24 Lamb Recipes Easy Enough For Weeknights (AND Special Occasions) (2024)

Lamb chops are just the start.

By Mackenzie Filson
24 Lamb Recipes Easy Enough For Weeknights (AND Special Occasions) (1)

We know that

lamb might seem like it's just for holidays (it's an Easter classic!) or special occasions only, but it's actually so easy to make on any odd weeknight. So we say it's about time to switch things up. Cooking up a flavorful lamb curry or lamb stew makes a great addition to your rotation when you need something different from the go-to proteins of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. Your mid-week meals are about to get real fancy with these 24 beyond-easy lamb recipes.

If you want to cook some lamb on super easy mood, look no further than versatile ground lamb. It's the secret to our spring lamb ragu and makes for a killer gyro sandwich, too. And before you get to grilling regular ol' beef burgers, our lamb burgers will be the easiest game-changer for your next BBQ.

Of course, if you're getting ready for Easter, we've got plenty of show-stopping recipes for a crowd, too. Our simple lamb marinade will transform any cut, whether you're opting for garlicky lamb chops or a roast leg of lamb. And it goes without saying that the easiest way to impress a crowd is with a tender rack of lamb or this saucy braised lamb shank. Future you will be very happy to have leftovers of these dishes to turn into a lamb ragu the next day.

Looking for perfect sides to go with lamb? Try our French onion baked potatoes, candied carrots, or saffron rice. For even more ideas, check out our ground lamb recipes and leftover lamb recipes too.

1

Lamb Curry

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A perfect curry for anyone new to cooking Indian recipes, we love to serve this up with hot, buttery homemade naan and fluffy jasmine rice. For pops of quick flavor, you can also serve this with slices of raw onion, fresh green chiles, and wedges of lime to go with your bowl.

Get the Lamb Curry recipe.

2

Braised Lamb Shank

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Lamb shanks tend to be a little tough, so to get tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, it's best to cook them low and slow. Braised in a rich tomato-and-wine sauce, these are fancy enough to be the center of your Easter dinner, but easy enough for a warming, stick-to-your-ribs weeknight dinner too.

Get the Braised Lamb Shank recipe.

3

Gyro Sandwich

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Ticket for one to Greece please! What's that? Too expensive? Sigh. We'll have to settle for these epically tasty homemade gyro sandwiches, made even easier with leftover lamb! These sandwiches are packed with delicious spiced lamb, crunchy fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and a tangy herb-and-cucumber yogurt sauce called tzatziki.

Get the Gyro Sandwich recipe.

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4

Perfect Roast Lamb

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Step aside, spiral ham—this roast lamb recipe is here to steal the spotlight at your holiday dinner. All it takes is rubbing your roast with a mixture of fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil, and throwing it in the oven for an hour or so to create a wow-worthy centerpiece to your Easter dinner.

Get the Roast Lamb recipe.

5

Lamb Marinade

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Few types of meat scream “special occasion” like lamb. So whether it's a dainty and delicious rib chop, a slow-cooked shank, or a centerpiece-worthy leg of lamb, this marinade will make it even more special.

Get the Lamb Marinade recipe.

6

Rack Of Lamb

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If this is your first time handling lamb, it might seem intimidating, but trust us—it’s really simple to master. Follow our top tips, and you’ll have a tender, flavorful rack of lamb (complete with a garlic-herb marinade) ready to steal the show at your Easter celebration.

Get the Rack Of Lamb recipe.

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7

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

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Get ready to have your kitchen smell just like your favorite Moroccan restaurant. The dish traditionally uses lots of spices both savory and ones that lean more sweet, like cinnamon and cardamom, leading to a result that's so well-balanced and complex, without a ton of work. (The best kind of meal, tbh.) Serve it over perfectly cooked couscous for the best meal ever.

Get the Moroccan Lamb Tagine recipe.

8

Lamb Stew

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This hearty, flavorful lamb stew can be yours in under 2 hours, and all in one pot! With a rich, velvety broth and tender pieces of lamb, you'd be hard-pressed to find a cozier cold weather meal. Don't forget lots of crusty bread to mop up the delicious sauce.

