Braised, Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks

If you are entertaining this season, this is the only entree to serve your guests! It is literally, fall off the bone perfection. Delicious!

slow roasted lamb shank

‘Tis the season for getting together with friends and family.

For as long as I can remember, our family has been making a turkey for Christmas dinners. And I am so over it.

I’m sick of carrying a 15 pound bird from the grocery store.

I’m sick of basting the bird every half hour.

I’m sick of the same tasting bird year after year. …After year.  …After year.

So this year, I decided to change it up. I wanted something easy – that didn’t look like it was easy.

I wanted something that looked refined and elegant, and tasted delicious. And most of all, I wanted something easy.

seared lamb shank

I have a serious love for my slow cooker.  You couldn’t pry it away from me. I love finding new recipes for my slow cooker.  It really is the best “set it and forget it” kitchen appliance.

Every time I go out for dinner, I check to see if lamb is on the menu. And if it is, that’s what I’m getting!  So why not make it at home.  This recipe is just as delicious. And when you make it at home, its always a fraction of the price (and who doesn’t love that?!!?)

I sear the lamb shanks before putting it in the slow cooker. This seals all that delicious flavor in. The red wine also adds a beautiful richness to the lamb. And I guarantee you, there is no “gamey” taste so often associated with lamb with this recipe.

For the ed wine, don’t bother getting anything expensive. I usually use whatever is leftover from a night with the girls – as long as it hasn’t been open for too long and turned acidic.

fall off the bone lamb shanks

If you are entertaining this season, this is the only entree to serve your guests! It is literally, fall off the bone perfection.

I serve this with chive and cheddar mash potatoes, drizzled with the lamb gravy, and grilled asparagus. Delicious!

Believe me, this recipe is sure to impress your guest!

lamb shanks
braised lamb shanks

Description of Recipe

Serves: 4

Prep time:

Cook time:

Ingredients:
  • 4 lamb shanks
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 350 ml red wine
  • 250 ml beef or chicken broth
  • flour
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • a spring of rosemary
  • olive oil

Instructions:
  1. heat a frying pan with a little olive oil on medium high heat
  2. clean lamb shanks of access fat and pat dry
  3. season lamb with salt and pepper
  4. dust lamb in flour
  5. sear lamb in the frying pan on all sides until a light crust forms
  6. place lamb in the slow cooker
  7. deglaze frying pan with the red wine and let simmer for5 minutes
  8. add onions, garlic, rosemary, broth and wine to the slow cooker
  9. set slow cooker for 6 hours
braised slow cooker lamb shanks
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Drunken Tequila Lime Chicken

As summer has officially begun, it marks the start of grilling season.

I am always looking for different recipes to try and this one definitely beats the typical barbecue sauce chicken that most of us gravitate towards, only because it’s easy and doesn’t require much thinking.

grilled tequila lime chicken

As summer has officially begun, it marks the start of grilling season.

I am always looking for different recipes to try and this one definitely beats the typical barbecue sauce chicken that most of us gravitate towards, only because it’s easy and doesn’t require much thinking.

Since most of my summer entertaining includes drinks of some sort, I thought why not add that to the meal.

tequila lime bbq chicken

I decided to go with tequila as I seem to have a fascination with margaritas lately.

Tequila, paired with limes, add a great, bright flavor to the chicken which screams summer. I also used some peppers for a little bit of heat, because that’s how the Mister likes it, but you can forgo that if you’re not a fan of pepper.

tequila lime chicken

I decided to use chicken breasts for this recipe only because I could use the left overs for salads and take them to work.  (So much easier that trying to eat a drumstick at my desk!)

This recipe can be done either on the bbq or in the oven.  Of course the day I decided to make this it rained the entire day. I decided to go ahead and make it in my cast iron grill and finished cooking it in the oven. 

drunken tequila lime chicken

Drunken Tequila Lime Chicken

Makes: 4 Chicken Breasts

Prep time:

Cook time:

Ingredients:
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts
  • 2 shots tequila
  • juice of 1 lime
  • rind (grated) of 1 lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
  1. combine all the ingredients and let the chicken marinate overnight
  2. lightly grease a cast iron grill and turn heat on to medium high
  3. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  4. sear each side for 4-5 minutes
  5. put the cast iron skillet with the chicken in the oven and let cook for 20-25 minutes
pin tequila lime chicken
tequila chicken
TequilaLimeChicken
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