Hands down the easiest way to cook lamb leg, this Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg is fall apart tender and incredibly succulent. 2 minutes prep, pop it in the slow cooker, brown it briefly in the oven while you make a killer gravy using the lamb juices. A roast made for sharing with family and friends!
After more lamb leg ideas? Browse all my roast lamb recipes!
Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg
In my world, there are only 2 ways to cook a leg of lamb: either perfectly cooked so it’s pink and juicy inside (see my classic Roast Lamb with Gravy), or long and slow so it’s fall apart tender.
There is no in between!
Well, there is. But it’s dry and no amount of gravy can salvage it. It’s also very sad. 😂
Fall-apart-tender slow cooked lamb leg can either be done in the oven or in the slow cooker. Click here for the slow roasted oven recipe, this is the slow cooker version!
I know it sounds counter-intuitive to use the words “roast lamb” and “slow cooker” in the same sentence. But actually, it’s the right description for this recipe because it is cooked in the slow cooker and finished off in the oven to get that beautiful browning. And also to reheat it, in case the slow cooker finished and it was sitting on the warm function for a while.
My slow cooker is a standard size round one and I was able to fit in a 1.9kg / 3.8lb lamb leg purchased from the grocery store (Woolworths in Australia) because the shaft of the leg comes cut so it can be bent to fit into the slow cooker. Vereeee practical!
I’ve used a small full lamb leg here, but it can easily be made with half lamb legs which don’t have the shaft so they will easily fit inside a standard slow cooker.
And of course, if you have one of those oval shaped slow cookers, you could make this with a full size lamb leg! After all, arguably one of the best things about roast lamb are the leftovers. Sandwiches with lamb and gravy. SO GOOD!!!
Gravy for Roast Lamb
And while it’s browning in the oven, we make a quick gravy using the juices in the slow cooker.
No need to deal with the clunkiness of making the gravy in a roasting pan, like you do when you roast lamb in the oven. Nope, this is a super simple one made in a saucepan using butter instead of the drippings in the roasting pan. And of course the juices left in the slow cooker.
All. That. FLAVOUR!
This is the sort of food made for sharing with family and friends. I know there’s something grand about placing a whole lamb leg on the table as a centrepiece. But a pile of incredibly juicy, tender lamb is just as impressive in my books – and there’s no need to pass the plates over and wait for it to be carved. Just dive right in! – Nagi xx
More Roast Lamb Recipes
I love a good roast lamb – so I’ve shared a few over the years!
Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg
Watch how to make it
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Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg with Gravy
Ingredients
- 2.0 kg / 4 lb lamb leg, bone in (Note 1)
- 1 tsp salt
- black pepper
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme OR rosemary (or 2.5 tsp finely chopped fresh)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups / 500ml beef stock (or chicken) (Note 2)
- 1 sprig rosemary , optional
Gravy:
- 50 g / 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp / 40 g flour (any white)
- 2 cups / 500 ml braising liquid from slow cooker , strained
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place lamb in slow cooker or on work surface. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme or rosemary and garlic. Drizzle over oil, then rub on both sides.
- Pour beef stock into slow cooker, add sprig of rosemary (if using).
- SLOW COOK on low for 10 hours, or pressure cook on high for 1 hour 40 minutes. (See oven version here)
- The lamb should be tender enough to pull off with tongs, but still holding together (just!). Carefully remove lamb from slow cooker and transfer to tray.
- Drizzle lightly with oil (any). Bake at 200C/390F for 20 minutes or until browned. Remove and rest for 10 minutes before serving with gravy.
Gravy:
- Strain liquid in slow cooker into a bowl - you will have more than the 2 cups of broth you added, I usually have over 3 cups. Measure out 2 cups of liquid, reserve remaining liquid just in case.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add a bit of liquid, mixing as you go so it dissolves. Then add remaining liquid. Whisk if there are lumps.
- Increase to medium high heat and cook, stirring regularly, until thickened to your taste. Use remaining liquid to thin if required.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Contemplating being a stowaway.
I don’t want to come across as a snob, but seriously Dozer, if you’re going to stowaway on a boat, you can do better than that!!!
Had a 5# boneless leg of lamb and made it in the instant pot. Followed the recipe without any deviation. Cut off quite a bit of fat but it was still moist and flavorful. Gravy was so tasty. Will be eating more lamb from now on!
A fabulous weekday treat. The gravy was outstanding. The meat was so beautiful. Another new family fave!
Turned out delicious! Used this as the base for shepherd’s pie.
