British · Dinner

Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

Lamb shanks browned and cooked in red wine, stock and tomatoes for 8 hours until the meat falls from the bone. Four servings.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 8 hr 15 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
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Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks, a British dinner recipe — crock pot lamb shanks

Photograph credit: Lamb Shank with roast potatoes, peas & carrots (15293719149) by CharmaineZoe's Marvelous Melange from England · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

How to Make Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

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  1. Season the shanks with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the shanks on all sides for 10 minutes. Lift into the slow cooker.

  2. Cook the onion and carrots in the same pan for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and purée for 1 minute, then the wine, scraping the base, and boil for 3 minutes. Tip over the shanks.

  3. Add the tomatoes, stock, rosemary and bay leaf. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat falls from the bone. If your slow cooker runs hot, check at 7 hours.

  4. Lift out the shanks, skim the fat from the sauce and, if it is thin, boil it in a pan for 10 minutes. Serve the shanks with the sauce.

Notes for Getting It Right

  • Brown the shanks well; the sauce takes its colour from this.
  • Keep the liquid at about halfway up the meat.
  • Lift the shanks out carefully at the end.
  • Reduce the sauce in a pan for a thicker finish.

Common Substitutions & Variations

  • An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.

Serving Suggestions

  • Mashed potato
  • Green beans
  • Roast carrots
  • Crusty bread

Keeping and Reheating

Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days in the sauce. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat gently, covered.

Questions About Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

How long does Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks take to make?

About 8 hours 15 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 8 hours of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks?

Brown the shanks well; the sauce takes its colour from this. Keep the liquid at about halfway up the meat. Lift the shanks out carefully at the end. Reduce the sauce in a pan for a thicker finish.

What should I serve with Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks?

Mashed potato; Green beans; Roast carrots; Crusty bread.

Can Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks be made ahead or frozen?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days in the sauce. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat gently, covered.

Is Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is dairy-free, high-protein, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks?

About 791 kcal per serving, with 79 g protein, 13 g carbohydrate and 47 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks Nutrition Facts

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

791Calories
79gProtein
13gCarbs
47gFat
3gFibre
6gSugar
1110mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

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