Slow cooking lamb in a slow cooker or crock pot is the best thing you can do with red meat. Especially, if you can just add everything to the pot and cook. This slow cooker lamb makes tender, juicy, fork-tender meat in just 4 hours with a rich creamy sauce that works a treat over steamed rice or crusty bread.
If you ask my kids what they want for dinner over the weekend they usually say - slow-cooked meat with couscous or mashed potato and such. Winter is one time when we have lots of slow-cooked recipes, either made in the slow cooker or over the stovetop. Because, of course, slow-cooked meats somehow are always so comforting. Right?
For me, red meat like beef, lamb or pork has got to be fork-tender unless, of course, it's burgers or steaks. Which is why I do love my slow cooker very much. I can just throw in a few ingredients and forget about it for hours. Often, a life-saver on days when I was busy with cake orders and no time to cook.
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About this recipe
I honestly didn't know what to call this recipe. It's simple and easy, but most of all the flavors are wonderful with almost every ingredient you probably already have in your kitchen. The list looks long, but again, nothing fancy. And yet, when they all come together it is so wonderful.
Cooking meat in a slow cooker does not get any easier than this. It is as simple as adding all ingredients into the slow cooker and turning the cooker on. Leave it on for 4 to 6 hours, depending on how much time you have on hand. I usually prefer slow cooking red meat for 6 to 8 hours because it does give tender meat that falls apart easily. Isn't that just what you want with red meat?
Ingredients and substitutes
- Lamb - I often use a lamb shoulder or leg. The best thing about slow cooking is that you can use the cheap cuts and it will still cook to fork-tender with the slow cooking process.
- Onion - I've used a small red onion because I love how it adds sweetness to the dish as it cooks down but if sweet is not for you add regular brown onions.
- Garlic and ginger - I cannot think of lamb without these two to flavor it. Adds so much more. If you don't have fresh ginger, you can add 1 tsp of ginger powder. Not the same as fresh but still works.
- Herbs - You can use fresh herbs. Over the years, I have always made this with dried herbs, but fresh would be great as well.
- Ketchup - Adds a little sweet, sour tang and thickness to the dish. This is not a tomato-based dish, so do not add too much.
- Cornstarch - Helps thicken the sauce. Starch tends to settle on the bottom of the slow cooker causing it to burn and dissipate heat evenly. So, it's best to leave the thickening agent for later.
Step by step instructions (pin)
- Ideally, you can add all ingredients in the slow cooker except the cornstarch and give it a good mix.
- But, to ensure everything is well combined and cooks evenly I like to layer things.
- Start by adding the oil, onions, and garlic (slices and whole).
- Followed by the lamb, salt, and pepper.
- In a bowl or measuring cup, combine the stock, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, brown sugar, paprika - stir well then pour over the lamb.
- Add the bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme.
- Make sure everything is immersed inside the liquid.
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours or until the meat is fork-tender.
- After the cooking time - combine the cornstarch with a little water to create a slurry - add it to the slow cooker - stir well.
- Continue to cook on low for a half-hour or high for 15 minutes.
- Discard the leaves before servings.
- Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
This slow-cooked lamb will keep in the fridge for 5 to 6 days. It can also be frozen for up to a month.
You can use vegetable, chicken or beef stock instead of beer.
I suggest you use my braised lamb in red wine. It's simple and easy to make too
While we do need liquid to cook the meat, the excess liquid does not evaporate when slow-cooking. You can serve the extra liquid with bread or rice. Alternatively,
remove the meat from the slow cooker and transfer the liquid in a saucepan. Reduce it over medium-high heat on the stovetop until it's a thicker consistency. Then add the meat back to the liquid.
Yes, actually, beef and pork would work just as well instead of lamb for this slow cooker recipe. See my slow cooker beef recipe
yes, you can certainly make this on the stovetop instead of slow cooker. See my recipe for slow-cooked lamb
Absolutely, you can a tablespoon of honey, or agave syrup instead of brown sugar.
What do you serve with this lamb?
