24 Lamb Recipes for Spring

With spring in the air, it's the perfect time to enjoy lamb. You can stew, braise, grill, quickly sear, or prepare lamb is so many delicious ways! We got them all.

By
Emily Weinberger
Emily Weinberger
Emily Weinberger
Emily has spent the last decade creating and editing recipes for major publications, such as Good Housekeeping, Food52, Woman's Day Magazine, and Pioneer Woman Magazine. 
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Published April 07, 2022
Emily Weinberger
Lamb Recipes for Spring

Whether you stew it, roast it, grill it, or fry it up in a skillet, lamb on the menu makes it feel like a special occasion, something celebratory for Easter or Mother’s Day, but it's also perfect for a weeknight meal.

Lamb's bold flavor pairs well with almost any spice or herb, root and green vegetables alike, and white or red wine. We compiled all of our favorite lamb recipes here, from roasted leg of lamb, stews, and braises to Greek lamb burgers. So whether you're a lover of all things lamb or new to cooking, we know you'll find a one that suits you.

  • Roast Leg of Lamb

    Sliced Roast Leg of Lamb with pink center
    Elise Bauer

    This leg of lamb gets the trifecta treatment: a long marinade to boost the flavor, a quick sear to give it flavor and a slow roast to create super tender bites. It calls for thyme and rosemary, but lamb plays well with a variety of bold flavors so use what you have—oregano, basil, mint, and parsley all work well!

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  • Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Garlic

    Lamb Lollipops cooked rare, sliced, and served on a plate
    Elise Bauer

    Whether you are cooking for a romantic night in or a quick weeknight meal, let lamb chops be the main course. Simply rub them with some herbs—rosemary in this instance but thyme, oregano and mint work well too—a little garlic, salt, and pepper. That's it! A quick sear on the stove top, and you'll have a delicate, tender, and juicy dinner on the table in no time.

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  • Lamb Curry

    Lamb Curry in bowl with a bowl of rice on the side
    Elise Bauer

    The secret to a great lamb curry is to slowly cook over low heat to tenderize the meat and give the flavors time to marry. This curry is packed with richness from the lamb, sweetness from apples and raisins, acidity from lemons, and umami from the curry spice blend.

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  • Classic Rack of Lamb

    Rack of lamb cut into chops on cutting board

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Looking for an elegant dish for a special occasion? Look no further than a rack of lamb. Deeply juicy, crispy on the outside, tender and pink on the inside, and oh, so, impressive on the dinner table.

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    Continue to 5 of 24 below.

  • Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb

    Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb
    Elise Bauer

    A butterflied leg of lamb is just a leg of lamb that has the bone removed so it can be laid flat, cook more evenly, and a little faster. We like to serve ours with mint jelly, but mint chimichurri or horseradish sauce would be delicious.

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  • Braised Lamb Shanks

    Braised Lamb Shanks
    Elise Bauer

    This is one of those stick-to-the-ribs, warming, comforting meals perfect for chilly spring weather. Lamb shanks are naturally tough, so braising them low and slow for a couple of hours makes the meat fall-off-the-bone tender.

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  • Spicy Lamb Stew

    spicy lamb stew on white bowl
    Elise Bauer

    Warm spices like cardamom, hot paprika, and cumin intensify the flavors of the lamb. The tomatoes create an almost drinkable sauce that soak into fluffy couscous for the perfect bite. This version is cooked on the stovetop, but can easily be done in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.

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  • Spring Lamb Stew

    Spring Lamb Stew
    Elise Bauer

    It’s no secret that there are plenty of lamb recipes for fall, as the weather cools down and root vegetables are bountiful. It's just as good for spring, when tender vegetables are back in season. This dish cooks low and slow with spring onions, peas, and new potatoes, which soak up the flavorful broth they swim in.

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    Continue to 9 of 24 below.

  • Irish Lamb Stew with Bacon

    Irish lamb stew
    Elise Bauer

    This recipe had us at “bacon fat.” That’s right. Chunks of lamb shoulder are browned in bacon fat before simmering for a few hours with, yep, more bacon, potatoes, carrots, turnips, and thyme until tender as can be.

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  • Greek Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

    Greek Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
    Sabrina Modelle

    Delight your guests with a different kind of burger. These are spiked with Greek-inspired flavors like garlic, lemon, and oregano. It's slathered with bright and tangy homemade tzatziki. Yum!

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  • Pressure Cooker Lamb Stew with Spring Vegetables

    Easy Lamb Ragu - bowl of lamb stew
    Sally Vargas

    Sometimes it feels like cold spring days drag on and on before warmth finally settles in. This lamb stew will help get you through it. The lamb becomes tender in just about 20 minutes thanks to the pressure cooker. Asparagus, peas, and spinach are folded in at the very end to brighten things up.

