Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks Recipe

This slow cooker lamb shanks recipe makes for a perfect meal for any weeknight. It's also a wonderful dish to serve up during the holidays.  The lamb meat is so tender, flavorful, and aromatic! It's absolutely delicious! 

Today, you will learn how to cook lamb shanks in a slow cooker. This slow cooker lamb shank recipe requires minimal preparation. It uses aromatic spices that you can easily find in your pantry or local market. 

If you're a fan of lamb osso buco or other variations where the meat just falls off the bone, then read on! I think you are going to love this spiced lamb recipe. 

Serve this slow cooker lamb shanks with white rice, roasted baby potatoes, or green beans almondine.

Lamb in Red Wine Sauce

Lamb shank is the portion of meat around the tibia of the animal, the leg bone beneath the knee and shoulder.

Lamb shanks have a nice look to them, they sell themselves.  When cooked in a Crock-Pot the lamb is so moist and tender.  

Slow Cooker Helps Tenderize Meat

When I'm at my busiest I always appreciate having my crockpot. 

It's kind of like having a second cook in the kitchen, one that is specialized in bringing out the juicy best flavor combinations of meats, veggies, and more.

Especially during the holidays, I am always pressed for time, especially when juggling four different dishes all with the same tight deadline.

With my Crock-Pot, I can get an early start on a dish by just adding the contents and letting it do its thing. 

Prep time is a snap and I'm back to work on other stuff, or maybe take a break!  In addition to free up time, I also gain back some space on the stove and in the oven.

The long, low-temperature cooking, slow cookers help tenderize lamb shanks. 

How to Slow Cook Lamb Shanks in a CrockPot: 

Step 1. Sweat the Onion 

You need to use a skillet and gently cook the onion to soften its texture.

Sweating the onion increases its sweetness and gives it a milder taste by reducing the sulfur content. As a result, sweat onions bring a natural sweetness to dishes. 

Step 2. Brown the Meat 

Brown the lamb shanks in a skillet on medium-high heat to partially cook the surface of the meat to help remove excess fat, to give the meat a nice brown color crust and flavor. 

This cooking process should take about 5 minutes. 

Step. Slow Cook 

Just dump all of the ingredients and cook on low heat for 7-9 hours.

The Best Seasoning for Lamb Shanks

Per usual the slow cooker brings together all of the flavors, and this unique recipe has some great ones from the saffron to the nutmeg, the cardamom to the turmeric, and of course some good old onions and tomatoes.

I think a key ingredient in this dish is cinnamon, which is especially fitting for a December holiday dinner.

In a prior post, I mentioned that I like to take some risks on Thanksgiving and break the norms a bit.  If you aren't in the mood for turkey then write your own Thanksgiving manual this year and try some lamb instead.

FAQ and Tips

📖 Recipe

Easy Slow Cooked Lamb Shank Recipe

Author: Posh Journal

245kcal

5 from 2 votes

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Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 7 hours hrs

Total 7 hours hrs

This slow cooker lamb shanks recipe makes for a perfect meal for any weeknight. It's also a wonderful dish to serve up during the holidays.  The lamb meat is so tender, flavorful, and aromatic! It's absolutely delicious! 

Servings 4

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Middle Eastern

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 lamb shanks
• ▢ 1 medium onion (chopped)
• ▢ 2 whole tomatoes (chopped)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ▢ 1 cinnamon stick
• ▢ ½ teaspoon nutmeg powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ▢ ¾ cup beef broth
• ▢ ¾ cup red wine
• ▢ ⅓ teaspoon saffron
• ▢ 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ▢ salt and black pepper (to taste)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried rose flowers (optional)

Method

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1. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-low heat. Cook the onions until they are translucent and soft but have not started to brown for about 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
2. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Sear the lamb on all sides for about 5 minutes (until nicely browned on all sides). Transfer to the slow cooker.
3. Place the remaining ingredients into the slow cooker. Stir until the meat is well coated and cook for 7-9 hours in low heat. Add salt/pepper if needed.

Nutrition

Calories245kcalCarbohydrates8gProtein21gFat10gSaturated Fat7gCholesterol64mgSodium278mgPotassium548mgFiber2gSugar4gVitamin A579IUVitamin C12mgCalcium42mgIron3mg

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