This slow cooker Italian lamb shoulder is incredibly easy to make and so delicious. It is sure to be your new favorite homemade meal! Do it for an easy weekday dinner or when entertaining friends.
Why we love it
Get ready to learn about your new favorite dinner recipe! It’s the ultimate in comfort food, a bone-in lamb shoulder slowly cooked to tender perfection with lots of garlic, onion and bright Italian seasonings.
The lamb simmers in its slow-cooker for hours, making your mouth water as the smell fills your home. It’s incredibly comforting and inviting, and like my Ranch Pot Roast, it’s a “dump and start” recipe.
Simply put, simply add (or pour) all the ingredients into your clay pot and let it cook until the meat is so tender that it practically falls out of the bone. This recipe is great if you’re new to cooking, but if you’re an experienced cook, or just want to look for something simple for once, this is also for you.
Oh, and did I mention that this recipe is also compatible with Whole30 and Keto? Let me tell you more!
👉 What kind of cut is the lamb shoulder? Lamb shoulder is a hard, fatty cut of meat taken from the upper back of the animal. Lamb shoulder is best cooked slowly to allow the meat to soften and the fat to surrender, until it melts tenderly. It is also economical compared to other cuts of lamb (about 1/3 the price of a leg of lamb of the same size).
For this recipe, use a whole lamb shoulder with bone OR lamb shoulder chops, whichever you prefer!
👉 What does the shoulder of lamb taste like? Lamb is similar in taste to beef, but lamb is richer and more playful or earthy in flavor. If you haven’t eaten lamb before, it might surprise you how much you enjoy it.
Personally, I’ve come to love lamb over the years, and I think it’s a wonderful protein for hearty recipes like my Irish lamb stew and rustic Italian lamb dumplings. I buy my lamb from Porter Road because the taste and quality is 💯 .
Ingredients
This recipe contains only eight simple ingredients, in total. Because when you start with great ingredients, you don’t need to do much to make them shine! Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe at home:
- Lamb shoulder with bone
- Chicken broth or vegetable broth
- Red wine vinegar
- Italian seasoning
- Onion
- Garlic
- Fresh rosemary, to decorate
- Arrowroot powder, for the sauce. If you’re not following Whole30 or Keto, feel free to substitute any other thickeners, such as cornstarch or flour.
.
My favorite side dishes to serve with this lamb are the crispy vegetables, especially the red potatoes and carrots. To make them, crack the vegetables, then mix with oil, salt and pepper, and bake at 425°F for 35 minutes, turning once.
To keep it Keto and low carb, serve your lamb with cauliflower puree, green beans or roasted spaghetti squash.
Step by step instructions Cut
the
onions into quarters and remove the garlic from their skins. Guess what? You’re DONE with the knife and cutting board. Go ahead and keep them because you no longer need them!
Add the onions, garlic, broth and vinegar to the slow cooker. Place the shoulder of lamb on top, with the cap facing up. It should be at least partially immersed in the liquid, but not completely covered.
Sprinkle the top of the lamb shoulder with the Italian seasoning. If your Italian seasoning mix contains no salt, season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt as well. Cover and turn on the slow cooker.
Now get ready, because as it cooks, the most delicious smell will begin to fill your house. It’s so delicious that waiting is almost tortuous!
Once the lamb has finished cooking, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and set it aside on a large plate with edge. Pour some liquid from the slow cooker over the meat. You’ll know it’s ready when it can be easily crushed with a fork (no knife needed!).
Cover loosely with a piece of aluminum foil or another plate and let it sit for about 10 minutes
.
Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Strain all the liquid from the slow cooker into a medium skillet to remove the large pieces of onion and garlic.
Beat the arrowroot powder in the liquid and simmer, beating often, until slightly thickened. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Finally, return to the lamb rested. Use two forks to separate the pieces from the cooked lamb. Set aside bones and any large pieces of fat.
Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and serve with a healthy drizzle of sauce and garnish with
rosemary.
Instant adaptation
to
the pot Any slow cooker recipe can be adapted to the Instant Pot, and this recipe is another example! Here’s how-to in your reliable Instant Pot.
Optional step: Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode and add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Dry the lamb shoulder and season with salt and pepper. Once the oil is hot and shiny, brown the roast on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Next, add the onions, garlic, vinegar and broth to the instant pot. Secure the lid and rotate at high pressure. Set for 45 minutes, then once you have finished cooking, allow a natural pressure release (allow the steam to dissipate naturally). This usually takes about 15 minutes.
More delicious recipes
- Garlic butter steak bites
- Mediterranean lamb dumplings
- Slow cooker Chicken
thighs Now all that’s left to do is grab your slow cooker and start cooking! If you made this recipe, I’d love to hear about your experience! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.
