A tender and juicy slow cooker leg of lamb is the perfect addition to any special occasion meal.
While it may seem daunting, cooking a leg of lamb in a slow cooker is quite simple!
Slow cooking results in tender lamb meat that falls off the bone. The leftover juices, infused with your choice of mint and rosemary flavours, make a lovely lamb gravy.
Jump to:
- How to cook Leg of Lamb in the Slow Cooker
- ๐ Step by Step Recipe
- Slow Cooker Lamb Preparation
- Ingredients
- Do I need to brown the lamb leg before cooking?
- Does slow cooker roast need liquid?
- How Long to Cook Lamb in a Slow Cooker?
- Gravy from Lamb Juices
- Carving Lamb
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage
- History
- More Lamb Recipes
- ๐ฌ Reviews
Read on to learn everything you need to make slow-cooker roast lamb that will fall off the bone, as seen below.
How to cook Leg of Lamb in the Slow Cooker
This recipe will cover everything you need to know about how to cook a leg of lamb in a slow cooker, from choosing the right leg joint to preparing it for cooking and cooking times. We will go into more detail throughout the rest of the blog post.
๐ Step by Step Recipe
Slow Cooker Half Leg of Lamb
Equipment
Ingredients
- 800 gram Half Leg of lamb
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Salt & Black Pepper
- 2 Carrots
- 1 Onion
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Lamb Stock Pot - Or Beef
- 300 ml Boiling Water
Optional flavouring
- 1 tablespoon Mint Sauce - add to the stock
- Sprinkle Dried Rosemary
Gravy
- All the remaining liquid from the slow cooker
- Boiling Water
- 2 tablespoon Cornflour
- 1 Splash Browning
Instructions
- Remove 800 gram Half Leg of lamb from the packaging and pat dry with a kitchen paper towel.
- Rub lamb with 2 tablespoon Olive Oil and season all over with Salt & Black Pepper.
- Sear the lamb in a lage pan on all sides until just browned.
- Chop 2 Carrots into batons and 1 Onion into chunky rings. Place onions in the middle of the slow cooker pot and the carrots around the outside. Peel the 4 cloves Garlic and add to the pot whole.
- Place the lamb on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Mix the 1 Lamb Stock Pot with 300 ml Boiling WaterOptional- Stir in 1 tablespoon Mint Sauce with the stock for minted lamb flavour.
- Pour the stock around the sides, but not over the lamb leg joint.
- Optional* Sprinkle Dried Rosemary over lamb for extra flavour.
- Place lid on.*Do not remove the lid at any point during cooking*For tender fall off the bone meat cook on low setting.
- COOKING TIMESHalf Leg of Lamb 600g - 1.2kg (1.3lb - 2.6lb)Low for 7 hoursWhole Leg of Lamb 1.3kg - 3kg (2.7lb-6.6lb)Low for 8 hours
- After its had its full cooking time, remove lamb from the slow cooker.
- Optional* If a more crispy skin is wanted, place on a baking tray and you can cook the leg of lamb in the oven uncovered for an additional 20 minutes at 180ยฐc fan/ 200ยฐc
- Cover the lamb joint loosely with foil and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes to let the juices settle before carving or pulling the meat apart.Enough time to cook your side dishes and make the gravy.
Gravy
- Remove carrots and cover them to keep warm; these can be used with the roast dinner. They are soft but full of flavour!
- Pour All the remaining liquid from the slow cooker through a sieve into a saucepan to remove onions and garlic.
- Optional* Spoon excess fat off the top.
- Mix 2 tablespoon Cornflour with an equal amount of cold water until lump free. Add to the stock whilst stirring with a whisk.
- Optional* Add 1 Splash Browning for a richer colour
- Bring to a boil while whisking, lower the heat, then add extra Boiling Water until the gravy is at your desired thickness.
Serving
- Once the lamb has rested for at least 30 minutes, you can pull it apart with two forks.
- Serve with all the sides and pour the gravy over the top. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
This post was originally posted on 11/10/2022. It has been simplified, and we moved the recipe card up to 17/07/2024 to make it more user-friendly.
Slow Cooker Lamb Preparation
To decide on the leg joint size you need, you need to work out how many people you are serving. Also, bear in mind the size of your slow cooker pot!
I recommend always using a fresh leg of lamb for this recipe. If using a frozen leg of lamb, always defrost thoroughly before starting to slow cook.
How much roast lamb per person?
As a general guide, allow 300 g per adult when buying a leg of lamb. For example, if you cook for four adults, you need a 1.2 kg large half leg of lamb.
However, if feeding a family of two adults and two children, a smaller 800-gram joint will be enough for your family.
Bone in Leg of lamb Kg (lbs) | How Many Adults it Serves |
---|---|
600g (1.3lbs) | 2 People |
1.2kg (2.6lbs) | 4 People |
1.8kg (4lbs) | 6 People |
2.4kg (5.3lbs) | 8 People |
3kg (6.6lbs) | 10 People |
Another thing to remember is how the joint will fit in your slow cooker (more on this below).
