Instant Pot Lamb Shanks (Mediterranean Style)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

Instant Pot Lamb Shanks are braised in the pressure cooker for juicy and tender results and they’re ready in half the time as traditional braising methods! 

I’m in love with the rich sauce and Mediterranean flavor of these lamb shanks! They’re perfect for Sunday family dinner or a fancy date night. Just whip up some creamy garlic mashed potatoes to go on the side, and you’ve got yourself a delicious comfort meal!

If you love lamb like we do, you might also want to try these recipes:

• sous vide lamb shanks
• Instant Pot lamb chops
• Instant Pot lamb curry
• spicy lamb tacos
• sous vide rack of lamb
• sous vide lamb shoulder
• teriyaki marinated grilled lamb chops

But first, break out your Instant Pot and try these amazing, fall apart tender lamb shanks!

Check out the Instant Pot Lamb Shanks story!

What are lamb shanks?

Lamb shanks are cut from the lower part of the lamb’s leg. As this is a well-exercised area of the lamb, it has a lot of connective tissue, making it tough but flavorful.

Lamb shanks are inexpensive and usually sold with the bone-in. Since they’re tough, they are ideal for slow cooking methods, which includes braising in the Instant Pot.

Why this recipe works

1. The Instant Pot yields the same tender and juicy results as oven or stove top braising, but in half the time.
2. Lamb shanks are inexpensive and budget friendly, but the rich Mediterranean flavors and fall-off-the-bone deliciousness make them a meal worthy of a five-star restaurant.
3. Using your Instant Pot means you don’t need to turn your oven on. So you can free up oven space for dessert like this chocolate chip skillet cookie! Or keep it a heat free meal and make these orange creamsicles.

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

You’ll need 3 pounds of lamb shanks (or 4 shanks). They can usually be found in the meat section of your grocery store or at your local butcher shop.

The base of the cooking liquid is ½ a cup of red wine. For a rich, deep flavor, make sure it’s dry red wine and not a sweet red.

For the cooking liquid you’ll also need ½ a cup of chicken stock. You can also use beef or veggie stock. If using a low sodium or no salt added stock, you may wish to season the sauce with more salt.

To go with the Mediterranean vibe in this dish, you’ll add chopped black olives. I like to use good quality olives for the best flavor.

Step by step instructions

Season the lamb shanks with salt and pepper.

Heat the avocado oil over high in the Instant Pot. Add the shanks, two at a time, and brown on all sides. ** You will need to do this in two batches.

Remove the lamb and set aside.

Add the onions and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, until they start to soften and brown.

Add the wine and cook down for 1 minute.

Add the chicken broth, carrots, olives, tomato paste and thyme to the Instant Pot and stir to combine.

Add the lamb shanks back in.

Pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then use the quick release to release the remaining pressure.

Turn the Instant Pot back to sauté and simmer to thicken the sauce, if desired (optional, but not required).

Add any additional salt to taste and serve garnished with a squeeze of fresh lemon or this red pepper chimichurri (HIGHLY recommended).

Expert tips

1. This recipe makes 4 large servings but you can easily cut the recipe in half, if desired.
2. The lamb is best served with the red pepper chimichurri for acidity. It will cut through the richness of the lamb shanks and sauce, like in these sous vide lamb chops with mint chimichurri.
3. Use good quality black olives for the best flavor.
4. You don’t have to use an expensive red wine, but it should be a good tasting one. Always go by the rule that if you wouldn’t drink it, you shouldn't cook with it! Don't use cooking wine!
5. If you want to leave out the red wine, you can just use more chicken stock, but the flavor won't be the same.
6. While the cook time is 45 minutes in the Instant Pot, you’ll also need to factor in time to brown the lamb shanks and for pressure to build and release in the Instant Pot.

Common questions

Make it a meal

Since these lamb shanks are so flavorful, I suggest keeping your sides plain so the flavor of the lamb can shine through. Here are a few suggestions:

• We love it served on top of polenta with chopped fresh herbs. You can also serve it with white or brown rice, quinoa or noodles.
• To cut through the richness of the lamb, we normally serve it with some red chimichurri.
• For pure comfort food, I highly recommend these truffle mashed potatoes or savory mashed sweet potatoes.
• Some crusty bread and cauliflower mash would be amazing too!
• If you want to go further with your sides, you can add these air fryer carrots, creamed pearl onions or duck fat parmesan truffle fries.
• If it's a special date night, finish the meal with this air fryer cheesecake topped with sous vide lemon curd!

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!