Today, I have served it with steamed rice but my kids love to enjoy it with mashed potato. When I'm on a low carb mood I usually serve it with cauliflower rice. This recipe is versatile and goes well with couscous as well as creamy polenta.
You can, of course, serve veggies on the side such as garlic sesame asparagus, parmesan asparagus, sesame green beans, cheesy baked eggplant slices, lemon rosemary potatoes, roasted dill potatoes,
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You may also like
- Slow-cooked Indian Lamb Masala
- Slow cooker lamb curry recipe - curry powder
- Braised lamb in red wine
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Recipe
Crock Pot or Slow Cooker Lamb Recipe
Print Pin RateDescription
Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (1 kg) Lamb cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- ½ cup Onion chopped
- 1 garlic clove sliced
- 10 garlic cloves whole skin-on
- 1 cup (250 ml) Stock veg, beef
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Mustard paste
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Hot paprika smoked
- 3 Bay leaves
- 2 sprig Rosemary fresh
- 2 sprig Thyme fresh
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp (½ ) Pepper
Instructions
- Ideally, you can add all ingredients in the slow cooker or corckpot except the cornstarch and give it a good mix.
- But to ensure everything is well combined and cooks evenly I like to layer things
- Start by adding the oil, onions, and garlic (slices and whole)
- Followed by the lamb, salt and pepper
- In a bowl or measuring cup combine the stock, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, brown sugar, paprika – stir well then pour over the lamb
- Add the bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme
- Make sure everything is immersed inside the liquid.
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours or until the meat is fork-tender
- After the cooking time – combine the cornstarch with a little water to create a slurry – add it to the slow cooker – stir well.
- Continue to cook on low for half-hour or high for 15 minutes.
- Discard the leaves before servings.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Natalie
I love lamb meat and my family loves it too. This is definitely something I need to try soon. It looks delicious and so full of flavor. Meat turned out so perfect. I already saved the recipe. Can't wait to make this.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Natalie
Katie
I don't have soy sauce as it got wheat in it. What can I used instead?
Veena Azmanov
You can omit the soy sauce Katie
Amy
This is such a great, wholesome dish! The meat is so tender and cooked perfectly. I also appreciate all the tips on cooking with a slow cooker.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Amy.
Rebecca Blackwell
I have never thought to cook lamb in the slow cooker, and after making this recipe I can't imagine why I didn't think of it earlier. Cooking it so low and slow makes the meat incredibly tender and delicious. I don't know if I'll ever cook it any other way from now on. Thank you for such a great recipe!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Rebecca. So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Yes, the meat turns out very tender and juicy in the slow cooker. Appreicate you coming back to write this feedback.
Carrie
Printing this recipe out now! I love lamb and this is perfect for the cold weather. It looks so good!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Carrie
Lori
My in-laws are huge lamb lovers and I just know they would love this! I’m thinking this, some mashed potatoes and maybe some roasted veggies. Thank you for sharing!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Lori. I hope you try this. Yes, mashed potato and roast veggies would be perfect.
Paula Montenegro
I agree that the slow cooker was made for cooking meat. And lamb is one of my absolute favorites! The addition of ketchup is a nice surprise, I'm definitely trying this recipe!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Paula. Yes, the ketchup adds a slight tang and sweetness.
Romina
I have everything except for the lamb! I’m going to get some during the week and make this as it looks amazing x
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Romina. I hope you enjoy this.
Danielle
Great tip on layering things - I like doing it to make sure everything is cooked properly. Delicious lamb recipe that I am definitely going to try over the holiday!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Danielle.
Kelly Anthony
My family loves lamb so I'll be adding this to our menu. This recipe will make a great weeknight meal that everyone will enjoy.
Veena Azmanov
Absolutely Kelly. We love this over the weekend too.
Amanda
I love, love lamb, so I had to make this ASAP. It was so tender and flavorful, and the slow cooker makes it so easy to put together. Thanks for sharing!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Amanda. Yes, the slow cooking makes the lamb so tender.