Half Leg of Lamb
A half leg of lamb will fit in most slow cookers. Half lamb legs come from 600kg to 1.2kg and will serve 3-6 people.
There are benefits to a lamb leg's chump end and shank end.
Chump End
The chump end is the more tender of the two and a better shape for the slow cooker pot. You could even fit two chump ends in next to each other.
Shank End
The shank end is tougher but has more flavour, and slow cooking will tenderise it beautifully. It is better suited for oval-shaped slow cookers.
Ultimately, your best choice depends on your personal preferences and how you plan to prepare the meat.
Whole Leg of Lamb
If you have a large enough pot and want to feed more people, buy two half-leg joints or a whole leg of lamb in sizes 1.3kgโ3kg to feed 6-15 people.
It may sound crazy, but measuring your pot and taking a tape measure with you to measure the leg of lamb is the best advice I can offer to avoid disappointment!
You may need to ask the butcher to chop the leg bone so it can be folded to fit into the slow cooker.
Help! My Leg of Lamb is too Big for my Slow Cooker
If you can not fit a leg of lamb into your slow cooker pot, worry not. I also have an oven recipe for slow roast leg of lamb.
Ingredients
With key ingredients and a little know-how to prepare lamb for the crock pot, you can easily impress your family with this roast lamb dinner and delicious gravy.
- Olive Oil: Drizzle over the lamb and use in the pan for searing.
- Salt and Pepper: Season the lamb before browning.
- Vegetables: used to raise the lamb joint off the base of the slow cooker pot and add flavour to gravy.
- Onions: Cut into chunky rings or halves.
- Carrots: Slice into batons and can be served with the lamb.
- Garlic: Whole cloves, peeled for extra flavour.
- Optional: Turnips, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes.
- Stock: Use stock pots (beef, chicken, or lamb) for more flavour.
- Herbs:
- Rosemary: Sprinkle over the lamb. Substitute with thyme or oregano.
- Dried herbs are better for slow cooking.
- Rosemary: Sprinkle over the lamb. Substitute with thyme or oregano.
- Mint Sauce: Add a tablespoon to the stock for a classic mint lamb flavour.
- Wine: Replace 200ml of water in the stock with red or white wine (boil first to evaporate alcohol).
- Worcestershire Sauce: Add a couple of teaspoons to the stock for enhanced flavor.
Do I need to brown the lamb leg before cooking?
No, you do not need to brown the lamb leg before cooking. However, searing the meat will add extra flavour to the dish and make it look better once cooked.
If you don't sear it first, you may need to oven-cook it at the end of slow cooking to give it a more traditional roasted appearance. This will take a longer time than searing first does!
Pop the seared meat on the vegetables in the slow cooker pot.
Does slow cooker roast need liquid?
Adding a small amount of liquid when roasting lamb in the slow cooker helps produce steam, preventing the meat from drying out, and creating a lovely gravy to serve with your roast lamb dinner.
You don't want the lamb to sit in the liquid, so don't put too much in.
Mint is a classic flavour that goes beautifully with the lamb; adding a tablespoon of mint sauce to the stock adds flavour and helps produce a killer gravy for your Sunday Roast Lamb Dinner.
How Long to Cook Lamb in a Slow Cooker?
The cooking time for a leg of lamb will depend on whether it is a whole or half leg. The good news is that this excellent recipe cooks on low, so you won't overcook the lamb.
Low Setting
Allow plenty of time before you start slow cooking lamb, as the only way to soft, tender fall off the bone meat, as shown in this blog post, is by cooking at low heat, on low temperature setting.
Leg of Lamb Size | Low Setting |
---|---|
Half Leg of Lamb | 7 hours |
Whole Leg of Lamb | 8 hours |
I don't advise on high-temperature settings as I have not tried it yet, and everything on our blog is always tested first!
But I think 4-5 hours will give a result that will carve nicely but maybe not fall apart easily. I will update you when I test it.
If you want extra crispy browned skin after slow cooking, put it on a baking tray and roast it for 20 minutes at 180ยฐc fan/ 200ยฐc / 400ยฐF / Gas Mark 6.
Resting Lamb is Important
Once the lamb leg is cooked, always allow it to rest for 30 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring each piece is juicy and tender.
This allows ample time to make suitable side dishes and gravy to serve with the lamb. Cover the lamb joint with foil to keep it warm.
Gravy from Lamb Juices
No roast dinner is complete without gravy, and this one is incredibly delicious, thanks to the added flavour of the vegetables and herbs.
Remove the carrots; these can be served with the roast lamb dinner. Stain the onions and garlic through a sieve into a pan, ready to create the gravy.
Remove excess fat from the gravy, then thicken with cornflour.
Bring to a boil, and it will thicken nicely, add extra water until at desired texture. Add some browning for a richer colour.
