A simple yet delicious slow-cooked lamb shanks recipe with vegetables and gravy. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. This reader-favourite recipe includes both slow-cooked oven version and crockpot slow cooker recipe instructions.
Slow-cooked lamb shanks – an easy Sunday dinner
A hearty plateful of succulent, tender slow-cooked lamb on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes swimming in the most delicious homemade gravy – what else could you ask for on a cold, winter’s evening when the gales are raging outside?
This recipe is based on a lamb stew with herbed dumplings that I make with the same ingredients. The only difference is that I dredge the cubed meat in seasoned flour and brown it on all sides before letting it simmer on low heat for an hour or so on the stovetop.
I was inspired to make this lamb shank version when I spied some rather gorgeous large lamb shanks in my local supermarket recently. Regular readers will know that we’re quite fond of lamb in our household – it’s our main meat of choice given its low food miles, the fact it’s so tasty and it’s remarkably versatile and easy to cook with.
My recipe is really easy to make too.
Simply sear the meat, deglaze the pan, throw in the rest of the ingredients and then ignore it in your oven (or slow cooker) for a few hours.
Thicken the gravy when the meat is cooked and serve with a generous helping of creamy mashed potatoes. Sometimes, if it appeared in my veg box that week, I’ll make creamy celeriac and potato mash, or if you really wanted something a little different this sort of recipe goes really well with creamy polenta.
The ultimate winter weather comfort food!
Ingredients you need to make these slow-cooked lamb shanks
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil, for searing
- 4 good-sized lamb shanks – have your butcher French trim them if you want them a bit fancier looking
- 350 ml lamb stock – homemade or from a stockpot
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 0.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- sea salt – to taste
- freshly ground black pepper – to taste
- onions – one per person
- carrots – one per person
- garlic – I like to use a whole bulb, but feel free to reduce this to your liking
- cornflour – to thicken the gravy
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How to make slow-cooked lamb shanks – step-by-step instructions (oven version)
- Preheat your oven to 150 C/ 300 F/ gas mark 2. Heat the sunflower oil in a large casserole dish and sear the lamb shanks on all sides. You might need to do this in batches. Set aside.
- Deglaze the pan with the hot lamb stock, scraping up any bits that might be stuck to the bottom. Add the tomato puree, rosemary and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil and season to taste.
- Return the lamb shanks to the casserole dish and add the vegetables.
- Slow cook in the centre of your oven for 2 hours, removing the lid for the last 20 minutes to brown up the vegetables.
- Remove the lamb shanks from the casserole dish and keep warm. Dissolve the cornflour in a little water and thicken the gravy. Use more cornflour if you want a thicker gravy.
- Return the lamb shanks to the casserole, coat with the gravy and serve with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta.
How to make slow-cooked lamb shanks in the crockpot/slow cooker
- Heat your sunflower oil in a saute pan and sear the lamb shanks on all sides. Place into the bowl of your slow cooker.
- Deglaze the pan with the lamb stock, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom. Add the tomato puree, rosemary and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to the boil and season to taste.
- Add the vegetables to the slow cooker bowl and pour over the contents of the saute pan.
- Cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 5.
- Remove the lamb shanks from the slow cooker bowl and pour the gravy into a saucepan.
- Thicken with the cornflour dissolved in a little water. Serve with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta.
What’s your favourite winter lamb recipe? Are you a slow roast sort of person, or do you prefer stews? Let me know in the comments!
Recipe Difficulty Levels
Easy
Requires basic cooking skills and ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen.
Moderate
Requires more experience, preparation and/or cooking time. You may have to source special ingredients.
Challenging
Recipes requiring more advanced skills and experience and maybe some special equipment.
Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks with Vegetables & Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 4 lamb shanks
- 350 ml lamb stock (from a stock cube is fine)
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 0.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Shetland sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 onions peeled and quartered
- 4 carrots peeled and sliced
- 1 bulb garlic cloves separated
- 1 tbsp cornflour to thicken the gravy
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Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150 C/ 300 F/ gas mark 2.