I added half an onion to the slow cooker and a bay leaf.
First we will start with I am 50 years old and I grew up eat leg of lamb. Roasted traditionally in the oven. With the exception of tripling the garlic (but I do that on any recipe) everything about this was On Point! Cooked a “mini” leg on the crockpot for 8 hours as directed, the 20 mins in the oven. I am not sure I have ever had lamb that was “sheeddable” with a crust that you didn’t need to us a knife with! The favors of the gravy perfect pairing! My husband said, print it, save it, memorize it. Whatever you do DON’T loose how you made this.
Yours is always the first cooking website I visit when I want to be creative in the kitchen. This slow cooked lamb roast is AMAZING! Thanks so much!
Made this today, absolutely delicious, won’t make it any other way going forward. It was only 2 of us so cut lamb in half, froze the bone will make soup with that and will have the other half another time . Thank you for sharing recipe
So … I still don’t like lamb. And this recipe didn’t change that. But my family absolutely LOVED it (apparently I’m the only one who just doesn’t like the taste of lamb, never have, apparently never will – if this recipe couldn’t change my mind, I don’t think any ever could). Thank you for always being there with the BEST recipes, Nagi! I spotted a lamb leg at Trader Joe’s, searched RTE for a recipe, found this, made sure I had all of the ingredients, went home and made it. My husband and both teenage boys devoured every bit! Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!
Hi Nagi,
A big thank you for this recipe. We tried it out and it was amazing. I would encourage anyone to try it. Fantastic.
Hi Nagi, can I cook this the day before in slow cooker then finish for I oven the next day? Hope you can answer this as mum coming over for lunch and 10 hours is not enough time on the day. Love all your recipes, you are a legend 😄
Thanks so much, roast has been in since 8ish, about another hour and into oven. Smells delish!
Woo hoo!! Enjoy that Cher! N x
Hi, Nagi, (our cooking life saver ❤)
Do you line or spray the slow cooker. Mine in 2nd hand, I remember something about lining base with sliced spuds/onion. Will this change cooking time? Thanks for all the inspiration.
Sometimes I use a layer of onions or veg to keep my roasts slightly elevated out of the liquids. It will say so in the recipe if you need that! N x
Thanks so much, roast has been in since 8ish, about another hour and into oven. Smells delish!
Hi Nagi, my slow cooker has a metal rack for roasting meats that elevates them slightly off the bottom of the pan. Should I use that for this recipe please?
Oh, and how’s the photography going for your book? Can’t wait for its release later this year.💖💜
The photos are getting very close to being done!! HUGE JOB! You can use the rack if you like Lorraine, but it’s not necessary in the slow cooker version. N x
Can I use high setting as I have left it a bit late in the day for 4 hrs
Can I use a Boneless leg of lamb?
I can’t seem to find an answer to this question in the Reviews 🤞
Yes you can AK – see Note 1 under the recipe regarding boneless legs! N x
Can i add potatoes and other veg to cook all at the same time. If so when would i add them in?
Hello,
Can I cook this in a slow cooker the day before , cool it and brown in the oven the day after? Thanks
Yes Linda hat should be fine or you can brown it and then reheat the next day. N x
Ah-mazing!! Converted us to slow cooker method! ♡
Cooked this for Easter Sunday in the UK. I did a 2kg whole leg for 10 hours and it came out perfectly! I had to use my hack saw to fit it in my 6.5l slow cooker! The 20 mins in the oven afterwards is a stroke of genius…we all fought over the crispy bits! (Browning it before wouldn’t have been so good). I also added a slug of red wine to the beef stock. The gravy was quite rich and oh so delicious, but to suit everyone’s taste I diluted it a little with the water from the vegetables we were cooking and thickened with some corn flour. I’m in my 50’s and can honestly say this was the best lamb I’ve ever had (let along cooked) and was loved by the whole family and grandparents! Thank you so much!
That’s so nice to hear Neil!! And my family fights over the crispy bits too!!! N x
Hi Nagi. Can you brown the lamb before putting in slow cooker or will it dry out?
You can brown it first Tina! N x
Hi Nagi, I have the same fast slow cooker as you. Would it be possible to do this on the pressure cooker setting?
Yes Rhys – Step 3 of the recipe has the pressure cooker instructions! N x
Hi Nagi. I only have a slow cooker and not an oven. Will the lack of baking at the end adversely affect the finished product? Thank you!
It will be very pale Anna – blasting in the oven gives it the colour. It will taste good though! N x