Carving Lamb
Now you are ready to carve/ pull the meat off the bone. It is so easy to do, you won't even need a knife!
Use two forks to pull the meat into chunks.
Ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
A Sunday roast is not complete without the perfect sides. Here are some of our favourites to serve alongside a slow cooker leg of lamb.
- Yorkshire puddings are the perfect accompaniment to any roast dinner. They are best when freshly cooked and still warm, so make them while the lamb gravy is cooking.
- Roast Potatoes: are a must-have side for any roast dinner; we have recipes for oven roasted potatoes or air fryer roast potatoes.
- Vegetables: Serve carrots, broccoli and green beans or peas with a lamb roast. Our honey roast parsnips are a great addition too.
- Mint Sauce: a classic pairing with lamb, and it goes well with this slow cooker recipe. You can add other sauces, like redcurrant jelly or bread sauce, if you want something different.
Storage
Leftover roast lamb can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in the microwave with some gravy until piping hot before serving.
If you have any gravy left over, it can be stored in a separate container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until piping hot before serving.
No, you should always defrost the lamb before cooking it in the slow cooker.
A bone-in lamb shoulder can be used instead. Use the same cooking time as a lamb leg of the same weight.
History
Lamb has been a popular dish since ancient times, with evidence of consumption dating back to 10,000 BC. The practice of cooking meat in a pot goes back even further, to around 7500 BC.
More Lamb Recipes
We have plenty of other lamb recipes for you to try.
Or check out more of our slow cooker recipes like Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne or Slow Cooker Beef Brisket they are amazing!
This slow-cooker lamb recipe is a hearty, delicious meal perfect for any occasion; we hope you enjoyed this recipe. We would love to hear your feedback in the comments.
Andrew Woolfe says
My first time here, and I have to say that most recipes I find on line are not explained well and are very complicated. The slow cooked leg of lamb sounds simple, which I will be attempting tomorrow night before sitting down and watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny. I do have two questions,
1. How long should I do roasted veg for and at what temperature in a fan oven.
2. Do I have to serve with Roast potatoes? Is mashed potatoes ok or is it just a personal preference? If I had guests I would do roast potatoes, but it's just me. Thanks
Luke and Kay says
Hello Andrew, thank you for your positive review! We are glad to hear that you found our recipe for slow cooker leg of lamb easy to follow and we hope it turns out deliciously for your viewing of Jools Holland's Hootenanny. ๐
For help with vegetables you could use our recipe to Roasted Vegetables with Maple & Rosemary Glaze as for potatoes that would be personal preference we like roast potatoes with our lamb Goose Fat Roast Potatoes hope you enjoy the recipe ๐
Ned Flanders says
What is Splash Browning? I'm cooking this on Thursday.
Luke and Kay says
Hi Ned
Not sure where your from but we buy browning sauce in most UK supermarkets, we use Sarson's if this helps ๐
Its used to give a richer colour to your gravy, if cant find it wont a difference to the gravy it will just be paler
https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/sarson-s-gravy-browning-217810011
Enjoy the recipe ๐
Danni says
I made this today for our Easter dinner. I love the idea of it and would definitely try it again. Only down side was I had a half leg of lamb and cooked it for 8 hours on low instead of the 7 which I saw afterwards and I was actually surprised that it over cooked it and was quite dry in the middle even after resting. Also it didnโt fall off off the bone and was quite tough, it was also the most tender cut out of the two legs so also a surprise but may be due to overcooking. Fault of my own and will note it for next time. Flavor was delicious and the aroma was beautiful to smell all day in the house got everyone hungry. The gravy was also lovely, never used gravy like that before but it was great and complimented the whole meal. Thank you!
Luke and Kay says
Thank you for trying our Slow Cooker Leg of Lamb recipe, Danni! We're sorry it didn't turn out quite as expected, but glad that you enjoyed the aroma and flavour overall.
As you noted, cooking times can vary greatly depending on the size of the cut and need to be adjusted accordingly.
We hope that you have a wonderful Easter with your family and friends! Thank you again for your review. ๐
Ann says
I have never made a leg of lamb before, but love the idea that you can make it in a slow cooker!
Amy Liu Dong says
This dish looks so good and tasty! I am going to make this at home.
It makes my mouth watering!
Kay says
Hi Amy, we're glad you're considering making our Slow Cooker Leg of Lamb dish at home--it's definitely a tasty option! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. ๐
christopher Guy says
I appreciate the knowledge portrayed here, but I was wondering if potatoes can be added as well. I always use potatoes and carrots and onion in my slow cooker roast dishes. Why would potatoes be or not be a good idea?
Jamie says
This looks definitely delicious and yummy! The juiciness of this dish just makes it so enticing and tempting! As we all know, food that is cooked slowly is the best because it gives the best taste.
Kay says
Hi Jamie, thank you for trying out our slow cooker leg of lamb recipe! We're glad you found it delicious and yummy. The juiciness is one of the best features of this dish, and we think you'll love it!