- Heat sunflower oil in an ovenproof casserole dish and sear the lamb shanks on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Deglaze the pan with the lamb stock, scraping up all the browned bits that might be stuck to the bottom. Add the tomato puree, rosemary and season well. Remove from the heat.
- Add the quartered onions, sliced carrots and the peeled, separated cloves of garlic to the pan. Return the seared lamb shanks to the pan, cover tightly with a lid (or use aluminium foil).
- Bake in the centre of the oven for two hours, removing the foil/lid for the last twenty minutes of cooking so that the meat browns nicely.
- Carefully remove the lamb shanks and keep warm while you make the gravy.
- Dissolve the cornflour in a little cold water.
- Return the casserole pan to a medium-high heat on the hob and when the juices in the pan are bubbling carefully pour in the dissolved cornflour. Stir constantly until the gravy thickens. You might need to add some more hot lamb stock or more dissolved cornflour to get it to your desired consistency.
- Serve the lamb shanks and gravy with creamy mashed potatos.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Sear meat and deglaze pan, as above. Place in a slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients (except the cornflour) and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
- Remove lamb shanks and thicken gravy, as above.
Nutrition
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Looks tasty. I love the way all the ingredients are easily sourced rather than having to hunt down an item or two from a specialist shop
Thats the British way. Use whatever you have in, any stock you have saved, any root veg you have.
This is just the sort of good, hearty recipes I love going into Autumn
Another winning recipe lamb is one of my fav meats but I rarely cook it, this recipe look so easy to follow, really appreciate it.
This looks absolutely delicious. Perfect for my family. Looks quite easy to cook too. 10/10.
I think it looks delicious, proper comfort food, just the thing to come home to on a cold winters day
Looks amazing, and such a great winter warmer dish too. We rarely have lamb but it will be a lovely change to give this a try.
Looks like a fantastic family recipe that I’d love to try
I absolutely love lamb shanks so this is right up my street. We are trying to be super healthy at the moment. Fatty meat is off the list but think I might have to do it as a treat soon.
Good recipe I will certainly be trying it.
sounds great and easy to do think I will give it a go as not even I could mess that one up :0)
Such an iconic meal. It made my mouth water, a simple enough recipe and I think my whole family would enjoy it. I will try this on Sunday x
This is just my perfect sort of meal, it looks divine. A proper dish for a cold autumn night
We love lamb shanks even better when minted. I give this meal a 5 star rating
Looks like a real winter treat!
Lamb is my families favourite dish, the shanks are delicious – we always have it for Christmas lunch instead of turkey!
Definitely rate the recipe 5 stars – delicious! 🙂
Lamb is a firm family favourite – my Mum cooks it for us but would love to invite her to our home to try this beautiful sounding meal. A real hearty family meal to enjoy round the kitchen table
I’m vegetarian, but I know lots of friends and family who would love such a hearty meal
What a perfect hearty meal for the winter months. Looks lovely!
This looks a fantastic winter warmer dish.
Love love love this as I’m trying to find as many one pot recipes as I can. Thanks!
This is a recipe I will definitely be trying. I love using my slow cooker as it enables me to still have wholesome, homemade food even after a long day at work.
This looks delicious and simple to make. Lamb is one of my favourite meats and looking at the photos is making my mouth water
Fabulous dish, soft sweet melty lamb is one of my favourite dishes, and cooked as a shank seems to make them so rich.
I dont actually eat lamb but my partner would love this so might have to give this a try for our next sunday roast
Simply devine – heart and healthy – will be a big hit with all the family – will be trying soon
I dont choose lamb very often but in fact always enjoy it when I do! This recipe looks great for a late supper night.