Get the Lamb Stew recipe.

9

Best-Ever Lamb Burger

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These Greek(-ish) lamb burgers are one of our favorite lamb recipes ever. We're particularly fond of the of the feta-yogurt sauce, so we slather it on both sides of the bun. If you end up with anything left over, it's a perfect dip for raw veggies or pita chips too.

Get the Best-Ever Lamb Burger recipe.

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10

Garlicky Lamb Chops

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When you need a super fast weeknight dinner, lamb chops are the way to go. They are quick to make and just as easy as pork chops! Be sure to let them rest at least 5 minutes before digging in so all those delicious juices will be locked into the meat, rather than dripping down your chin. 😉

Get the Garlicky Lamb Chops recipe.

11

Lamb Ragu

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We love a hearty meat sauce for topping our spaghetti or pappardelle. Lamb changes things up a bit and is even more tender than beef. This ragù is perfect for making a big batch on Sunday night and freezing any leftovers for when your pasta craving hits—which we're sure will be soon!

Get the Simple Lamb Ragù recipe.

12

Roast Leg of Lamb

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A roasted leg of lamb is the perfect centerpiece for a special occasion meal, especially Easter dinner. Preparing an expensive cut of meat like this one can be anxiety-inducing, but we promise, YOU CAN DO THIS! Even prepared super simply, it can be incredibly delicious

Get the Roast Leg of Lamb recipe.

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13

Spring Lamb Ragù

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This springy dish is the perfect mid-year twist on traditional lamb ragu; pea shoots, anchovies, and fresh herbs brighten the sauce and complement the slight gaminess of the lamb.

Get the Spring Lamb Ragù recipe.

14

Slow-Cooker Easter Lamb

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If braised lamb for Easter dinner intimidates you, good news: it only looks that way. You can hack it in your slow cooker with a few key spices (like mustard and black pepper to bring out the meat's rich flavor). The resulting fall-apart tender meat is SO worth the wait.

Get the Slow-Cooker Easter Lamb recipe.

15

Lamb Meatballs

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Lamb meatballs aren't exactly the spaghetti and meatballs type—instead, they're so much more. These spiced, herby meatballs have Mediterranean vibes, and with an addicting green goddess sauce, we couldn't stop eating them. They'll soon be a new favorite.

Get the Lamb Meatballs recipe.

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16

Grilled Lamb Skewers With Couscous Tabbouleh

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This Greek-inspired feast comes together in a pinch thanks to leftover lamb. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon, and you'll be thinking you're in Mykonos.

Get the Grilled Lamb Skewers With Couscous Tabbouleh recipe.

17

Lamb Burgers With Mint Green Tea Pesto

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This pita is PACKED with perfectly seasoned lamb and a killer mint green tea pesto. Though the pesto might sound super-fancy, we promise you likely already have all the ingredients right in your pantry!

Get the Lamb Burgers With Mint Green Tea Pesto recipe.

18

Lamb Chops & Snap Pea Salad

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If you've got leftover lamb chops to upcycle, you'll wish you had even more when you serve them up with this fresh and crunchy salad of lightly pickled fennel and onion, snap peas, and herbs.

Get the Lamb Chops & Snap Pea Salad recipe from Good Housekeeping.

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19

Roast Lamb

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In this recipe, lamb top round (a tender, relatively quick-cooking part of the leg) gets rubbed down with garlic, rosemary, and thyme, then roasted alongside sweet grape tomatoes.

Get the Roast Lamb recipe from Good Housekeeping.

20

Spiced Lamb Dumplings

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Inspired by a traditional Turkish dish, you can fill these spicy dumplings with lamb or beef. Balance the spicy flavor with a two-ingredient garlic-yogurt sauce.

Get the Spiced Lamb Dumplings recipe from Good Housekeeping.

24 Lamb Recipes Easy Enough For Weeknights (AND Special Occasions) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat lamb? ›

Tougher cuts are ideal for slow-cooking and make great braises and stews, while prime cuts can be quick-cooked, barbecued or roasted and are best eaten pink. Lamb also comes minced, which makes it a great alternative to beef in burgers, kebabs and shepherd's pie.

