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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!
Hi Natasha, we love lamb in our house and lamb stew is a favorite! I can’t resist changing up a recipe and added more tomato paste and some curry paste. My husband has his own Moroccan seasoning that I love, so I coated the lamb in that as well. Excellent recipe, thanks for posting it!
I’m so happy to hear this recipe is a favorite! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi. Can you use lamb or chicken stock instead?
Hi Natalie, we thought the beef broth had a richer flavor and better color, but chicken broth would also work well. Someone else shared this too “I’ve made it a few times and It’s great without the red wine too, I deglaze with balsamic vinegar and little extra stock.” I hope that helps.
I didn’t use the mushrooms, as a preference, but the recipe was delicious. Thank you for the guidance!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, John!
Amazing!! Would recommend adding some rosemary for an extra bang
Thanks for your good comment and suggestion, Amanda. Will try that next time!
I’ve made many, many recipes from many reputable sources and, I just have to say, not only was this the best stew I’ve ever had, your website has become one of my 3 go-to, most trusted sources for great recipes and instruction. It’s right up there with ATK and FoodNetwork.
Thank you for your great comments and feedback, Justin. I’m happy to hear that you loved this recipe!
I don’t have any ovenproof dishes. Do you think I would be able to cook this on the hob on low for the 1h45m instead
Hi Lou, I haven’t tried it this way myself, but it should work, and several of our readers have reported success using stovetop only. Enjoy!
I could only get boneless sirloin, but it turned out fantastic. But I guess the low sodium beef broth was no joke. I used regular stock and it turned out a bit too salty, so I added more water and some flour to make up for that.
I’m happy you gave this a try, Laura!
Will it still taste good without the bacon? I don’t eat bacon.
Hi Tamara, it would still work without the bacon; you could just use a light (not extra virgin) olive oil to saute the lamb instead. It may need slightly more salt if omitting the bacon.
I have a boneless loin of lamb, can I use it to make a stew?
Hi Maureen, the loin of lamb is usually used for quick frying or grilling. I think it could still work.
Hi, can lamb bone-in loin chops be used instead?
Hi Mildred, yes, bone-in will work well. You may need to increase your cook time.
Thank you so much. I love your friendly recipes that use everyday items that is in your cabinet. Please continue to keep them coming.
You’re welcome and I will do that, Mildred!
What can I substitute with beef broth / stock? Can I use chicken stock instead?
Can I omit the red wine? Is there any other alternative?
Hi CK, we thought the beef broth had richer flavor and better color, but chicken broth would also work well. Someone else shared this too “I’ve made it a few times and It’s great without the red wine too, I deglaze with balsamic vinegar and little extra stock.” I hope that helps.
Very good UKRAINIAN lamb stew (it’s the bacon grease that gives it away)!
My parents were also immigrants, but after WWII. I grew up on pork fat, borscht, vareniki, etc. Keep up the good work.
I’m glad you liked this recipe, Anthony!
I made this lamb stew for Easter and it was wonderful! Thank you, Natasha, for this great recipe!!
You’re welcome, Alina! I’m happy you liked it!
Hi, Natasha. My family and I don’t eat beef . Can I substitute the beef broth with chicken broth/stock? If I do, do you recommend the addition of any other ingredients (e.g., star anise, more wine/bacon/mushrooms, etc.)?
Hi Meghana, we thought the beef broth had richer flavor and better color, but chicken broth would also work well.
Absolutely delicious! Followed the recipe to the the letter and it turned out perfectly. Immediately added to the recipe book!
That is awesome! Glad you found a new favorite.
It’s lamb! Not, lam!
Ah, my editor (that would be me) did a terrible job on this one! ha ha. Thanks for pointing that out. Fixed!
Hi, Can I substitute lamb for chicken?
I haven’t tried that in this recipe but it’s worth testing.
I follow exactly, up until it’s time to go in the oven. Then I transfer to a crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours. I’ve made it twice now and it’s even better as leftovers!
Awesome, thank you for sharing that with us, Amanda!
I’d like to make this recipe utilizing left over roast leg of lamb. What should I adjust the cook time to?
Hi Pam, I imagine that may work. I have only made this fresh, so I can’t recommend a time without trying it myself.
Is there anything I can substitute for the mushrooms? I really don’t like mushrooms. Maybe I could just leave them out?
Hi Kelsey, I always make it with the mushrooms but my readers have reported good results omitting the mushrooms.
Can we use bone-in leg of lamb?
Hi Michael, yes, bone-in will work well. You may need to increase your cook time.