Hands down the easiest way to cook lamb leg, this Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg is fall apart tender and incredibly succulent. 2 minutes prep, pop it in the slow cooker, brown it briefly in the oven while you make a killer gravy using the lamb juices. A roast made for sharing with family and friends!
After more lamb leg ideas? Browse all my roast lamb recipes!
Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg
In my world, there are only 2 ways to cook a leg of lamb: either perfectly cooked so it’s pink and juicy inside (see my classic Roast Lamb with Gravy), or long and slow so it’s fall apart tender.
There is no in between!
Well, there is. But it’s dry and no amount of gravy can salvage it. It’s also very sad. 😂
Fall-apart-tender slow cooked lamb leg can either be done in the oven or in the slow cooker. Click here for the slow roasted oven recipe, this is the slow cooker version!
I know it sounds counter-intuitive to use the words “roast lamb” and “slow cooker” in the same sentence. But actually, it’s the right description for this recipe because it is cooked in the slow cooker and finished off in the oven to get that beautiful browning. And also to reheat it, in case the slow cooker finished and it was sitting on the warm function for a while.
My slow cooker is a standard size round one and I was able to fit in a 1.9kg / 3.8lb lamb leg purchased from the grocery store (Woolworths in Australia) because the shaft of the leg comes cut so it can be bent to fit into the slow cooker. Vereeee practical!
I’ve used a small full lamb leg here, but it can easily be made with half lamb legs which don’t have the shaft so they will easily fit inside a standard slow cooker.
And of course, if you have one of those oval shaped slow cookers, you could make this with a full size lamb leg! After all, arguably one of the best things about roast lamb are the leftovers. Sandwiches with lamb and gravy. SO GOOD!!!
Gravy for Roast Lamb
And while it’s browning in the oven, we make a quick gravy using the juices in the slow cooker.
No need to deal with the clunkiness of making the gravy in a roasting pan, like you do when you roast lamb in the oven. Nope, this is a super simple one made in a saucepan using butter instead of the drippings in the roasting pan. And of course the juices left in the slow cooker.
All. That. FLAVOUR!
This is the sort of food made for sharing with family and friends. I know there’s something grand about placing a whole lamb leg on the table as a centrepiece. But a pile of incredibly juicy, tender lamb is just as impressive in my books – and there’s no need to pass the plates over and wait for it to be carved. Just dive right in! – Nagi xx
More Roast Lamb Recipes
I love a good roast lamb – so I’ve shared a few over the years!
Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg
Watch how to make it
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Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg with Gravy
Ingredients
- 2.0 kg / 4 lb lamb leg, bone in (Note 1)
- 1 tsp salt
- black pepper
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme OR rosemary (or 2.5 tsp finely chopped fresh)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups / 500ml beef stock (or chicken) (Note 2)
- 1 sprig rosemary , optional
Gravy:
- 50 g / 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp / 40 g flour (any white)
- 2 cups / 500 ml braising liquid from slow cooker , strained
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place lamb in slow cooker or on work surface. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme or rosemary and garlic. Drizzle over oil, then rub on both sides.
- Pour beef stock into slow cooker, add sprig of rosemary (if using).
- SLOW COOK on low for 10 hours, or pressure cook on high for 1 hour 40 minutes. (See oven version here)
- The lamb should be tender enough to pull off with tongs, but still holding together (just!). Carefully remove lamb from slow cooker and transfer to tray.
- Drizzle lightly with oil (any). Bake at 200C/390F for 20 minutes or until browned. Remove and rest for 10 minutes before serving with gravy.
Gravy:
- Strain liquid in slow cooker into a bowl – you will have more than the 2 cups of broth you added, I usually have over 3 cups. Measure out 2 cups of liquid, reserve remaining liquid just in case.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add a bit of liquid, mixing as you go so it dissolves. Then add remaining liquid. Whisk if there are lumps.
- Increase to medium high heat and cook, stirring regularly, until thickened to your taste. Use remaining liquid to thin if required.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Contemplating being a stowaway.
I don’t want to come across as a snob, but seriously Dozer, if you’re going to stowaway on a boat, you can do better than that!!!
Hi Nagi, any chance I can make incisions and stuff garlic cloves into this while keeping the rest of the recipe the same?
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Hello Nagi,
I am going to make my first leg of lamb and plan to use your slow cooker recipe. I have a 4.8 lb semi-boneless leg of lamb. How long do I cook it and at what temperature setting? Based on your instructions it looks like 12 hours on low but I saw a commenter say they did a 2.5 kg (appr 5lb) in 9 hours (on low I guess).
Thank you in advance,
Hi Nagi!
Would we be able to add carrots and potatoes to this and have them slow-cook along the lamb?
I would add them for the last 2 hours otherwise they will be very overcooked! 🙂
OOh my nagi i have been trying to roast leg of a lamb so many times but it never comes out perfctly. it always come out not very cooked inside my family likes it well cooked.Nagi please assist me on this i like roasting but oohh it gives me hell
Hav you tried this one?? 🙂
I’m cooking for a large family, and have two 5.5lbs boneless lamb roasts. They both fit in my slow-cooker, how would you modify cooking times for that much meat?
