Venison Shank Recipe

This Venison Shank Recipe is a great way to use this tough cut of meat. No more tossing the shanks, no more trim and grind. Just cut, wrap the entire shank, and freeze it. Pull it out later, put it in the crockpot for this tender, melt-in-your-mouth recipe! 

How to make this venison shank recipe

Prepare the deer shanks

I don’t slice the shanks into traditional osso bucco size pieces. I just remove the leg at the joint, then cut off the extra bone below the meat.  If you don’t have a bone saw, you don’t need to cut bone at all. Just separate at both joints and cook the entire shank.

Make sure your crockpot is large enough, or alternately you may braise them in the oven. If you braise them, use this recipe as written, except place in a covered baking dish and cover tightly. Bake at 250 for 6-8 hours. If you need help figuring out this cut, check out this chart on venison cuts.

Sear the shanks 

First, heat a heavy skillet over high heat and add some oil. Fry the meat until each side is a dark golden brown. You can skip this step, but the browning adds a lot of flavor! So I always brown it first. 

Slice the onions

Slice two small white onions and place in bottom of crockpot. Any onions will work, don’t worry if you have only red or yellow! Just throw em in there. No one will know the difference. Chop and add 4 garlic cloves. Add more if you like! 

Prepare the cooking liquid

Mix the broth, seasonings, and gravy mix in a bowl. Place browned shanks in the crockpot, on top of the onions and garlic. Pour the cooking liquid over the top. 

Cook the venison shanks

Turn the crockpot to LOW and cook for 8 hours. Pull the bone out and shred the meat with two forks. Serve hot over mashed potatoes or cooked pasta.

Venison Shank recipe

This venison shank recipe is tender and so flavorful! lots of gravy to serve over noodles or potatoes.

3.93 from 67 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings 6

Calories 303 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 2 lbs venison shanks
• 2 onions sliced
• 4 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 package brown gravy mix
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon tabasco optional
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt optional
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

 

• Heat the oil in a frying pan over high heat. Place shanks in oil and fry on all sides till well browned.
• Slice onions and place in crockpot. Add chopped garlic. Place browned meat on top the onions.
• Mix the broth, gravy mix, and seasonings together and pour it over the meat.
• Cook on LOW heat for 8 hours. Serve over mashed potatoes or noodles.

Notes

To Braise: Follow directions, but place in a baking dish and cover tightly. Bake at 250 for 6-8 hours. 

You may freeze this recipe and reheat in crockpot, oven, or stovetop. 

You can use any type of broth - chicken, beef, or vegetable. 

 

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 48gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 1142mgPotassium: 791mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 33IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 7mg

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