transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
• Brown vegetables: If necessary, add another tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil. Cook the vegetables for about 3 minutes on medium heat, stirring often (6).
• Add tomato paste and about ½ tablespoon flour (you can use the leftover flour from flouring the shanks). Stir well (7).

• Pour in the red wine and stir well for about one minute.
• Add the stock, fine sea salt, black pepper, dried rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves (8).

• Pour the cooking liquids into the slow cooker over the meat (9).
• Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours (10).
• Make sure that the slow-cooked lamb shanks are meltingly tender. Check them with a fork; you should be able to pull the meat off the bone easily.
• If they are not quite there yet, give them another 30 minutes, then check again until they are fall-apart tender.

How to make red wine sauce?

• Remove the slow-cooked lamb shanks from the crockpot with a slotted spoon. Place them on a warm platter and keep them warm while making the red wine sauce.
• Carefully pour the braising liquid and the vegetables into a large pan (11).
• Whisk about 2 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch with a bit of cold water in a small bowl until you have a thick yet pourable paste.
• Once the sauce starts to boil gently, start whisking in the cornstarch mixture. Stir well and let bubble gently until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency; it should take 2 to 4 minutes (12).
• Adjust the taste with salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. You might want to add one teaspoon of sugar (See Expert Tips below).

Expert tips

It’s not always necessary to adjust the taste of the gravy with sugar; sometimes, I think the sauce needs it, and sometimes not. It all depends on the brand of wine you are using; some might be more acidic than others.

I rarely leave out the balsamic vinegar, though; I put it in all the sauces (and soups) I make; it balances the dishes perfectly, adding just that touch of acidity you need to uplift the flavors.

Recipe FAQ

What do you serve with slow-cooked lamb shanks?

• Mashed potatoes are my number 1 choice - either regular mashed potatoes or Roasted Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes for a more festive twist.
• Try Cauliflower and Potato Mash or Creamy Carrot and Swede Mash; they are both delicious.
• You can also serve the slow cooker lamb shanks with crusty white bread to mop up that glossy, luxurious red wine gravy, boiled potatoes, rice, or pasta.
• Suitable veggie side dishes: Buttered Peas, French-Style Green Beans, Buttered Vegetables, Whole Roasted Cauliflower, etc.

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