17 Lamb Shoulder Recipes

braised lamb and radishes with mint garnish
Photo: The Gruntled Gourmand

With minimal effort, lamb shoulder can be one of the most flavorful and tender meat mains. Whether it's grilled, braised, or chopped up and tossed in a stew, lamb shoulder is an extremely versatile cut of lamb. Plus, it makes a cheaper alternative to more expensive cuts like leg of lamb or lamb shanks. Here are 17 ways to enjoy lamb shoulder.

01 of 17

Irish Lamb Stew

Irish Stew with lamb, potatoes, and carrots in green bowl
Allrecipes Magazine

This traditional Irish stew makes great leftovers: "This soup 'ages' well!" says recipe creator Danny O'Flaugherty.

02 of 17

Braised Lamb Shoulder Chops

braised lamb with carrots and potatoes
JustJoy

Here, lamb shoulder chops are braised for three hours to achieve that tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency. Reviewer Amanda Sargent raves, "This was the best way I have ever prepared lamb shoulder chops!"

03 of 17

Chef John's Irish Stew

Chef John's Irish Stew
soumen

"Pay attention to the cut of lamb used in this recipe," says Chef John. "I used lamb shoulder chops, which are a fantastic value, when you consider flavor, useable meat, and price. They will probably be the cheapest lamb at the store, have more flavor and richness than leg meat, and are cheaper than shanks and loins. It takes a while for the meat to braise and fall off the bone, but it's a wait rewarded with tender, succulent chucks of lamb."

04 of 17

Butter Lamb Gravy

Butter Lamb Gravy
Photo by SunnyByrd.

Lamb is simmered in a tomato and cream sauce in this easy recipe that's ready in one hour from start to finish. Serve over rice.

05 of 17

Mediterranean Lamb and Lentil Stew

Close up of Mediterranean Lamb and Lentil Stew
SRR

Easy one-pot meals like this make perfect weeknight meals — and fewer dishes. "This is a rich and hearty dish," says reviewer Susan The Bread Baker. "Add the rice pilaf and a crusty slab of rustic whole grain bread and you have a wonderful combination."

06 of 17

Lamb Stew with Green Beans

lamb stew with green peas and carrots
lisa

This Greek stew is packed with flavor thanks to the dried herbs, spices, and veggies. Reviewer BEZEMES says, "If you have mint growing in your garden in the summer this would be a good reason to dry some for the winter!"

07 of 17

Summer Lamb Kabobs

lamb kabobs with pineapple, bell peppers, and tomatoes
Michael Pitts

You might associate lamb with heartier, cold-weather meals, but these grilled lamb kabobs put fresh summer fruits and vegetables on display.

08 of 17

Lamb Braised in Pomegranate

a platter of lamb chops garnished with pomegranate arils and fresh mint
Chef John's Pomegranate-Braised Lamb. Danielle

Put fall and winter flavors like pomegranate and pumpkin on display in this decadent braised lamb dish. Reviewer otammibeeo suggests pairing it with butternut squash for a fall-inspired dinner.

09 of 17

Grilled "Tandoori" Lamb

Grilled "Tandoori" Lamb
Chef John

"Here, 'tandoori' refers to the yogurt-based, aromatically spiced marinade that can be used on grilled, broiled, or baked meat. You can adjust the spices to your own personal preferences," says Chef John. "Serve with flatbread or rice and cilantro chutney."

10 of 17

Greek Lamb Stew

Greek Lamb Stew
Wyattdogster

Packed with fresh green beans and tomatoes, this hearty stew is a great way to sneak in some veggies!

11 of 17

Braised Lamb with Radishes and Mint

braised lamb and radishes with mint garnish
The Gruntled Gourmand

Chef John says the radishes in this dish will soak up the flavor of the lamb. "This dish is perfection," raves reviewer James.

12 of 17

LIZZY217's Lamb Gyros

lamb shoulder, arugula, tomato, and sauce on gyro wrap
Carm

Get Greek restaurant-style gyros at home. These are made with boneless lamb shoulder that has been marinated in a flavorful brandy marinade.

13 of 17

Spring Lamb Sliders

sliders with pulled lamb meat and sweet potato chips
Chef John

"Slow roasting a lamb shoulder is a lot less stressful than trying to achieve perfection with a leg of lamb," says Chef John. "And, if you like shredded beef and pulled pork, you'll be down with this."

14 of 17

Instant Pot® Irish Stew

Instant Pot® Irish Stew
Diana71

The Instant Pot gives you tender, fall-apart lamb shoulder in a fraction of the time it takes with more traditional cooking methods.

15 of 17

Lamb Ragu

fettuccine with lamb ragu
Howard

Lamb turns up the richness on this classic Italian meat sauce. Serve over cooked pasta or polenta for a hearty, flavor-packed meal.

16 of 17

Lamb Stew with Potatoes and Cilantro

lamb stew with potatoes and cilantro in dutch oven
nt_bella

For this rich stew, lamb shoulder, potatoes, and cilantro are braised in a mixture of broth and beer for added flavor.

17 of 17

Spicy Chinese Cumin Lamb Skewers

skewers with spicy lamb pieces
Wayne He

"While kebabs are cooked all over the world, this version is traditional Chinese street fare made with cumin and lamb," says recipe creator Wayne He. "Enjoy it with cold beer as a great way to start the evening. Serve hot."

Was this page helpful?