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The lamb morsels in this Lamb Stew just melt in your mouth and so do the potatoes. This recipe is uncomplicated (a one-pot meal!) and it simmers in the oven for awhile so every bite is completely delicious. The lengthy (and care free) baking time creates a most satisfying broth consistency. Even if you have no clue what the old days were like, this lamb stew will take you there!
My 2 and 8-year old kiddos both loved this lamb stew (which shocked me because they love their usuals like Mom’s meatball soup and borscht). They both asked for refills! I was beaming of course because this lamb stew recipe is loaded with healthy ingredients and my family was was gobbling it up with such satisfaction. It’s a winner, especially for special occasions, like Easter!
Ingredients for Lamb Stew Recipe:
This hearty lamb stew is a meal in itself and so satisfying! This lamb stew recipe is a close relative to our beef stew recipe (a reader favorite!). We turned it into a one-pot recipe so it is easier and a little heartier with more potatoes. We also experimented making it gluten free and we were all so impressed with the results.
Gluten Free Substitution: I have tested this with this gluten free flour and it worked wonderfully.
How to Make Easy Lamb Stew:
1. In a large dutch oven pot, saute chopped bacon over medium heat until golden brown and fat is released. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.
2. While bacon cooks, season trimmed and chopped lamb pieces with 1/2 Tbsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup flour. Toss to combine and coat the meat in flour. Cook the lamb in 2 batches in hot bacon grease over medium heat until browned (3-4 minutes per side) then remove to the same plate with bacon.
3. Add diced onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté another minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cups wine, scraping the bottom to deglaze. Add thickly sliced mushrooms, bring to a simmer and cook 10 minutes uncovered. Preheat Oven to 325 degrees F.
4. Return bacon and lamb back to the pot then add 4 cups broth, 1 Tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and 2 bay leaves. Add potatoes and carrots then stir to combine (potatoes should be mostly submerged in liquid. Bring to a boil then cover with lid and carefully transfer to preheated oven at 325˚F for 1 hour and 45 minutes. When done, potatoes will be easily pierced and lamb will be very tender. For a lower fat stew, spoon out any excess oil at the surface of the stew.
Serve with soft crusty bread to soak up that broth which is loaded with amazing flavor!
Explore our Most Popular Stew Recipes:
- Beef, Rice and Tomato Stew (Kharcho)
- Red Borscht (a beef and beet stew)
- If you love lamb, don’t miss our Lamb Chops
Lamb Stew Recipe

Ingredients
- 4 oz bacon, (4 strips, chopped into 1/4" strips)
- 2 lbs boneless leg of lamb or lamb shoulder, trimmed of excess fat, cut into 1 1/2" pieces
- 1/2 Tbsp sea salt for the lamb plus 1 tsp for stew
- 1 tsp black pepper for lamb plus 1/2 tsp for stew
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour or gluten free flour*
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups good red wine, *
- 1 lb button mushrooms, thickly sliced
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth or stock
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 1/2 lbs small yellow potatoes, halved or quartered into 1" pieces
- 4 medium carrots, 10 oz, peeled and cut into 1/2" thick pieces
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- In a 5Qt dutch oven, saute chopped bacon over medium heat until browned and fat released. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a large plate.
- While bacon cooks, season lamb pieces with 1/2 Tbsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup flour and toss to coat. Cook lamb in 2 batches in hot bacon grease over medium heat until browned (3-4 min per side) then transfer to the plate with bacon.
- Add diced onion and sauté 2 min. Add garlic and cook another minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cups wine, scraping the bottom to deglaze. Add sliced mushrooms, bring to simmer then cook uncovered 10 min. Preheat Oven to 325˚F.
- Return bacon and lamb to pot and add 4 cups broth, 1 Tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp dried thyme and 2 bay leaves. Stir in potatoes and carrots, making sure potatoes are mostly submerged in liquid. Bring to a boil then COVER and carefully transfer to preheated oven at 325˚F for 1 hr and 45 min. When done, potatoes and lamb will be very tender.**
Notes
** For reduced fat stew, spoon out any excess oil from the surface when it comes out of the oven.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Q: Are you cooking up any special Easter recipes?
Is lamb typically on the menu for you? I’d love to hear about your Easter dinner traditions!
Hey Natasha
This is the second time I have made this dish using your recipe, in the oven now! Thanks x
Hello Gary, I’m glad you enjoy the recipe enough to make it a second time! Thank YOU for sharing your fantastic review!
Hi, has anyone used Turkey Bacon instead? will omitting the Bacon dramatically reduce the taste of this dish?
We haven’t experimented with turkey bacon, Sam. Please let us know how it goes if you try it that way.
Thank you Natasha. This was a nice take on a meal we commonly make using a nearly identical recipe in our Italian pressure cooker (like Victoria!) with various economical cuts of meat including beef shank, beef short ribs and pork shoulder. Step 4 moved into the pressure cooker which cut the cooking time significantly. I also added zucchini chunks, another family favorite. It was lovely, the bacon gave the flavor extra depth and was the one ingredient I don’t normally use, while the only one I use that you did not was dijon mustard. I left that out to follow you more closely. I think it might have overpowered the lamb but it works well with beef and pork. Thank you again!
You’re welcome Elizabeth! I’m glad to hear the recipe is a success. Thanks for sharing your excellent review with other readers!
Natasha, have you tried making this recipe in Instanpot?