I think it will be about 15 hours, but check it at 12 hours!
Hi, I am going to invest in a pressure cooker and wondered if you have any recommendations. From reading reviews I was thinking of an electric one . What are your thoughts? Cat
PS I love your recipes particularly how you cook both east and west.
Hi Cat! I use the Breville Fast-Slow Cooker which has a slow cooker and pressure cooker in one. I love it!
Hi Nagi!
I was looking at some other lamb slow-cooker recipes and they often recommend resting the lamb on onions and red wine instead of broth.
What difference does using wine over broth make to the flavour when slow-cooking for 8 – 10 hours? I was considering adding a splash of red wine and onions to your recipe. Do you think that’s a very bad idea?
Thanks!
Katrina
Hi Katrina! A splash is fine but I find that using a slow cooker, the alcohol can’t evaporate so you can get a winey flavour in the end if you use too much 🙂 Wine works great with oven roasting! N x
First of all, I adore your site! Your recipes are always just right, and my husband appreciates you, too! I want to make the slow cooker lamb, and like you, I have a round multi-cooker. The multi-cooker has 3 settings for slow cooking – low, medium and high. What is the correct setting to use for the lamb?
Thank you!
So pleased you are enjoying my recipes Barbara!! Please use low 🙂 N x
Having this for dinner tonight. Using pressure cooker method. My advice for browner, extra flavoured gravy is to continue cooking the butter and flour (stirring all the time) until you reach a brown a little darker than your end colour. Most important to continually stir otherwise it will burn. Cannot rate yet cause dinner is still a few hours away 😊
Hope you love it Jo!! My other tip is to add a tiny splash of dark soy sauce. Definitely cannot taste it, and actually seasons the gravy like salt except adds a bit more flavour because soy sauce has more complexity than plain salt. And it colours the gravy perfectly! N x
Love your recipes!! Will this work just as well in the pressure cooker?
Yes! See step 3 🙂 N x
Oops. I must have missed that one. Tried it tonight with coleslaw and a sweet, tangey and slightly hot BBQ sauce all in a bread roll. Delicious!
Any way to speed up the time by cooking on high for part of the process? 🙂
Yes! I think 5 hours on high slow cooker will be just right 🙂
O Dozer….you really think you can steer that boat?
Well…truth be told….I subsequently found out that the poor man’s LUNCH was on the seat and that’s what Dozer was gagging over…. 😂
Oh my! From now on this will be the only way I shall cook leg of lamb!
That’s terrific Ruth! Thanks for letting me know! N xx ❤️
Thks for great recipe. Have done this a few times now and loving the gravy – both chicken stock or beef stock.
That’s terrific to hear Ian! Thank you for sharing your feedback! N x ❤️
Really nice. I did 2.5kg in 9 hours and it was cooked through. Gravy was amazing. It’s times like these I’m glad my other half doesn’t like gravy. MORE FOR ME!
That’s so wonderful to hear!! Thanks for letting me know Cassie – N x ❤️
Repeated tonight for my Chinese father in law. First time I’ve made lamb for him and he loved it. Told my partner off for not wanting gravy and poured more for himself. 🙂
WHOOOT!!!! N x
Amazingly easy and delicious recipe! Ever since i came across your carnitas recipe, i am a fan! My husband and kids had seconds, and it wasn’t too oily at all. Delicious, easy, and even clean up was easy. Thank you again!
Woah – you’ve tried this ALREADY??? 😳 YOU ROCK Olga! I’m so pleased everyone enjoyed it! N xx
My Roast lamb turned out incredible
I took the roast to a church pot luck and the LOLs
(Little old ladies) are evangelistic about what an amazing cook I am
Thank you for make my me look so good
My true amazement is how simple and how little prep time it took to prepare your recipe
Thank you again
GARY FIEVEZ 5 star rating for sure!!!😁😁😁
I’m so pleased to hear that Gary! Thanks for letting me know! N xx ❤️
Hi Nagi,
Great receipe! I’ve used it for shoulder and leg and it’s been great. I’ve also really enjoyed your other receipes – they’re great! Can I use this same receipe for beef?
Cheers,
Rem
YES! Just sub it straight in!
I’m always scared of roasts for exactly the reasons you’ve said but followed your recipe (only difference was I used a shoulder instead of a leg) and it came out beautifully. Thank you for this marvellous recipe!
Fantastic to hear Melanie! Thank you for leaving a review. N x ❤️
sodium is much tyo high for me WOW over 1000 grams my leg of lamb steaks were only 2o0 something. but not as big was 2 sm steal=ks no bone sticking out so it fit in my sm oval cooker. great receipe thanks
Hi Mary Jo! Feel free to reduce the amount of salt used! N x