Name: Instant Pot Lamb Shanks
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 8 min
Ingredients: 2 to 4 lamb shanks; 2 Tbsp avocado oil; 1 medium-sized yellow onion (diced); 6 cloves garlic (minced); 1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes; 2 cups chicken broth; 2 Tbsp tomato paste; 1 Tbsp dried oregano; 2 tsp dried cumin; 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup or molasses; ½ cup dry red wine (optional)

Instant Pot Lamb Shank recipe is a goof-proof method for cooking perfectly tender fall-off-the-bone lamb shank! This easy lamb shank recipe makes for a romantic meal that can be prepared any night of the week.

Instant Pot Lamb Shanks - an easy method for braising lamb shanks in a delicious tomato based sauce.

Lamb is a hot topic of conversation in my household, as both my partner and I are true fanatics.

A fly on the wall may hear musings from our last Rack of Lamb adventure, as both of us can’t get enough of those lamb lollipops.

Well here we are to discuss this lovely, unique lamb shank recipe. Designed to be easy to prepare yet full of fancy flair just in case you’re looking to impress.

A beautiful meal to bring to the dinner table for special occasions.

Let’s dive right into the details!

What Are Lamb Shanks?:

Lamb shanks are the bottom section of the leg, below the knee. This muscular tissue tends to be a tougher cut of meat, making it ideal for slow cooking or pressure cooking. Searing then braising lamb shanks in a flavorful broth results in tender, fall-off-the-bone delightful meat.

The difference between leg of lamb and lamb shanks is that the leg of lamb represents the full leg, starting at the hip. Leg of lamb is often available as a bone-in or boneless roast and tends to be a bit more tender than the shank.

In this application, lamb shanks are seared in a cast iron skillet before adding them to a rich, flavorful tomato-based sauce and pressure cooked until they’re nice and tender. We transform the rough cut of meat into a delicious recipe with rich braising liquid to use as sauce.

Serve the braised lamb shanks with your favorite side dishes with plenty of sauce over the top for an epic romantic meal!

I do suggest serving the Instant Pot Lamb Shanks over my Roasted Garlic Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower because both options will soak up that yummy sauce.

Lemon Asparagus Risotto and Balsamic Roasted Vegetables are also great options.

Most lamb shanks contain enough meat for two people (by some people’s standards), so you can plan the meal accordingly.

Ingredients for Lamb Shanks:

Lamb Shanks: The main event here! Lamb shanks are sold in the meat department of the grocery store and often come tightly wrapped in freeze-dried plastic. If your store carries it, you’ll find it near the other lamb products. Most butchers will have a great selection.

This recipe makes plenty of sauce, so use up to 4 lamb shanks.

Avocado Oil (or olive oil): Used to sear the lamb shanks and cook the onion, avocado oil is a high-temperature cooking oil, perfect for this application. You can also use olive oil if you prefer.

Onion and Garlic: Those all-star ingredients that bring big, bold flavor to any dish.

Crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, red wine: This combination of ingredients generates a thick, rich sauce that if bold in tomato flavor with that delicious red wine undertone. There’s no need to use expensive wine. Any dry red wine such as cabernet sauvignon will do as long as it isn’t too sweet. If you don’t cook with wine, replace it with beef stock.

Do note that there is a difference between crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Be sure to use a large can of crushed tomatoes, which can be found in the canned vegetable section of the grocery store, right near the diced tomatoes.

You can add 2 to 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar to the red wine sauce if you’d like.

Dried oregano, ground cumin, black pepper, sea salt: Seasonings to boost the herby rustic profile! Use any of your favorite dried herbs or fresh rosemary. It is common to add bay leaf and cinnamon sticks to the braising liquid to add warmth to the wonderful sauce.

Pure Maple Syrup: To counterbalance some of the acidity from the tomato sauce and wine, a touch of pure maple syrup adds a nearly unnoticeably sweetness to balance out the meal.

Now that we have the ingredients all lined out, let’s make this delicious adventure happen!

The whole thing does not take a long time, especially in the pressure cooker. You’ll be impressed by how amazing this braised meat turns out.

How to Make Instant Pot Lamb Shank:

Remove the lamb shanks from their packaging and sprinkle liberally with sea salt.

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add just enough avocado oil to coat the surface. Once the skillet is very hot, place the lamb shanks in a single layer on the surface and sear for 5 to 8 minutes. Flip, and sear on the other side for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until both sides are golden-brown. Note: You can use a large Dutch oven for this step if you’d like.

While the lamb shanks are searing, prepare the sauce.

Plug in your pressure cooker and press the Sauté button and allow it to heat up for a few minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil, then add the onion. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes.

Pour in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, dried oregano, ground cumin, pure maple syrup, and red wine. Stir well and allow this mixture to come to a full (but controlled boil).

Transfer the seared lamb shanks to the Instant Pot. Stir everything around until the shanks are well-covered in sauce.

Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and select the Manual or Pressure Cook button. Pressure cook on high pressure for 35 minutes, then naturally release for at least 25 minutes (ideally 50 minutes to 1 hour) before using the quick release to release the remaining steam.

Alternate Cooking Methods:

Looking to use a different cooking method? You can slow cook the lamb shanks in a crock pot for 8 to 10 hours on LOW heat or 5 to 7 hours on HIGH heat. Simply sear the meat using the same instructions above and add everything to the crock pot. Slow cooking on low is a fantastic way to tenderize a tough cut of meat.

If you prefer using a Dutch oven, perform the same steps as the Instant Pot, but allow the meat to braise for 1 hour on low heat once everything is in the pot.

Serve the lamb shanks with your favorite sides, and enjoy this tender meat!

If you’re looking for more romantic dinner ideas, check out my Filet Mignon Recipe, Prime Rib Recipe, Crock Pot Beef Stew or my Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs.