What Are Lamb shanks and How Can I Use Them?

Here's everything worth knowing about lamb shanks and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 18 recipes to cook tonight.

Where found

Lamb shanks are usually found in the meats section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

In Chinese:	羊腿
British (UK) term:
en français:	jarrets d'agneau
en español:	pierna de cordero

Recipes using lamb shanks

There are 18 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Couscous Beidaoui

Traditional Moroccan couscous with lamb shanks, saffron, pumpkin, turnips, cabbage, and chickpeas served over buttery couscous with raisins. A spectacular North African feast that feeds six generously.

Tangy Braised Lamb Shanks

Mexican braised lamb shanks with ancho chiles, raisins, and vinegar in rich tomato sauce. Fall-apart tender meat ready in 3 hours for special dinners.

White Bean & Lamb Soup

Hearty white bean and lamb shank soup simmered low and slow with sage, garlic, and a bright squeeze of lemon. Freezer-friendly and feeds a crowd.

Lamb Shanks with Lentils

Braised lamb shanks with oregano and garlic served over simmered lentils with celery and bay leaf, finished with lemon slices in the oven. A rustic, protein-packed one-dish meal.

Stewed Lamb Shanks

Stewed lamb shanks braised with great northern beans, tomato, red wine, rosemary, and bay. A rustic Italian-style one-pot dinner with fork-tender meat falling off the bone.

James' Lamb Shanks with Beans

Lamb shank and bean casserole inspired by French cassoulet: garlic-studded shanks braised in red wine and beef stock, layered with beans, caramelized onions, and topped with bacon and golden breadcrumbs.

Curried Lamb Shanks in Wine

Curried lamb shanks braised in white wine with a curry-flour gravy and sliced onions. Fork-tender after a long, gentle simmer in a single skillet.

Cottage Broth

A slow-simmered lamb shank and barley soup loaded with leeks, turnips, and carrots. This two-day cottage broth rewards your patience with deeply savory, stick-to-your-ribs comfort.

Peninsula Lamb Shanks

Braised lamb shanks simmered in a flour-thickened broth with onion and garlic, finished with celery, fresh tomatoes, and parsley. Fall-off-the-bone tender.

Braised Lamb Shanks with Roasted Garlic& White Beans

Braised Lamb Shanks with Roasted Garlic& White Beans recipe

Nicholas' Baked Lamb Shanks

Baked lamb shanks braised in tomato sauce with oregano, onion, and parsley. Slow-roasted until the meat falls off the bone in a simple, Greek-style tomato braise.

Pot Roasted Lamb Shanks with Bell Peppers

Fall off the bone lamb with sweet capsicum (bell pepper) and tomatoes. Stand a shank on top of a 'mountain' of garlic mash potato in a bowl; ladle bell peppers and soupy stock all around. Mop up with crusty bread

Easy Braised Lamb Shanks

Easy braised lamb shanks slow-cooked in red wine, tomato, and stock until the meat falls off the bone, then finished with a reduced, glossy pan sauce. A rustic, restaurant-worthy lamb dinner that mostly cooks itself.

Bob's Braised Lamb Shanks

My husband and son liked this dish so much, I made it twice within three days. There wasn't a drop of sauce left, they soaked it all up with bread. It was that good.

Mediterranean Braised Lamb Shanks

What a delicious meal! Had this lamb shanks for dinner, and we were all so pleased by how flavorful it was. Loved the fennel in the dish.

Herb Marinated Braised Lamb Shanks

Herb-marinated braised lamb shanks: shanks rubbed with cumin, coriander, curry, and rosemary, then oven-braised fall-off-the-bone tender with carrots, potatoes, and zucchini in a rich gravy. A one-pot showpiece dinner.

Birria

Authentic Mexican birria with lamb, veal, and pork rubbed in a toasted ancho-guajillo-cascabel chili paste, marinated overnight, and slow-roasted until falling off the bone. Served with tomato broth, onion, and oregano.