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!!!
Can you use lamb shoulder for this recipe?
Hi Nagi.
Would rolled lamb shoulder work with this method?
Omg! This was the easiest, tenderest, tastiest lamb roast ever! The fam bam were very impressed with the gravy. The veggies were at my usual best! lol
Slow cooked is the only way to go Melissa – you can’t go wrong!!! N x
So easy to make yet so delicious. I have done many lamb roasts in the oven and smoker. This is by far the best ive made.
Hi Nagi, can’t wait to try this recipe, cooked my way through lockdown last year using your recipes! Quick question? If I cook two x 2kg legs of lamb in the same slow cooker, should I double all other ingredients?
Hi Nagi
We absolutely love your recipes!
I’m making this now, with a 1.1kg leg of lamb. It has been 7 hours in slow cooker and have just checked it and it is really tough.
Is it likely to tenderise at this stage?
Thanks!
Hi Nagi, if I have 2.4kg boneless, do I need to add extra liquid? I’ve made this exactly as per recipe last time and it was amazing but this time we have more people coming over for dinner so need to add more lamb.
Hi – I’ve made this recipe a lot and it’s great. Now I’m wondering if I can use a boneless leg of lamb – I need to serve quite a crowd- would it still work?
Once again, I am blown away by your recipes! This tasted amazing. Thank you so much!!!!
I love hearing this Hannah!! N x
I pressure cook my leg lamb and it is delicious. It was my 1st time. Unusually I do it in the oven.
Thank you.
I plan on making this for Easter. If I do the pressure cooker should I do a quick or slow release?
Hi Lindzey – either will be fine here, I generally do a quick release though. N x
What is a quick release?
I know this is an old comment but thought I’d reply for anyone else who needs to see it!
Quick release is when you use your pressure cooker’s release valve to release all the steam rapidly – should be instructions on how to do it and where it is on your cooker in the manual.
Some recipes need will ask for a quick release, whereas others will ask for a slow release, which is where you leave your cooker to sit for 10 minutes at least before you open it to let the steam naturally disperse.
Absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Hi Nagi, i love trying your recipes….not one has failed for me!
I love lamb but do not like it when it is chewy.
Any suggestions on how to prevent it with this recipe when I try it? Or will the lamb be tender and fall of the bone?
Thanks in advance.
Another winner Nagi. I wanted something I could leave cooking safely and be nearly ready when I came home on a busy weeknight (rather than my kids being responsible for it in an oven! too high risk for my distracted teenagers). They loved it, fuss free and no child intervention required!!
I love this recipe. As does everyone in my house! I add a little red wine and tomato paste because I like it a bit richer and use homemade chicken stock. This is my go to no fuss, fancy dinner recipe!
Hi Nagi! I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to lamb and am excited to try this but… what do you usually serve it with?!?! Any suggestions for sides? 🙂
Hi Kim, roast potatoes – any roast greens or carrots, possibly a salad, gravy is a must! N x
Thanks Nagi! I ended up making all the above, and it was deliiiiiiish. Thank you for another great recipe! xo
Hi Nagi, can’t wait to try this recipe. My lamb is only 0.6kg (only two of us). How long do you suggest cooking?
Hi Jodie, it will probably only need about 6 hours – check to test the meat and if you find it still not tender and fall apart at 6 hours, just leave it in for another hour or so. N x
Super easy and delicious. Once cooked and roasted I pulled the lamb, then used all the broth and added mint jelly to the gravy before thickening it and mixing it through the meat. Super yum!!!😋 Thank you Nagi…I’d have never even thought to do a roast lamb in the slow cooker but it really is devine!
If my lamb is 3.86 kg how long in slow cooker?
Were you even able to fit it?!
Hi Nagi,
Could you use the ingredients from your greek slow-roasted leg of lamb recipe and follow the directions of this recipe for the slow cooker?
Thanks,
Alex