This is my go-to recipe for lamb shanks in the slow cooker. It is so easy and the meat comes out perfectly every time.
You can't beat a delicious meal of Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks. This recipe is so easy that anyone can make it, you just throw all of the ingredients in the Slow Cooker in the morning and then that night they will be perfect. I used carrots and onion in my version but you can add other vegetables if you have them on hand. If you're after more nostalgic, hearty meals then you'll love my Slow Cooker Corned Beef or my Oven Baked Lamb Ragu.
Ingredient notes:
- Lamb shanks: If you can't find this cut of meat in your local supermarket, don't forget to ask at your local butchery. If they don't have it on display you can always ask them to prepare some for you.
- Tomatoes: I like to use crushed or chopped tomatoes in this recipe. If you're using whole peeled, give them
- Stock: You can either use stock cubes and boiling water like I did, store-bought liquid stock or homemade stock.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card for the ingredients, quantities and the full method.
Step by step instructions:
Cut lamb shanks around the bone end so that the meat bunches up while cooking. Add onion, shanks, carrots, canned tomatoes, beef stock, cumin, salt and bay leaves to the slow cooker and mix to combine. Make sure bones are sticking up and put on the lid.
Cook for 4 hours on high or up to 8 hours on low. Mix cornflour with a little cold water and pour in 20 mins before serving to thicken up liquid.
Serve on mash or with sides of your choice.
The slow cooker is great for putting large cuts of meat in. No need to slice and dice, the slow cooker does all the work. If you appreciate that style of cooking, check out my recipes for Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Soup as well as Pulled Pork Bao Buns. Or for another amazing lamb slow cooker recipe, be sure to check out my Slow Cooker Spiced Lamb Shoulder.
Recipe FAQs:
I like to serve my lamb shanks on mashed potato but they would also taste great with jacket potatoes, cauliflower rice or polenta. Serve them with seasonal green vegetables to bulk up the veggie factor.
My slow cooker is 5.7L. In New Zealand, you can pick up a slow cooker of this size for around $40.
Storage:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until piping hot.
Lamb shanks can also be frozen. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost in the fridge overnight then reheat until piping hot.
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Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
A super simple recipe for lamb shanks cooked in the slow cooker.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 4-5 lamb shanks
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp cornflour
Instructions
- Cut lamb shanks around the bone end so that the meat bunches up while cooking.
- Add onion, shanks, carrots, canned tomatoes, beef stock, cumin, salt and bay leaves to the slow cooker and mix to combine.
- Make sure bones are sticking up and put on the lid.
- Cook for 4 hours on high or up to 8 hours on low.
- Mix cornflour with a little cold water and pour in 20 mins before serving to thicken up liquid.
- Serve on mash or with sides of your choice.
Notes
Always check the label on processed foods, including sauce bottles, to ensure they are completely gluten free.
- These lamb shanks can either be cooked on HIGH for 4 hours, or LOW for 8 hours.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 969mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 34g
Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.
Thank you for checking out this recipe. I hope you enjoy making and eating it! If you have any questions, queries or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Vanya
Lynette Turner says
Just discovered your wonderful page. So many tasty recipes to try! Although in Australia, I get the NZ House and Garden on subscription and, having been to NZ twice, know exactly the lovely area in which you live. We hope to travel again in the near future and NZ is near the top of the list. Cheers, Lynette
VJ cooks says
Happy baking and hopefully traveling soon!
Dee Cox says
Just wondering if you think mutton chops would work for this recipe? (cooked longer) Or you know a recipe better suited for mutton chops.
Thanks and keep the amazing recipes coming!!! We Meal plan with your recipes, love that they contain mostly what we already have in the house
VJ cooks says
Hi Dee, I haven't cooked with mutton chops sorry. But I think they would work, with extra cooking. I would start with 5 hours on HIGH and see how the meat is going at that point.
Alisha says
Hi,
Just wondering what the ingredient proportions would be for cooking just two lamb shanks? Never cooked them before so unsure.
VJ cooks says
Hi Alisha, just halve all the quantities.
Cheryl says
Have just bought. Slow cooker and about to do the lamb shanks…what can I substitute the canned tomatoes for??
VJ cooks says
Are you unable to eat tomatoes? Or you don't haven any to hand at home? They are a key element of the recipe so I'm just trying to work out what your needs are.
Sarah says
I am cooking this for tonight and I’m so excited!! I’m just curious why we have to stand up the shanks?? Never cooked with shanks before so I wouldn’t know
VJ cooks says
Hi Sarah, how did you get on? The reason you stand them up is so that as much meat as possible is in the sauce. This is of course dependent the size of your slow cooker.
Sarah says
They were delicious!!! The meat was falling off the bone!! I have wide size slow cooker so I had to turn them once in a while. Still was amazing and will be cooking them again!!
VJ cooks says
Oh yay, I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know, Sarah 🙂