It looks amazing
I haven’t eaten lamb for a long while now, but I think I’ll give it a whirl after reading this. I do love Lamb shanks and they are so tasty and warming and perfect for the upcoming winter. This recipe is easy to follow so thank goodness and thanks for that!
Rating!
This sounds the perfect hearty recipe for the autumn months
Sounds like a perfect winter dish for when it is cold and dark outside and you need some comfort food
Looks great – I love lamb shank and especially as it gets into this kind of season. So nice and heart warming 🙂
This looks delicious and I want to try it out in the winter when it gets cold.
10 out of 10 for this recipe – we enjoy lamb, potatoe and veg in this home, so this is a recipe i would like to try out on my family – thank you for hosting the blog and providing the recipe ideas x
Lamb is one of our very favourite meats! I’m going to use the recipe for the slow cooker version, perfect for a Saturday Supper in front of the fire.
Real case of “Jack Sprat could eat no fat” in our house. I don’t eat lamb, but I will be doing this for my wife, lamb is her favourite meat and she is partial to a lamb shank or 2.
Lamb isn’t something I would ever buy or try and cook because I’ve always thought it was a more difficult meat. Your recipe has inspired me to have a go though! It doesn’t look too difficult and the ingredients aren’t too expensive or hard to find and the end result looks really good. Can’t wait to wizz this one out for the Mr, he will be well impressed x
I’m veggie so it’s not for me although I like to read these kinds of recipes as they still give me ideas.
This looks stunning. I will be making this soon for th family especially when the cold nights start to come in
I’m a huge fan of lamb and often cook it on a Sunday so this recipe sounds absolutely delicious.
I rarely have the patience for slow cooking but I do love the tenderness and why the meat can fall of the bone
Looks delicious
very seasonal and looks delicious
sounds delicious and a lot of ingredients I would nornally have/ use
Looks really tasty and fairly easy to make. My OH loves his lamb too so nice to try a different dish
this recipe looks yummy
This looks delicious and makes me want to cook lamb more often. Will definitely try it next weekend!
I love rosemary with Lamb, I’d probably use some fresh Rosemary from the garden too. It’s a great autumnal recipe
It looks and sounds wonderful, perfect for winter with all the family together dinner
lamb is a treat for us – I normally only ever eat it when we go out to a restaurant. This looks delicious!
Yummy delicious A DISH THAT I can’t wait to make
It looks the perfect recipe for entertaining friends at the weekend
This has got to be one of my favorite recipe’s because I love love love slow cooked lamb shanks, especially served with delicious, crispy roasties..can life get any better?
Wow I’m drooling just looking at those pictures!
Another delicious and stunning looking recipe, definitely going to put this on my list.
My husband adores lamb so will have to make this, I’m not so keen as I think it tastes fatty.
Love this recipe! I love lamb so I am always on the look out for new recipes! This one is added!
Lamb Shank is one of my favourites. I’m so looking forward to trying this out!
This looks delicious and would be an ideal meal to have in the cold winter months.
This looks to be a delicious, hearty meal for the cooler weather. I have been promising to buy myself a slow cooker for a while now. It’s very tempting when you see recipes like this, which would be ready to serve when you return home in the evenings.
Hi, what a lovely recipe. So nice to see a substanstail portion and result. I love the root veg that are used and to serve on a bed of mash is always a winner. It just so happens I have a shoulder of lamb for todays meal so I will be adapting your recipe to suit. As my husband says gravy makes or breaks a meal.
Oh this looks like the perfect comforting meal. Yum!
I’ve not tried lamb before, but I have to say this dish looks like it would taste delicious.
I love lamb and this looks so delicious
Mmmmm we love lamb shanks and this recipe would be perfect for warming us in this cold snap
I am now dreaming of that slow cooked succulent lamb shank with creamy mash potoatoes now! I think this is perfect considering the freezing weather we’ve had. I do love the smell of lamb cooking in the house.
