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Deliciously soft, tender and succulent… OH MY this Slow Roasted Shoulder of Lamb is cooked low and slow for the ultimate pull-apart crowd pleaser joint of meat. Perfect for tucking into on Sundays, Easter or any time!

A large serving plate with roast potatoes and slow roasted shoulder of lamb, ready to serve.

We’re cooking this shoulder of lamb nice and slowly to get that unbelievable aromatic, tender meat that is so full of flavour because of it. 

The herb crust that infuses into the lamb beforehand gives us that delicate but mouthwatering edge for a truly special dish that is so simple to create. 

After the crust is rubbed onto the joint, the rest is taken care of by the oven until it’s time to serve. Four hours later (and your kitchen smelling divine), we have delightfully moist lamb that just falls off the bone and ready to serve.

Serve this Roasted Lamb with…


Why you’ll love this Roast Lamb Shoulder recipe

⭐️ Simple, easy and no faff

⭐️ BIG results and amazing flavours

⭐️ Great value but impressive for special occasion


A shoulder of roasted lamb with a green herby crust, on a white plate with roast potatoes around the edge and peas and gravy off to the side.

Why choose lamb shoulder?

Whether you’re sticking with tradition at enjoying a spring lamb dinner for Easter lunch, or you’re cooking a Sunday roast or a special meal, I urge you to try lamb shoulder for your cut of meat choice. 

Why? Lamb shoulder might not be as popular as a leg of lamb, but I don’t know why.

It’s the kind of joint that is relatively fatty, which means two things: it has an unbelievable flavour when cooked with the bone in, and it is ridiculously succulent when cooked for a long time on a low temperature. 

It’s also a really easy joint to cook with, because it doesn’t really dry out (less room for error) and can be left alone in the oven. 

The flavour of the meat is enough on its own, but for this recipe we’re adding a simple herb crust with garlic, mint and rosemary that just elevates the whole thing.


Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder Ingredients Notes

The raw ingredients for making a slow roast shoulder of lamb on a table.
  • Lamb shoulder – This should have the bone in. For this recipe we’re using a 2kg cut. This weight doesn’t need to be exact, just thereabouts. You can get this from the butcher or supermarket
  • Fresh herbs – For the rub we’re using the leave from fresh mint and rosemary, as well as some cloves of garlic 
  • Lemons – The liquid for the rub is made up of lemon juice, as well as olive oil and some salt and pepper

How to cook lamb shoulder in the oven

A food processor with a green herb mixture, ready to be rubbed onto a slow roasted lamb shoulder.

1. Pre-heat the oven to 140C. Blitz together the mint, rosemary, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper and olive oil. Add more olive oil if needed to make a smooth paste.

A raw shoulder of lamb with a green herby crust on top on a plate, ready to go in the oven for the recipe Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder.

2. Use a sharp knife to carefully make slits crossways, then add the rub liberally all over the lamb shoulder. Put the lid on and cook for about 4 hours in a lidded casserole dish, until the meat pulls apart with a spoon.


Leftovers

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days.

You can use any leftover meat in dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie, Lamb Tagine or Lamb Curry.

It would also be great cold in sandwiches, salads or wraps.

In the freezer This will be fine to freeze, but make sure you defrost it and reheat thoroughly. Results would be best if the meat is in a sauce dish, like the ones above.

Top tipS

Crisp up the edges

If the lamb crust isn’t crispy enough at the end of cooking, turn the oven up to 220C remove the lid and cook for the last 20 minutes at that high temperature to crisp it.

How long will it need

This recipe cooks at 140C (which is 320F or Gas Mark 3) for about 4 hours. I find this gives the perfectly melting and soft lamb shoulder that you’re looking for.

Use the juices in your gravy

Allow your meat juices to separate, then drain off the fat and use the remaining goodness from the lamb in your gravy (try my simple onion gravy for this dish).

Serve it as pulled lamb

For a more relaxed meal, remove all of the cooked lamb from the bones, shred it up and serve it with tortillas, sour cream, cheese, avocados and lime wedges. Delicious.

FAQs

Do you have any alternative potato side dishes, other than roasties?

Yes! Try something a little different with my Parmentier Potatoes or Boulangere Potatoes. You could even go for Jacket Potatoes if you want a less formal dinner.

What’s the best way to make the herb rub?

Blitzing it up in a processor is the quickest and easiest method. I use my beloved Mini Food Chopper for this job. It’s so useful, easy to get in and out of the cupboard and inexpensive.

Can I cook roast lamb in the slow cooker?

Yes! This recipe is slightly different, and there are a few tips to follow, so take a look at my Slow Cooker Lamb Shoulder here.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

4.37 from 22 votes

Slow Roasted Shoulder of Lamb

Deliciously soft and tender, this pull apart Slow Roasted Shoulder of Lamb is baked in the oven low and slow with a herb coating with rosemary, mint, garlic and lemon. Totally delicious for a Sunday lunch, Easter celebration or anytime!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 People

Ingredients 

  • 2 kg Lamb shoulder (bone in), This weight doesn’t need to be exact, just thereabouts

For the rub:

  • 30 g Fresh mint, Removed from the stalks, leaves only
  • 30 g Fresh rosemary, Removed from the stalks, leaves only
  • 30 g Fresh parsley
  • 4 Cloves of garlic, Peeled
  • 2 Lemons
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tbsp Olive oil

To garnish:

  • 10 g Fresh mint

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 140C.
  • Blitz together the mint, rosemary, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper and olive oil.
  • Add more olive oil if needed to make a smooth paste.
  • Use a sharp knife to carefully make slits crossways, then add the rub liberally all over the lamb shoulder in a lidded casserole dish.
  • Put the lid on and cook for about 4 hours, until the meat pulls apart with a spoon.

Notes

Lamb shoulder: This should have the bone in. For this recipe we’re using a 2kg cut. This weight doesn’t need to be exact, just thereabouts. You can get this from the butcher or supermarket
Side dish suggestions: Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Puddings, Carrots and Parsnips, Cauliflower Cheese, green leafy vegetables
To make the rub: Blitzing it up in a processor is the quickest and easiest method. I use my beloved Mini Food Chopper for this job
Crisp up the edges: If the lamb crust isn’t crispy enough at the end of cooking, turn the oven up to 220C remove the lid and cook for the last 20 minutes at that high temperature to crisp it
Use the juices in your gravy: Allow your meat juices to separate, then drain off the fat and use the remaining goodness from the lamb in your gravy (try my simple onion gravy for this dish)

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 32gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 283mgPotassium: 575mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 795IUVitamin C: 21.8mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 4.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Family Food
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Sarah Rossi founder of TamingTwins.com and author of 'What's for Dinner?' books.

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