Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks
Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks feature tender, slow-cooked meat in a smoky, mildly spicy sauce layered with ancho and chipotle chiles, warm cinnamon, and sweet peppers. The broth is rich yet balanced with fresh cilantro, making it ideal for a cozy dinner served over couscous, mashed potatoes, or rice to soak up every drop.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook2 hrs 10 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 9 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 54 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 14
- Heart Health
- 59
- Metabolic
- 19
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 50
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Generously season the lamb shanks with salt and black pepper.
- 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the lamb shanks and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the shanks to a plate and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the oil.
- 3
Add the onion, garlic, and 1 pinch salt to the Dutch oven; reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chipotle chile powder, ancho chile powder, and ground cinnamon; stir to combine.
- 4
Pour 1 cup chicken broth over the onion mixture; increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Return the lamb shanks to the Dutch oven; cover and cook in the preheated oven for 90 minutes.
- 5
Set the Dutch oven on the stovetop. Stir in the jalapeño peppers, bell pepper, and the remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth; bring to a boil. Return the Dutch oven to the oven and cook, uncovered, until the lamb shanks are fork-tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer the shanks to a plate.
- 6
Return the Dutch oven to the stovetop over high heat; bring the liquid to a boil and cook, skimming off any foam, until reduced and thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro; season with salt and black pepper. Spoon the sauce over the lamb shanks, then serve.
- Calories 1761.69 kcal High 88%
- Protein 188.24 g Good Source 376%
- Carbohydrate 28.48 g 10%
- Total Fat 91.82 g High 118%
- Saturated Fat 36.45 g High 182%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 637.05 mg High 212%
- Sodium 789.4 mg High 34%
- Dietary Fiber 1.41 g Low Source 5%
- Total Sugars 4.03 g --
- Added Sugars 0.09 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 204.82 mg Moderate 16%
- Iron 14.43 mg Good Source 80%
- Potassium 2487.47 mg Good Source 53%
- Vitamin A 32.14 mcg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin C 81.14 mg Good Source 90%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Fish 🐟
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Chipotle Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks is made with 12 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 2 hrs 25 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Ancho Chile Powder, Black Pepper, Chicken Broth, and Chipotle Powder. Each serving provides about 1761.69 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks made of?
- The main ingredients are Ancho Chile Powder, Black Pepper, Chicken Broth, Chipotle Powder, Garlic. The full list of 12 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks?
- About 2 hrs 25 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1761.69 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks healthy?
- Chef John’s Chipotle-Ancho Braised Lamb Shanks has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 1761.69 calories and 188.24 g of protein, or 376% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron, potassium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 789.4 mg (34% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 36.45 g (182% of the Daily Value). It contains Fish, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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