My homemade Irish lamb stew is loaded with vegetables and melt-in-your-mouth, tender, grass fed lamb meat for the most amazingly tasty soup ever! It's the perfect cozy comfort food soup for any day of the year!
Irish lamb stew is an amazingly flavorful comfort food classic!
It may not be much to look at, most stews are somewhat plain in appearance - but this Irish lamb stew is downright heavenly! You're sure to love each and every succulent bite!
This is an excellent meal to enjoy around St. Patrick's Day, but that is equally wonderful any time of the year! If you have never had a lamb stew, you are in for a savory treat!
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The Irish lamb stew, as I like to cook it (and as shown on this page) is served in a broth that is of a medium thickness.
🥘 Ingredients
Pick your favorite veggies if you want to add more filling to your stew - just like most stews, this is a versatile recipe!
- 1 ½ lbs Lamb Stew Meat (or use lamb shoulder or thick cut shoulder chops, cut into 1 ½ to 2 inch chunks and trimmed of fat)
- ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
- ½ teaspoon each, Salt & Pepper (to taste)
- 4 tablespoons Olive Oil (extra virgin - divided into 2 portions of 2 tablespoon each)
- 1 large Yellow Onion (rough chopped, about ½ cup - white onion can also be used)
- 2 tablespoons Parsley (fresh, chopped)
- 5-6 medium Carrots (medium sized, rough chopped, about 3 cups)
- 6 ribs Celery (rough chopped, about 3 cups)
- 6 cups Beef Broth (use more or less, as needed to cover your stew ingredients)
- 3-4 medium Red Potatoes (or russet potatoes - chopped)
- 2 whole Bay Leaves
- 2 sprigs Thyme
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
I am cooking my lamb stew on the stove top today, but we have included the instructions for alternate cooking methods below! If you will be finishing your lamb stew in the oven, I suggest using a Dutch oven for best results.
- In a medium bowl, coat your cut lamb stew meat with flour (start with half the ¼ cup of flour) and season with salt and pepper. Bring the first 2 tablespoon portion of the olive oil to medium high heat in a large stock pot or heavy bottomed dish (like a dutch oven).
- Brown the floured lamb meat on all sides (dust the browning meat with the remaining flour if you would like your stew broth to be thicker), then remove from the pot and set aside. *Do not worry about the browned bits sticking to the bottom of the pot, this is the base of a great stew!
- Add the second portion of 2 tablespoon olive oil into the pot and sweat the onion until beginning to get translucent. Add remaining ingredients: chopped parsley, carrots, celery, broth, potatoes, bay leaves, and sprigs of thyme. Return the seared lamb to the pot, stir, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Once a slow rolling boil is reached, reduce the heat to low and cook at a low simmer for approximately 90 minutes (timing will vary depending on your meat portion, the chunk size, etc.) or until your lamb meat is very tender when forked.
- Remove bay leaves and thyme stems before serving.
No matter which method you use to make your Irish lamb stew, serve it up immediately once fully cooked with a nice big chunk torn off of an Irish soda bread loaf (topped with some Irish butter). Enjoy!
Dutch Oven Instructions (oven braised method)
Follow the directions in the recipe: use an oven safe dish (preferably a dutch oven), preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) while browning the lamb meat. Once all of the ingredients have been combined, cover your lamb stew and place in the oven. Bake for about 1 hour, or until lamb meat is very tender when forked.
Slow Cooker or Crockpot Instructions
For best results follow the directions including coating the lamb stew meat with flour, seasoned with salt and pepper, and browned in a dutch oven (or frying pan).
- Transfer browned lamb stew meat to your 6 quart slow cooker, scraping as much of the 'fond' from the bottom of the pan along with the juices from cooking the meat.
- Add the onion, potatoes, carrots, celery, chopped parsley, bay leaves, sprigs of fresh thyme, and beef broth. Cover and cook on low setting for eight hours.
To skip the pan searing, place flour coated lamb stew meat in the bottom of the slow cooker (OR sprinkle flour over the lamb meat after it has been placed into the crockpot/slow cooker).
Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker Instructions
Follow the directions for coating your lamb meat with flour and seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Set your instant pot to saute and brown the lamb stew meat, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of the beef broth, stir and scrape any browned bits into the liquid. Add the remaining beef broth along with the chopped parsley, bay leaves, and sprigs of fresh thyme. Close and seal your instant pot, then cook on high for 30 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients: onion, celery, carrot, and potatoes, then re-seal the instant pot and cook on high for 10 minutes. When the timer beeps, let your lamb stew rest for 7-10 minutes. If your lamb meat is not fork tender, return your stew to high pressure for an additional 5 minutes.
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- This is one of those dishes that your choice of meat will impact your results! Usually stews are forgiving of what meats you choose, but in this case your stew meat chunks should be of good quality, preferably lamb shoulder (leg of lamb is best suited for roasting and grilling, but will be tough when used as lamb stew meat). Milk lamb or Grass fed lamb is also recommended.