Hi Nadia, I haven’t yet! I wish I had since you are the second person to ask! If you experiment, please let me know how it goes 🙂
I tried this for Easter, it was my first time preparing lamb. All my guests and my family loved it, it is sooo delicious! Thank you for this recipe! if it wasn’t for this recipe, I probably still would have not tried preparing lamb on my own:)
I’m so glad this recipe gave you the confidence to give it a try…and with great success! Thanks for sharing your excellent review Julia!
Have you tried this in the instant pot?
Hi Victoria, I haven’t yet so I can’t offer any advice. If you experiment, let me now how it goes 🙂
It turned out BEYOND amazing! It was ready in 32 minutes. 30 minutes stewing Unser pressure and 2 minutes after I added in all veggies and potatoes.
Awesome, I’m happy to hear that Victoria! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
did you just cook the veggies uncovered?
This recipe sounds so delicious!!! Going to give it a try this Easter lunch, I’ll be hosting, (doubling or tripling it of course:)). Really nervous though, never prepared lamb myself before. What do you think if I substitute bacon for turkey bacon with some olive/ grape seed oil? And also, do you think I can maybe lower the oven temperature and leave it for a little longer in the oven like 2hours? Thank you
Julia, I think that substitution will work and you can lower the temperature/leave in the oven for 2 more hours. It’s worth a test 😀
Natasha, how would you adapt this recipe to a crock pot, or could you?
Hi Philip, I haven’t tried this in a slow cooker but one of my readers, Mariya, offered some good insights. She wrote: “I always make my beef stew in the slow cooker- it should work with lamb also. At step 4- transfer everything into the slow cooker and set it to high until it starts boiling and then put it on low until the meat is tender and potatoes cooked.” I hope that helps!
Would the taste be similar if I left the bacon out or is there another non pork substitute I can use?
Hi Shania, it would still work without the bacon, you could just use a light (not extra virgin) olive oil to sautee the lamb instead. It may need slightly more salt if omitting the bacon.
HI Natasha
Can I use guiness beer instead of wine? And crimini musthrooms instead of white mushrooms?
thx
margriet
HI Margriet, I honestly have not tried that but I have come across several Guinness beer lamb stew recipes online and I think it would be worth experimenting. If you try it out, I hope you let me know how it goes 🙂
Love your blog & all your recipes!! For this recipe can i finish cooking on the stovetop instead of placing it into the oven?! 🙂
Hi Aliika, I haven’t tried that, but a couple of my readers have reported great results cooking on the stovetop covered at a simmer for the same amount of time.
Can I substitute another liquid for the alcohol? If so what? Thanks so much!
Rose
Hi Rose, It still should work just using more broth. The wine does give this lamb stew riche flavor so it wouldn’t taste quite the same and may need additional seasoning to compensate.
I just made the lamb stew and doubled the recipe!! A whole bottle of red wine. Smells divine in the oven now!! St. Patty’s Day dinner!
That sounds heavenly Denise, thanks for sharing!
Absolutely delicious!!!!! I’ve never cooked with lamb before because I’ve never really enjoyed it but OMG this has changed my views!
I’m happy to hear I changed your mind about lamb! Thanks for sharing your excellent review with other readers Ashlee!
Would it be possible to substitute another liquid for the alcohol?
Hi Rose, I think it would still work with just using more broth but the wine does give it really rich amazing flavor so it wouldn’t quite taste the same and may need additional seasoning.
Thank you so much for posting something with lamb! I bought lamb but don’t know much recipes of how to cook lamb. Am definitely looking forward to cooking this.
I hope you love it Victoriya! Please let me know what you think and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
Hi Natasha,
Looks amazing. Trying out this weekend, my question: What if i cook it in Slow Cooker?
Hi Tatyana, I honestly haven’t tested this in a slow cooker so I’m not sure. You might google “slow cooker lamb stew” or slow cooker beef stew to see anyone posted instructions. Sorry I can’t offer any advice without testing it first. I would probably still do most of the cooking on the stove to brown the beef and cook off some of the wine so it isn’t overpowering.
I always make my beef stew in the slow cooker- it should work with lamb also. At step 4- transfer everything into the slow cooker and set it to high until it starts boiling and then put it on low until the meat is tender and potatoes cooked.
Great tips Mariya, thanks for sharing!
Mr. Weatherman announces fresh delivery of snow for this weekend so this is just perfect timing 🙂 Thank you !
My pleasure! I hope it helps keep you warm! 🙂
Thanks Natasha it looks delicious and appetizing,as we have many sort of stews I am going to call it Natasha stew 😊
It tastes as good as it looks too! I hope you love the Natsha stew, lol! 🙂
Looks amazing! I’m definitely gonna make this for Easter. Question. My kiddos don’t like mushrooms. At all. 🙂 Do you think it’s crucial for the stew or can you please suggest something in lieu of mushrooms? Thank you.
Hi Monika, I always make it with the mushrooms but my readers have reported good results omitting the mushrooms. Diane wrote: “This is the best beef stew I have ever made. My husband agrees but prefers that I leave out the mushrooms. But I also throw in some frozen peas instead.”
Hi Nat!
Thank you for the awesome recipe!
I was wondering if I can substitute the lamb with beef or meatballs?
I’m all for less dishes to wash!
Thank you again, and God bless you for helping us to cook healthier food at home!
Hi Elfi, We often make a slightly different version of this with our beef stew. I love it with beef also. This lamb stew recipe does simplify the process (easier!) because it is made in one pan but you can absolutely switch out the lamb for beef.
Is it OK to freeze in serving portions?
Hi Carol, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I’ve made this several times and always freeze portions! Just a reminder, potato doesn’t freeze well as it goes all weird and floury in a very inedible way, so for the second batch I used sweet potato so I could freeze without chucking out thawed tatties.