Flavorful, succulent, fall-apart tender boneless leg of lamb, seasoned Greek-style with loads of garlic, rosemary, oregano and citrus. Let your slow cooker do all the magic as this lamb leg cooks along with pearl onions in a special wine broth. Watch the how-to video toward the end of this post, grab all my tips and step-by-step below. (Don't have a slow cooker? No worries! See braising instructions.)
Turn this awesome leg of lamb into a Greek feast! Side options: Greek roasted potatoes; Lebanese rice; Spanakopita; Traditional Greek Salad; Greek Green Bean Salad; Fasolada; Tzatziki Sauce; and Creamy Hummus.
If it's Easter, Christmas, or whatever big occasion requiring an impressive centerpiece kinda dish, I often do my roasted leg of lamb with potatoes. It's tasty and just glorious to look at (you can check it out here.)
But, if you're new to working with lamb, it can be intimidating to start with a big bone-in lamb leg. Good news is, you don't have to!
If you've checked out my Kleftko recipe, then you already know that boneless leg of lamb can be just as impressive a dish. And in this recipe, we let the slow cooker do all the heavy lifting. Because, let's face it, who doesn't love the ease of dumping everything into the crock, push a button, walk away, and return to a hot, fall-apart piece of meat ready to serve?!
A few Tips for this Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe
I have three tips here for you:
1. Bring to room temperature, if possible. If you have the time, remove lamb from your fridge and season with salt and pepper then let it rest at room temperature for a bit (bring it to room temperature if possible.) This allows for efficient and even cooking (I know, we are using a slow-cooker, but it still helps, if you have the time.)
2. To Sear or Not to Sear? It's true that searing (or browning) the lamb before cooking is not a strictly necessary step, but it creates a beautiful crust and a deeper flavor! For me, it's worth the little extra effort.
3. Flavor the Lamb Well. Many people dismiss lamb because it's "too gamy," they say. The common mistake they make is that they don't appropriately flavor it. In this recipe, we give our leg of lamb proper TLC with some favorite Greek flavors--loads of garlic, rosemary, oregano, fresh thyme, citrus and quality extra virgin olive oil.
Step-by-step: Boneless Leg of Lamb in the Slow Cooker
1. First, once you trim the fat off the leg of lamb, season only with salt and pepper. (If you have the time, let the lamb rest at room temperature for up to 1 hour.) Brown lamb in a cast iron skillet that's been coated with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil.
2. Now, let's add more flavor. When lamb is cool enough to touch, using a small knife, make a few slits all over and insert slices of garlic. Add the remaining minced garlic in a small bowl and mix with spices (I used rosemary and sweet paprika), fresh thyme, lemon juice and olive oil to rub all over the lamb. (That's right, loads of flavor!)
3. Prepare your slow cooker (crock pot). Add pearl onions to the bottom of the pot, then add the liquid (wine and broth) and top with the spiced lamb.
4. Now let the slow cooker do its magic! Cover slow cooker and set on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours or until lamb is super tender that it falls apart at the poke of your fork!
Transfer to a serving platter and add some of that beautiful juice on top or to the side!
Don't have a slow cooker? You can make this in your Dutch oven or heavy pot! (Braising Instructions)
You can absolutely still make this boneless leg of lamb even if you don't have a slow cooker. You can use a Dutch oven or an oven safe heavy pot to braise the leg of lamb instead. Important note: You will need to increase the liquid amount from 1 ½ cups to 3 ½ cups. Here is how it goes:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Brown the lamb as stated in the recipe, but this time use your Dutch oven or large oven-save pot. Remove lamb, and once cooled, make slits and add garlic slivers then apply the garlic spice rub just as directed in the recipe.
3. Place pearl onions in Dutch oven (or prepared oven-safe pot). Add 1 ½ cups red wine and 2 cups broth.
4. Add lamb to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil for about 7 to 9 minutes, then cover and transfer to the oven for 2 to 2 ½ hours or until lamb is very tender. IMPORTANT: be sure to check periodically and add a little more liquid as needed. When lamb is finished, liquid will have reduced to about ⅓ of what it was when you started.
Turn it into a Greek feast! What to Serve Along
If you're having a special dinner party, this boneless leg of lamb can make a great centerpiece along with other Greek/Mediterranean dishes like:
Watch the Video for How to Make this Boneless Leg of Lamb in Slow Cooker
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Greek Boneless Leg of Lamb (Slow Cooker)
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves up to 6 people
Description
Flavorful, fall-apart tender boneless leg of lamb, seasoned Greek-style with loads of garlic, rosemary, oregano. Let your slow cooker do all the magic as this lamb leg cooks along with pearl onions in a special wine broth.
