Lamb

51 Lamb Recipes for Chops, Burgers, Braises, and More

Whether you're looking for a quick, hearty Tuesday night dinner or a special meal for Easter, we've got recipes for you.

By The Editors of Epicurious

February 17, 2021

Two herbcrusted racks of lamb on a serving platter each cut into four double chops to reveal the rosyhued rare interior.

Lamb recipes are fun to cook because the meat works so well in so many different situations. Rub lamb chops with bold spices and char on the grill, or nestle boneless leg of lamb in your slow cooker with creamy white beans. You can roll ground lamb into meatballs or stuff it with goat cheese to pile on a burger bun. Below you'll find 51 of our favorite ways to cook lamb, including braised lamb shanks, cumin-laced kebabs, Easter roasts, birria tacos, and more.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
1/50
Instant Pot Lamb Haleem
Some lamb recipes are fast, and others are slow—but totally worth it. This Pakistani haleem recipe from Sohla El-Waylly is truly the ideal cold-weather comfort food, made from long-simmered lentils, barley, and bone-in chunks of lamb. Cooked in an Instant Pot, the lamb practically melts into the mix.
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Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell
2/50
Leg of Lamb With Garlic and Rosemary
For many, leg of lamb is an Easter tradition. This old Gourmet classic is beloved by readers across the country and beyond. It makes eight servings, but the leftovers are perfect for sandwiches.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
3/50
Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb
Lamb chops shine in an herby coating, flavored with thyme, rosemary, parsley, and garlic. For a smaller crowd, just cut the recipe in half.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
4/50
Spiced Lamb Burgers With Spring Slaw
Asparagus ribbons, sliced sugar snap peas, and red onion tossed in lemon juice are the perfect springtime toppers for these smoky-spiced lamb burgers.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
5/50
Grilled Leg of Lamb With Garlic and Lemon
If you're not sure how to cook lamb for a special meal, it's wise to start with a butterflied boneless leg of lamb and an easy marinade. This recipe cooks quickly on a charcoal or gas grill.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
6/50
Lamb Chops with Polenta and Grilled Scallion Sauce
Mix chopped grilled scallions and jalapeño with fresh basil for a zesty, spicy, smoky sauce to spoon over charred lamb chops and store-bought polenta. Bonus: stir in a little yogurt and that sauce becomes a dressing for the accompanying salad.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
7/50
Stuffed Eggplants and Zucchini in a Rich Tomato Sauce (Baatingan w Kusaa Bil Banadoura)
If you're looking for a savory cooking project for a quiet weekend, stuff your eggplant and zucchini with spiced ground lamb, then simmer in a rich tomato sauce. Top it off with crispy garlic, herbs, and yogurt.
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Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
8/50
Spiced Lamb and Dill Yogurt Pasta
Dill adds vibrant color and flavor to this super-flavorful dish, which spins the flavors of shish barak—lamb and pine nut dumplings from the Levant—in a pasta direction.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson
9/50
Lamb Shanks With Pomegranate and Walnuts
Make this cumin- and cinnamon-spiced lamb dinner a day ahead, and you'll be rewarded with wonderfully deep flavor.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege
10/50
Instant Pot Braised Lamb With White Beans and Spinach
Bone-in lamb shoulder chops become melting and tender in the Instant Pot. Garlic and rosemary perfume the red wine-based broth.
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Photo by Ed Anderson
11/50
Lamb and Green Squash Dumplings
These dumplings are flavorful and fresh, with a lightness from the zucchini that's mixed into the Sichuan peppercorn-infused ground lamb filling.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Heather Greene, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
12/50
Sumac-Rubbed Lamb with Minty Artichokes
Sumac lends tangy, earthy brightness to the boneless leg of lamb in this large-format recipe. No fussy trimming artichokes here—these unmarinated artichoke hearts comes from a jar. Serve with a little aioli, labneh, or Greek yogurt.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
13/50
Slow-Roast Spiced Lamb Shoulder with Sumac Onions
Rub the lamb with toasted peppercorns and coriander seeds, paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, then let it chill for up to a day before cooking.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
14/50
Cold Roast Lamb with Marinated Eggplant
Pop the garlic-and-rosemary-rubbed leg of lamb and the eggplant spears into the oven together and they’ll be done at the same time.
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