What cooking method is best for lamb? ›

Fattier cuts of lamb should be roasted long and slow at a low temperature, while leaner cuts of meat should be cooked at a high temperature for the first several minutes and then at a lower temperature the rest of the time. Braising is a popular technique for cooking less-tender cuts of lamb.

How to make lamb taste good? ›

Spices compliment Lamb, but it also holds its flavor with just salt and pepper. Lamb pairs well with fruits like pomegranates, apricots, figs. It also goes well with dairy, yogurt, and feta cheese.

What is the tastiest lamb meat? ›

4. Lamb Loin Chop. The loin produces the most flavorful and tender cuts of Lamb in our opinion, due to its generous and tasty fat cap. Lamb Loin is located in between the ribs and sirloin.

What breed of lamb tastes the best? ›

American Lamb:

This breed is the largest in size and many say is the highest in quality and consistency. American lamb has grain in its diet and thus tastes less “gamey” compared to imported lamb which is typically grass fed.

What is the most delicious part of lamb? ›

As one of the most flavorful parts of the lamb when cooked right, lamb ribs are a top choice for many people. They are tender, juicy, and delicious when roasted. Lamb ribs are best cooked with a combination of low heat for a few hours and high heat for about thirty minutes.

Does lamb get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Slow cooking in liquid transforms tougher cuts of lamb into fork-tender meat. Neck, shoulder and belly, either diced or as whole joints, are the best cuts for slow cooking and need to be cooked for at least 2 hrs at 150°C to soften the meat.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook lamb? ›

And when you have a gorgeous cut, like a rack of lamb, you can cook it the good ol' Gordon Ramsay way—which is to say, lightly pan-sear it first, then baste it with an herby, garlicky butter, and finally finish it off in the oven until it's still pink and juicy in the middle. It comes out perfectly every time.

Should lamb be cooked slow or fast? ›

Lower temp = more succulent meat – Tough cuts like lamb shoulder need slow-cooking to tenderise them.

Is lamb better in slow cooker or oven? ›

A leg of lamb is naturally quite tough, since the muscle has had to work so hard, so benefits from being cooked low and slow in a slow cooker. This recipe is cooked in lamb stock and red wine to create a delicious gravy to serve your lamb with.

Do you soak lamb before cooking? ›

To help in this process, it is recommended to soak the lamb chops in lemon water (or vinegar water) for 30 minutes. This will open the meat pores.

What is the best spice for lamb? ›

Fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt are simple but amazing flavors that pair amazingly with the lamb! Each of these ingredients adds its unique warmth and depth to enhance the flavor of the dish.

What takes the gamey taste out of lamb? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution.

What flavors go well with lamb? ›

Which herbs go with lamb (and how to grow them)
  • Rosemary and lamb. With its woody flavour, rosemary is the perfect companion for your favourite lamb dish. ...
  • Mint and lamb. Taking its roots from Middle Eastern dishes, mint is often used when cooking more complex lamb dishes. ...
  • Oregano and lamb. ...
  • Thyme and lamb.

What is the name of a famous lamb? ›

Dolly captured the public imagination and was donated to National Museums Scotland by the Roslin Institute. She has been on display at the National Museum of Scotland since 2003 and is popular with visitors of all ages.

Where is lamb most commonly eaten? ›

According to the OECD, the consumption of sheep's meat—including both lamb and mutton—is most popular in Kazakhstan, Australia, and Turkey. Amongst EU nations, Greece is the top consumer of lamb per capita, consuming around 27.11lbs per person per year.

What is lamb meat called in the USA? ›

In the early 1900s, mutton was widely consumed in the United States, but mutton consumption has declined since World War II. As of 2010, most sheep meat in the United States comes from animals in between 12 and 14 months old, and is called "lamb"; the term "hogget" is not used.

What is lamb called in a restaurant? ›

A sheep in its first year is called a lamb, and its meat is also called lamb. The meat of a juvenile sheep older than one year is hogget; outside North America this is also a term for the living animal. The meat of an adult sheep is mutton, a term only used for the meat, not the living animal.

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