Instant Pot Lamb Shanks

Name: Instant Pot Lamb Shanks
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 4 lamb shanks (trimmed from excess fat); 1 onion (chopped); 2 large carrots (chopped in large pieces); 2 celery ribs (chopped in large pieces); 3 cloves garlic (smashed); 2 tbsp tomato paste; 2 cups red wine; 1 cup beef broth; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 bay leaves; 1 tbsp cornstarch

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

These are the best Instant Pot Lamb Shanks braised in rich red wine sauce until the meat is fall of the bone tender! It will be an easy recipe for a family dinner to serve with creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side.

Lamb shank with gravy, vegetables, amd mashed potatoes in a grey bowl.

These Instant Pot Lamb Shanks, braised in a rich red wine sauce is out of this world delicious! While this recipe looks so fancy, it’s really easy to make in a pressure cooker. The cooking time is cut in half and the meat comes out juicy and fall of the bone tender!

The recipe is similar to my popular recipes for Instant Pot Boneless Short Ribs and Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, where I used red wine to create a rich flavorful gravy.

Why you will love this recipe

Restaurant style quality. This recipe tastes and looks so fancy, you would think it was cooked for hours and served in a restaurant with a glass of expensive wine.
Easy to make. A pressure cooker makes this recipe preparation really simple and cuts the cooking time at least by a half.
Incredible flavors! Red wine does most of the work to create a rich deep flavor and delicious aroma.

Ingredients to cook lamb shanks in a pressure cooker in separate bowls.

How to make it

Trim the lamb shanks of their excess fat.

Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot. When the pot is hot, add 2 tbsp olive oil and the lamb shanks. Sear them for about 7-10 minutes on all sides, then transfer to a plate and set aside. I prefer to sear 2 lamb shanks at a time, so they properly fit in your pot.

Searing lamb shanks in a pressure cooker.

When the meat is seared and set aside, add 1 chopped onion to the same pot. Cook for about 5-7 minutes or until the onion is softened and caramelized.

Then add 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped celery ribs, 3 garlic cloves and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Adding chopped carrots, celery, and garlic to a pot.

Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.

Adding tomato paste to the sauteed vegetables.

Add 2 cups red wine and let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until the wine reduces in half and evaporates the alcohol.

Adding red wine to the sauce in a pressure cooker.

Then add 1 cup beef broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, 2 bay leaves. Stir it in.

Adding broth, spices to the sauce in a pressure cooker.

Add pre-seared lamb shanks. Try to tuck them in so they are almost covered with the liquid.

Lamb shanks in a pressure cooker before and after cooking.

Close the lid and set the pressure cooker to manual high pressure for 50 minutes. When done, let the natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then open the lid.

Remove the meat, set it on a plate, cover with foil, and set aside.

Press the sauté button again and let the sauce simmer.

Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with ¼ cup water and gradually add it to the sauce until the desired consistency.

Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.

Adding cornstarch slurry to gravy in a pressure cooker.

Tips for best results

Trim the fat. I would highly suggest to trim the excess fat from the shanks to make sure that your gravy won’t be greasy.
Searing. I always like to sear the meat before cooking it in a pressure cooker. It helps to develop more flavor in the whole dish.
Reduce the wine. By simmering and reducing the wine, it will help to evaporate the alcohol and intensify the rich and deep flavor of the sauce.
Thickening the sauce. 1 tbsp of cornstarch mixed with water is usually enough to thicken the sauce. If it’s still too thin, just add more cornstarch/water slurry.

Options and Substitutions

Skip the wine. While the wine provides the most flavor in the sauce, you can skip it if you don’t want to use any alcohol in the recipe. Simply add 2 extra cups of beef broth and 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce. This last ingredient will add a nice touch and provide some acidity for the gravy.
Add more vegetables. To make it a truly one pot meal, you can add some baby potatoes, to the carrots and celery, so you can serve it together. You also can add some mushrooms or other root vegetables, like parsnip.

How to serve

My favorite way to serve this meal is with my Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe and some vegetables on the side, like Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Green Bean Almondine Recipe and Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan.

And of course you need to serve it with some homemade bread (like Potato Rolls Recipe and Easy Dinner Rolls) to soak it in this delicious gravy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store?

After the recipe is cooled off, you can transfer it to an air-tight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes! I love making this recipe 1 day ahead, refrigerate, and just reheat in the oven or on the stove top before ready to serve.

What wine shall I use?

Use inexpensive but good quality red wine. I like to use Cabernet Savignon, like Decoy (not sponsored).

Can you overcook the lamb?

No, even if you cook this meat a bit longer, the meat will just stay juicy and tender.

Why my gravy is greasy?

Most likely you didn’t trim the excess fat on the meat. To fix it, you can refrigerate the sauce and the fat will emulsify on the top. You just need to scoop it out and reheat the gravy.