Instant Pot Lamb Shoulder (Dump and Start)

Lamb is the most-loved roast in our household. It is often requested for those cozy and comforting Sunday lunches, or as an easy weeknight dinner when served up with generous portions of peas and baby potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Like with Instant Pot Pot Roast and Instant Pot Whole Chicken, this easy recipe for Instant Pot Lamb is suuuuuch a great choice for those traditional Sunday roasts, serving for Christmas lunch, and especially for Easter, since preparing roast lamb is an important Easter tradition. Not just in my family, but for many all around the world.

And instead of the usual all-day roasting affair, cooking your lamb shoulder in the Instant Pot means you will have super tasty, fall-off-the-bone tender meat that is ready in just 90 minutes. How amazing is that for quick comfort food?!?!

You can also make this a true ‘dump and start’ Instant Pot recipe by skipping the browning stage and simply placing all of the ingredients into the Instant Pot together. But if you have the time, it is worth that extra effort to brown the meat first to get that really great depth of flavor.

P.S. Love lamb stew? Then check out this lick your bowl clean, easy Instant Pot Lamb Stew.

Why Make This Recipe

• Prep ahead of time, which is sooooooo great when you are hosting the big family holiday meal. Just cook lamb in advance then give it a quick blast and browning in the oven when your guests arrive.
• Using the Instant Pot means you free up that precious space your oven so you can easily make all the other side dishes and desserts.

Ingredient Notes

• Oil – this recipe calls for olive oil, but you can use any other type of oil.
• Lamb meat – this recipe calls for lamb shoulder with bone in.
• Cooking liquid –  use beef broth or beef stock or chicken stock.
• Anchovies fillets – just grab some from a can.
• Garlic – use minced garlic. These can be from your garlic cloves or out of a store bought tub.
• Seasonings – this roast gets it flavors fresh rosemary, dried oregano and salt.

So, are you ready to learn how to make Instant Pot Lamb Roast? Gather up your ingredients and I will show you….

How To Make Instant Pot Lamb

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Set the Instant Pot to sauté function and add olive oil to the inner pot.
2. When hot, add lamb shoulder and brown on both sides, then remove, place on a plate and set aside.
3. Turn off the Instant Pot, add stock and scrape the bottom of the insert to deglaze.
4. Then mix in the anchovies and garlic purée.
5. Put the lamb back in the Instant Pot insert, sprinkle the oregano and salt on top and add in the rosemary sprig.
6. Place lid on thePressure Cooker, close and turn the valve to the sealing position.
7. Set the Instant Pot to manual/pressure cook, high pressure for 90 minutes.
8. When cook time is done, allow for at Natural Pressure Release (NPR) of 15 mins and then perform a quick release (QPR) the remaining steam.
9. Remove lamb, Slice, garnish and serve

Note that cooking time listed does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, or for the pressure to release.

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Tips for Making Pressure Cooker Lamb

• I used whole bone-in shoulder of lamb. If the lamb shoulder comes rolled and tied with string, remove it before cooking.
• Pair with mint jelly for Easter. See the section below on how to easily make your own homemade mint jelly.
• For a lovely presentation on your holiday table, serve garnished with fresh herbs such as parsley and rosemary. And topping with sliced green onions and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds gives it some extra festive Christmas color.
• For best results, please learn your Instant Pot Settings and How To Avoid The Instant Pot Burn Message.

Flavour Variations for Instant Pot Lamb Shoulder

• You can easily customize the flavor of your Instant Pot lamb by using different herbs, such as thyme, sage, coriander or Herbes de Provence. Or go for an Indian influence and season your lamb with curry powder and ginger and ground cumin. Bay leaf and tomato paste make a great addition.
• If you like some heat, feel free to add some red pepper flakes and black pepper to the mix.
• Try replacing some of the stock with white wine or red wine for extra flavor.
• If you prefer you can serve lamb with fresh cilantro or parsley.

This recipe is all about simple Mediterranean lamb flavors, but it can be dressed up even further with the addition of fresh thyme and basil. For a Greek influence, drizzle the lamb with some honey before cooking.

Storage

• Storing – Stored properly in an airtight container the fridge, this will last about 4-5 days.
• Freeze – Let cool down then transfer lamb slices or lamb pieces into these convenient Ziploc bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer and store for up to 3 months.
• Defrost – Thaw overnight in the fridge.

FAQs

What Are The Most Common Cuts of Lamb?

There are six sections of lamb that provide the various cuts of meat. Here are the most common cuts available on the market:

Shoulder: This cut takes a while to become tender, so it is best suited for pressure-cooking, slow roasting, and stews. To get the maximum flavor out of this cut, cook bone-in lamb shoulder until the meat is fork-tender and easily falls off the bone.

Chops/Rack: Lamb chops and rack of lamb are taken from the ribs. Quicker cooking methods such as the grill or barbecue yield the best results. The most expensive cuts, rack of lamb and lamb chops and are delicate and tender.

Rump: This cut comes from the back of the lamb and is lean, tender, and full of flavor. Make sure to not overcook as it tends to become tough and too dry.

Leg of Lamb: This is a fairly lean cut that has a nice strong flavor. It is a great choice for pressure cooking and roasting.

Lamb Shank: Cut from the lower part of the back legs. This is an economical choice that is perfect for stews, pressure-cooking, and slow roasting.

How Do You Make Mint Jelly for Lamb?

Making homemade mint jelly is not as hard as you think. All you need is 2 cups fresh mint leaves, 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 cups sugar, and 3 ounces of liquid pectin.

And for that classic bright green appearance, you can add 1 – 2 drops of green food coloring.

Then just follow the steps below to make a quick and easy fresh mint jelly:

• Place the mint and water in a blender and purée. Then transfer to a small saucepan.
• Stir in the lemon zest and juice and bring to a boil over medium-high heat for 1 minute.
• Add in the sugar, bring back to a boil and then add the liquid pectin.
• Remove from heat and stir in food coloring (if using).
• Let cool, then cover and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

How To Make Lamb Gravy

Serving this with a delicious gravy can make a huge difference. I suggest you sauté some onions after browning the meat using a wooden spoon to stir and scrape the bottom of the inner pot. The onions will add more flavor to the gravy.

When you remove the meat, you will be left with the cooking liquid that will have quite a bit of fat. Lamb fat is not that amazing, so first, you will need to scoop off as much of the fat as you can. Then at the end thicken the gravy with corn starch, potato starch, or arrowroot powder.

Serving Suggestion Instant Pot Lamb Shoulder

The great thing about Instant Pot Lamb Shoulder is that it is a versatile main dish that pairs well with many different sides like root vegetables and rice.

• Serve fluffy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or these Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes for a classic lamb-and-potato combination.
• For a complete Mediterranean-inspired meal, pair your lamb with this delicious Orange Pistachio Couscous & Pomegranate Salad.
• Cauliflower Rice and Spinach Salad are both great choices, especially for those following a Low-Carb or Keto diet plan.
• Roasted Cucumber Salad is a light and refreshing accompaniment to serve anytime of year.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving.

More Instant Pot Main Dish Recipes:

• Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
• Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin.
• Instant Pot Pot Roast.
• Instant Pot Chicken and Mushrooms.
• Instant Pot Chicken Tenders.
• Instant Pot Meatloaf.

Thank you for reading my Instant Pot Lamb recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Instant Pot Lamb Shoulder Recipe Video**

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