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  • Lamb Korma

    lamb-korma-horiz-a-1600
    Elise Bauer

    Lamb korma is brothy, seasoned with warm spices like cloves, peppercorns, cardamom, coriander seeds, and cumin. The tomatoey sauce is so delightful you will want to drink it with a straw. Instead, try sopping it up with flatbread.

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    Continue to 13 of 24 below.

  • Lamb Braised in Milk with Fennel

    Lamb Braised in Milk with Farro
    Elise Bauer

    Here, milk turns into a magical, creamy sauce, flavored with sweet fennel, garlic, and rosemary. Spoon the tender lamb and sauce over nutty farro, which is the perfect vessel.

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  • Basque Lamb Stew

    Basque Lamb Stew in Bowl
    Elise Bauer

    Tomatoes and sweet red peppers are ingredients often found in Basque cooking, a region bordering Spain and France. Here, lamb shoulder is slow cooked in a rich red wine sauce, spiced with paprika for a little smokiness, and lightened up with bright herbs like rosemary and parsley. I recommend some crusty bread for soaking up these intensely delicious flavors.

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  • Lamb Stew with Almonds and Apricots

    Lamb Stew Almonds Apricots
    Elise Bauer

    This traditional North African lamb tagine, also known as mrouzia, is sweetened with a little honey. Apricots also adds sweetness and lemon gives it just the right amount of acid to balance everything out.

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  • Spiced Lamb Stew with Chickpeas

    Lamb stew with chickpeas
    Sheryl Julian

    All our favorite warm spices—cinnamon, cumin, and coriander—jazz up this hearty lamb stew. The chickpeas magically soak up the wondrous flavors.

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    Continue to 17 of 24 below.

  • Slow Cooker Lamb Stew with Pomegranate Molasses

    Lamb Stew with Pomegranate Molasses in a bowl with bread.
    Alison Bickel

    The slow cooker makes this a hands-off recipe, perfect for when you just don’t have time. The pomegranate molasses adds a tartness to the sauce and the potatoes soak it all up. Guess what? You don’t even have to cut the potatoes!  

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  • Braised Lamb Shanks with Celery Root and Rosemary

    Lamb Shanks Celery Root
    Elise Bauer

    The bones are left on the lamb when cooked, creating an ultra flavorful sauce. When celery root is cooked for a long time, it becomes sweet and licorice-like, the perfect compliment to the gaminess of the lamb. It's just so—chef’s kiss!

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  • Lamb Loin Chops with Mint Chimichurri

    lamb chops with mint chimichurri
    Elise Bauer

    A perfect lamb recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes? This is it! The loin chops are quickly seared just until golden brown on the outside and perfectly pink on the inside. Make a quick chimichurri with mint, parsley, vinegar, garlic, and oil to spoon on top.

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  • Spiced Lamb Meatloaf

    Moroccan Meatloaf
    Elise Bauer

    Not your ordinary meatloaf, this version is jazzed up with Moroccan-inspired flavors like cinnamon, cumin, paprika, coriander, and cayenne. Then, a sweet glaze made with tangy pomegranate molasses and chipotle is slathered on top.

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    Continue to 21 of 24 below.

  • Greek Meatballs

    Greek Meatballs on serving plate
    Elise Bauer

    Surprise your guests with this unexpected appetizer. These meatballs, made with ground lamb, is lightened with orange zest, mint, and garlic. They can be made ahead of time and simply zapped in the microwave right before serving. Serve alongside tangy Greek yogurt for dipping.

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  • Moussaka

    A piece of eggplant moussaka on a plate with a glass of wine and a salad behind it.
    Alison Bickel

    This savory Greek casserole is layered with ground lamb, potatoes, eggplant, cheese, and ton of bold spices. Everything gets packed into a casserole and smothered with a hearty béchamel sauce. It’s one of those stick-to-your-ribs-can’t-get-enough kind of meals.

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  • Instant Pot Shepherd's Pie

    Cottage Pie in the Pressure Cooker
    Emma Christensen

    Make shepherd's pie on a weeknight with the help of your Instant Pot. I promise you, you'll end with half the number of dirty dishes and dinner on the table twice as fast. That's what we call a genius recipe!

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  • Spicy Lamb Stew with Butternut Squash

    Spicy Lamb Stew with Butternut Squash
    Elise Bauer

    The just-sweet-enough butternut squash soaks up the tomato sauce along with the flavor of the lamb. Sprinkle some fresh mint on top as a little nod to spring!

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