See notes if you need braising instructions instead. And be sure to check out all the suggestions for what to serve along.
Ingredients
- 3 lb/ 1.360 kg Bone less leg of lamb, fat trimmed
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 12 garlic cloves (6 thinly sliced and 6 minced)
- 2 tsp / 2.3 g dry rosemary
- 2 tsp fresh thyme (from 4 or 5 springs)
- 1 tsp dry oregano
- ¾ tsp sweet paprika
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 lb pearl onions, peeled (or shallots, if you prefer)
- 1 cup dry red wine
- ½ cup low-sodium broth (beef or chicken broth is fine)
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pat lamb dry and season generously with kosher salt and black pepper on all sides (if you have the time, set it aside at room temperature for up to 1 hour, otherwise continue on)
- Coat the bottom of a large skillet (I used my cast iron skillet) with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Heat skillet over medium heat until oil is shimmering but not smoking. Add the lamb and brown well on all sides (increase heat to medium-high if needed); about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool enough to handle.
- Cut a few slits into the lamb on both sides and insert a slice of garlic in each of the slits.
- Now make a wet garlic spice rub for the lamb. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and paprika. Add lemon juice and 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Coat lamb on all sides with the garlic spice rub.
- Add pearl onions (or shallots) to the bottom of a large slow cooker (crock pot). Add wine and broth, then add the spiced lamb on top.
- Cover slow cooker and set on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours until lamb is fork-tender and you can easily pull it apart.
- Transfer to a serving platter adding the cooking juice on top or to the side to serve along. (See sides to serve along in the notes)
Notes
- Cook's Tips: Start with quality lamb from a trusted source or butcher, it makes a difference. And remember, slow cookers vary, so do check on your lamb occasionally as it might be ready sooner or latter than indicated in the recipe.
- Tips for What to Serve Along. You can turn this into a Greek feast! Here are some ideas: Greek potatoes (recipe here); Lebanese Rice (recipe here); Greek Salad (recipe here); Greek Green Bean Salad (recipe here); Tzatziki sauce (recipe here); Classic Creamy Hummus (recipe here)
- Don't have a slow cooker? You can make this in your Dutch oven or oven-safe pot. The answer here is: braised lamb leg. Important note: You will need to increase the liquid amount from 1 ½ cups to 3 ½ cups. Here is how it goes: Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Brown the lamb as stated in the recipe, but this time use your Dutch oven or large oven-save pot. Remove lamb, and once cooled, make slits and add garlic slivers then apply the garlic spice rub just as directed in the recipe. Place pearl onions in Dutch oven (or prepared oven-safe pot). Add 1 ½ cups red wine and 2 cups broth. Add lamb to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil for about 7 to 9 minutes, then cover and transfer to the oven for 2 to 2 ½ hours or until lamb is very tender. Make sure to check periodically and add more liquid as needed. Remember that ovens vary and your lamb may take a shorter or longer time to cook. When lamb is finished, liquid will have reduced to about ⅓ of what it was when you started.
- Leftovers? Refrigerate leftovers in a tight-lid glass container for 3 to 4 nights or freeze for later use. Warm thawed leftovers in a medium-heated oven; be sure to add enough liquid to your pan and cover with foil till warmed through.
- Visit The Mediterranean Dish Store for all-natural and organic spices and our Greek extra virgin olive oils!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Meat and Poultry/Entree
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
I happen to have a shoulder of lamb...am I able to use this instead of a leg?
I have never tried that, Jessica, but I don't see why not.
I am using a boneless let of lamb from Costco. Should I remove the meeting that holds it together?
Hi Brian, we do not use kitchen twine or a net in this recipe as you see in the picture. Is that what you mean?
Hi I am cooking this now and wondering does it have to sit on top of the onions? The onions I have are a bit larger than pearl onions and but still a lot smaller than regular onions. The liquid does not even touch the meat. Is it ok for the meat to sit on the slow cooker itself and have onions surrounding it? Thanks
Hi, Rose! I'm sorry I'm just responding now. I hope the leg of lamb turned out okay. I would think that just setting it on the slow cooker itself would have been just fine. I have done that with other recipes with normal results.
i have bought a 1.2kg butterflied lamp with lemon and garlic marinade from Woolworths. I'd like to cook your recipe with this piece of meat in the slow cooker. Any ideas on how I should adjust the recipe?
