24 Lamb Recipes Easy Enough For Weeknights (AND Special Enough For Holidays)
Lamb chops are just the start.
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.
Lamb Curry
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.
Braised Lamb Shank
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.
Gyro Sandwich
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.
Perfect Roast Lamb
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.
Lamb Marinade
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.
Rack Of Lamb
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.
Moroccan Lamb Tagine
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.
Lamb Stew
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.
Best-Ever Lamb Burger
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.
Garlicky Lamb Chops
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.
Lamb Ragu
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.
Roast Leg of Lamb
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.
Spring Lamb Ragù
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.
Slow-Cooker Easter Lamb
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.
Lamb Meatballs
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.
Grilled Lamb Skewers With Couscous Tabbouleh
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.
Lamb Burgers With Mint Green Tea Pesto
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.
Lamb Chops & Snap Pea Salad
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.
Roast Lamb
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.
Spiced Lamb Dumplings
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.
