Slow-Roasted Rosemary Garlic Lamb Shanks

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 2 hrs 35 mins
Total: 2 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 lamb shanks

Although not the most popular of meats in American cuisine, lamb has long been a favorite in dishes around the world, especially in Mediterranean cuisine. Easy to prepare and flavorful, lamb gives a sweeter, earthier taste to recipes that call for beef. 

What Are Lamb Shanks?

Lamb shanks are cut from the leg of the animal, containing a central bone surrounded by hearty meat. They are more inexpensive than other cuts of lamb.

How To Cook Lamb Shanks

While some cuts of lamb are delicious cooked briefly at high heat (like grilling), lamb shanks are a different matter. Braising is a better option since the meat tends to be a little tougher, and low and slow cooking renders it fork-tender. This slow-roasted lamb shank recipe is such a great and easy way to enjoy lamb. It only requires a few ingredients, and even though it takes some time, it's almost all hands-off.

What To Serve With Lamb Shanks

You'll need to plan a few hours to prepare ahead for this recipe to allow the lamb to slow-roast, but it will be time well-spent. Serve with mashed potatoes or hearty bread to soak up the juices and a simple green veggie side such as green beans.

Slow-roasted rosemary garlic lamb shanks served over orzo

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Tips for Cooking Lamb Shanks

  • For a neater, more attractive look, sever the tendon near the top of the narrow end of the lamb shank or French the shank by cutting away the top 1/2-inch of meat and tendon.
  • If you are roasting the lamb shanks in a braising dish or Dutch oven with a lid, you can use that instead of aluminum foil. Just make sure the lid is tight-fitting to prevent the meat from becoming dried out.
  • While achieving a certain internal temperature is often a concern when cooking meat, you don't need a thermometer for this recipe. Lamb shanks are cooked for a long period of time and will register well above the minimum safe temperature.
  • If your lamb shanks are not fork-tender after following this recipe, you can put them back in the oven. Shanks tend to get more tender the longer you cook them, but they will begin to dry out and overcook if you roast them for too long.
  • The soft garlic cloves can be squeezed out of their skins and spread on the lamb. This will add a wonderful, more intense flavor.

"These lamb shanks come out melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly cooked. Rosemary and garlic bring out the great flavor of the lamb, and there was no gamey taste. I strained the liquid in a gravy separator before serving. The lamb shanks were delicious with mashed potatoes and peas, and made an excellent Sunday dinner!" —Diana Rattray

Slow-Roasted Rosemary Garlic Lamb Shanks Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 lamb shanks

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • Salt, to taste

  • Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

  • 6 cloves garlic, unpeeled, the skin pierced with the tip of a knife

  • 6 sprigs fresh rosemary

  • 1 cup chicken broth

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 450 F.

    Ingredients for slow-roasted rosemary garlic lamb shanks recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Place the shanks in a roasting pan just large enough to fit them in one layer and rub with the olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper, or to taste. 

    Lamb shanks placed snugly in a roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Roast for 20 minutes to get a nice brown color. Remove from the oven and turn the temperature down to 325 F.

    Lightly browned lamb shanks in roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. While waiting for the oven to cool down, spoon out any excess fat and scatter the garlic cloves and rosemary over and around the lamb.

    Fat removed from lamb shanks in roasting pan; shanks topped with garlic and rosemary

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Wrap the braising or roasting pan very tightly with several layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil (remember: you want as tight a seal as possible), and return to the oven. Roast the lamb for an additional 2 hours. Resist the temptation to open the foil and check on it until the 2 hours are up because you'll increase the risk of the meat becoming too tough.

    Roasting pan fully covered with aluminum foil to seal

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Remove the foil, pour in the chicken broth, and turn the heat up to 400 F. Roast for 15 minutes, and remove. The lamb shanks are done cooking when they are nicely browned and fork-tender.

    Deeply browned lamb shanks in a roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Transfer the lamb shanks to a serving platter and spoon over the juices, garlic cloves, and rosemary.

    Slow-roasted rosemary garlic lamb shanks with rosemary twig in roasting pan

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

How To Store Leftover Lamb Shanks

Refrigerate leftover lamb shanks in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can leave the meat on the bone or shred it off the bone for easier storage.


Reheat the meat gently in a little broth on the stovetop. Leftover lamb makes excellent tacos.

Recipe Variations

  • If you don't have fresh rosemary, use sprigs of fresh thyme or a combination.
  • Add a few whole shallots or a wedged red onion to the pan for luscious, soft onions that can be eaten alongside the main dish.
  • Substitute white wine or dry vermouth for the chicken broth.

How Much Meat Does the Average Lamb Shank Yield?

An average 1-pound lamb shank will yield about 7 1/2 to 8 ounces of meat (uncooked). One lamb shank will serve from 1 to 2 people, depending on the size of the shank and appetite.

How Tender Is the Meat on a Lamb Shank?

Lamb shank meat has a good deal of connective tissue, making it a tough meat. Long, slow roasting or braising breaks the tissue down, making the meat melt-in-your mouth tender.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1175 Calories
68g Fat
2g Carbs
129g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1175
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 68g 87%
Saturated Fat 27g 133%
Cholesterol 482mg 161%
Sodium 1140mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 129g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 108mg 8%
Iron 10mg 56%
Potassium 1210mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)