I am not sure I fully understand the question, Jen. It sounds like a different cut of lamb that is already marinated? I suppose you can cook it in the slow cooker as instructed and watch when fully done.
Followed recipe to the letter & it turned out like an old leather boot; maybe it was the Woolies lamb, not the first time I have had a problem with their meat
That should not be the case at all, Peter. This recipe has always produced fall-apart lamb for us. From what you are telling me, it sounds like you may need to purchase a different lamb next time than Woolies? Also, using a slow cooker, I typically check on the lamb at the end of cooking, and if it's not quite ready, I leave it a bit longer. Slow cookers could not hurt your lamb, the longer they cook 🙂
This sounds great! I wonder if you could also make a chuck roast using the base of this recipe? ?
Yes, that would work, Cynthia! Enjoy
Made this yesterday and it was wonderful. How would this work with a beef brisket?
That's wonderful, John! I would imagine beef brisket will be delicious prepared this way.
Can I substitute frozen pearl onions for fresh? Would I add them to the slow cooker later in the cooking process?
Absolutely! You can still add them when indicated in the recipe. No need to wait until later.
Hi I made this recipe for friends last week was fab ! Would like to cook again but the boneless lamb was very expensive and not a huge amount so was wondering if it would come out as good using a bone in lamb leg instead as they are larger and less expensive?? Also made your Greek salad recipe was really good too thanks !!
Thanks so much for sharing, Caroline! Yes, you can make this with bone-in lamb, but factor more time for cooking. I also have another recipe using bone in leg of lamb here: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/mediterranean-style-leg-of-lamb-recipe-with-potatoes/
How do you adapt this for an instant pot?
Hey, Shirley. I believe most Instant Pots have a slow-cook option, honestly, I think you will need the slow cooker because the flavor develops so much better as the meat takes time to cook.
I hadn't really planned ahead what to have on Easter since it was just going to be my husband and myself. On a whim yesterday, I bought a boneless Leg of Lamb and found your recipe as I was searching for how to cook it. This turned out SO good today! I put it in he crock pot this morning before church and let it cook on high for 4 hours. I had to make a couple modifications, simply because I didn't have lemon juice or red wine. I used white wine vinegar in place of lemon juice and used a splash of balsamic vinegar with the broth instead of adding the red wine. I also included some small new potatoes and carrots with the pearl onions in the bottom of the crockpot before putting the Lamb on top. Everything was incredibly flavorful, juicy and tender. Will definitely make again! Thanks for helping make our Easter meal special.
Wonderful, Joy! Thank you so much for sharing!!
I am making this tonight, before a morning Easter brunch at a friend's house. How do I reheat it tomorrow morning, after I refrigerate it tonight? Not ideal but I wouldn't have had enough time to make it before the brunch [an hour nd a half into the Dutch oven cooking it smells amazing!] Thanks so much
Hi Gwen, hopefully you found the answer to your question in the recipe notes under "leftovers." You can warm this in a medium-heated oven; be sure to add enough liquid to your pan and cover with foil till warmed through. The liquid helps it warm through without drying.
I'm so excited to make this dish for my big Easter celebration, but can you help me? I'm getting a 6 lb boneless leg of lamb (with the hopes I can fit it in my crockpot). How long should I cook it, on high or low, and do I just double the spices, garlic etc ...
Thanks for any help!
Hey Tamar, so you can double up on the spices and garlic just fine. The recipe allows for that, and it's very forgiving. As far as cooking time, it will depend what setting you use. If you set the slow-cooker on high, it'll probably take around 5 hours...hard to say for sure. Honestly, with slow cookers, I start checking at 4 hours and every hour after until the meat is so tender that it's falls apart.
Can I make in advance and freeze for Easter brunch?
Sure, Denise. Thaw in fridge overnight and warm up in your oven; I would cover with foil, and if needed, add a little more liquid to the pan.
This lamb was awesome. My Husband requested 2nds of all the dinner. Thank you for your help. This is definitely a keepee.....
I am so happy to hear it! Thank you for sharing!
A lamb recipe I actually feel comfortable cooking myself! Thanks for a great recipe.
Such a delicious dinner!!! Thank you!!!