- I always suggest adding your seasoning toward the end of the cooking time, as your flavor and consistency have had a chance to come together. This way, you have a better idea of what needs to be adjusted.
- To thicken your stew before serving add a slurry of all-purpose flour and cold water toward the end of the cooking time. Use 1 tablespoon of each and mix until smooth, then whisk into your stew. Repeat as needed until your desired consistency has been reached.
Read more about lamb meat and selecting your lamb cuts on my lamb, mutton, and goat guide!
A huge THANK YOU to our local farm, Maple Hill Garden, that personally delivered our half a lamb.
🇮🇪 More Tasty Irish Recipes!
- Irish Nachos
- Irish Oatmeal Cake with Caramel Pecan Frosting
- Irish Apple Cake
- Potato Leek Soup
- Apple Blackberry Crumble
📋 Recipe
Irish Lamb Stew
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs lamb stew meat (or use lamb shoulder or thick cut shoulder chops, cut into 1 ½ to 2 inch chunks and trimmed of fat)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 4 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin - divided into 2 portions of 2 tablespoon each)
- 1 large yellow onion (rough chopped)
- 2 tablespoon parsley (fresh, chopped)
- 5-6 carrots (medium sized, rough chopped)
- 6 ribs celery (rough chopped)
- 6 cups beef broth (use more or less, as needed to cover your stew ingredients)
- 3-4 medium red potatoes (or russet potatoes - chopped)
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs thyme
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, coat your cut lamb stew meat with flour (start with half the ¼ cup of flour) and season with salt and pepper. Bring the first 2 tablespoon portion of the olive oil to medium high heat in a large stock pot or heavy bottomed dish (like a dutch oven).1 ½ lbs lamb stew meat, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, 4 tablespoon olive oil
- Brown the floured lamb meat on all sides (dust the browning meat with the remaining flour if you would like your stew broth to be thicker), then remove from the pot and set aside. *Do not worry about the browned bits sticking to the bottom of the pot, this is the base of a great stew!
- Add the second portion of 2 tablespoons olive oil into the pot and sweat the onion until beginning to get translucent. Add remaining ingredients: chopped parsley, carrots, celery, broth, potatoes, bay leaves, and sprigs of thyme. Return the seared lamb to the pot, stir, cover, and bring to a boil.4 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large yellow onion, 2 tablespoon parsley, 5-6 carrots, 6 ribs celery, 3-4 medium red potatoes, 2 bay leaves, 2 sprigs thyme, 6 cups beef broth
- Once a slow rolling boil is reached, reduce the heat to low and cook at a low simmer for approximately 90 minutes (timing will vary depending on your meat portion, the chunk size, etc.) or until your lamb meat is very tender when forked.
- Remove bay leaves and thyme stems before serving.
- Other vegetables that would be a wonderful addition: turnips, parsnips, fennel, leek, shallot, or peas.
Oven (Oven Braised) Instructions
- *To make your Irish Lamb Stew in the oven (oven braised method), follow the directions in the recipe: use an oven safe dish (preferably a dutch oven), preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) while browning the lamb meat.
- Once all of the ingredients have been combined, cover your lamb stew and place in the oven. Bake for about 1 hour, or until lamb meat is very tender when forked.
Slow Cooker & Crock Pot Instructions
- **To make your Irish Lamb Stew in a slow cooker or crock pot, for best results follow the directions including coating the lamb with flour, seasoned with salt and pepper, and browned in a dutch oven (or frying pan). Transfer browned lamb stew meat to your 6 quart slow cooker, scraping as much of the 'fond' from the bottom of the pan along with the juices from cooking the meat.
- Add the onion, potatoes, carrots, celery, chopped parsley, bay leaves, sprigs of fresh thyme, and beef broth. Cover and cook on low setting for eight hours.
- To skip the pan searing, place flour coated lamb stew meat in the bottom of the slow cooker (OR sprinkle flour over the lamb meat after it has been placed into the slow cooker).
Instant Pot & Pressure Cooker Instructions
- ***To make your Irish Lamb Stew in an instant pot or pressure cooker, follow the directions for coating your lamb meat with flour and seasoning with salt and pepper. Set your instant pot to saute and brown the lamb stew meat, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of the beef broth, stir and scrape any browned bits into the liquid. Add the remaining beef broth along with the chopped parsley, bay leaves, and sprigs of fresh thyme. Close and seal your instant pot, then cook on high for 30 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients: onion, celery, carrot, and potatoes, then re-seal the instant pot and cook on high for 10 minutes. When the timer beeps, let your lamb stew rest 7-10 minutes.
- If your lamb meat is not fork tender, return your stew to high pressure for an additional 5 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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