This sounds so delicious, especially in this weather! Lamb was one of the meats I really missed living in Bavaria as it’s really not eaten that much there! 🙂
slow cooked lamb is one of the best things to eat. And with some mint sauce, yum!
Well, I know what I’m making this weekend! Lamb is one of my favourite things and this looks absolutely delicious.
My husband and I love lamb shanks!
This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Amy
What a delicious holiday meal! Perfect for Christmas!
Love slow cooked recipes, will give this one a try for sure!
Wow, this nut roast looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing the details with us!
This is making our mouth water! You can’t beat slow cooked lamb. Perfect anytime of year we say!
Yum!! These lamb shanks look amazing!! I can’t wait to try this
Yes please!! I had just dinner but I am craving your slow cooked lamb shanks, the meal looks so good. What a gorgeous weeknight dinner it would make, just perfect.
That looks excellent and I love lamb. I would need to take my time to get it to this perfection.
I loooove lamb shanks. This looks so comforting, the perfect winter warmer!
I love lamb and it must be so tender with the slow cooking procedure
This meal would be the perfect way to my husband’s heart! It’s his dream meal on a plate!
That lamb looks absolutely delicious, the perfect dish to prepare for Christmas. The recipe is simple and easy to make too.
I’ve not made lamb shanks but I do love to use my slow cooker. I think this would make for a lovely Sunday lunch. Rich and warming. I shall be giving this a go. Might have to make it this weekend now!
Oh my. My mouth just absolutely watered to this awesome goodness. I’m gonna have to try this myself one of these days.
Ohh this is a meal of my husbands dreams. I don’t eat lamb but even I think it looks delicious!
Oh my this looks delicious! This is perfect comfort food. I would love to make this with creamy polenta.
This is exactly what I want right now! Such a yummy meal! It’s been many months since I had lamb – something I have to change asap!
Wow! I need to keep your recipe for later. I’ve never tried to cook lamb anything before, but I certainly may try it now.
Mmm I absolutely adore lamb shanks – I must get my slow cooker out more and give this a try. I bet it would go down a treat in my house!
Love lamb as long as it’s not fatty. Sounds great slow cooked bet it melts off the bone.
This looks like the perfect comfort dish! This is one of my partners favourite meals so will have to try this recipe
Your photography is gorgeous! This is a dish I wouldn’t normally consider, but you’ve made it so appetising!
This looks like real comfort food and a real winter warmer dish. So scrummy ideal for boxing day dinner x
I need to use my slow cooker more, I haven’t busted it out in months x
what a delicous cold weather recipe I am pinning for later use
I haven’t made Lamb in so long but oh my gosh this looks amazing. This dish is perfect for the winter/cold weather, I’ll be adding it to my meal list.
This looks like such a great meal for December but actually for Christmas too! It’s the perfect comfort meal, the photos are fantastic too, thanks for sharing!
This is ultimate comfort food and looks so delicious! What a great dinner to enjoy with the family!
Unless you went to a really decent Turkish shop in both Denmark, and in Germany, Lamb was really really hard to find… I didn’t realise I would actually miss it until we couldn’t really get it. It was a real treat to be back in the UK for Easter! I know my husband especially will love this recipe, I must make it really soon! Thank you! 🙂
This is just the sort of wintery comfort food my husband adores!
Oh man, this looks like such a perfect Holiday dinner. My husband would love those lamb shanks.
This is one of my favourite meals to order when in a pub, I’ve never tried to make myself though. I will certainly be trying this recipe
Your photos are totally making me want to jump right in. What a perfect dinner for a cold night by the fire with holiday guests! Love it.
Looks comforting and perfect for the season! lovely recipe.
Hearty recipes are so great this time of year! This looks like just the recipe for upcoming holiday get-togethers. 🙂 That gravy sounds amazing!
This looks like a great winter recipe. I will definitely pass this link on to my friends. Looks like a nice one thanks for posting hun x
perfect for this cold season.