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Slow Cooker Lamb & Vegetable Casserole
Meltingly tender lamb in a rich herby gravy — pure comfort
EASY MEALS FOR ELDERLY PARENTS
6/6/20263 min read
If the beef stew is the recipe Mum gets most excited about, this lamb casserole runs it a very close second.
There is something about slow cooked lamb that is in a category all of its own. The meat becomes so incredibly tender it falls apart at the touch of a fork, releasing its beautiful flavour into the rich herby gravy surrounding it. It's warming, deeply satisfying and the kind of meal that makes elderly parents feel genuinely cared for and nourished.
Like all the best slow cooker recipes this one does its most important work while you get on with your day. By dinnertime the whole house smells incredible and Mum's meal is ready and waiting.
Why This Recipe Works
Fall-apart tender meat - the long slow cook breaks down the collagen in the lamb making it impossibly soft and easy to eat
Rich in iron and zinc - lamb is one of the most nutrient-dense red meats available, particularly important for elderly health
Deeply nourishing - protein, vegetables and complex carbohydrates all in one pot
Soft vegetables - everything cooks until completely tender with no tough textures
Freezes beautifully - up to 3 months making it ideal for batch cooking
Hands off cooking - set it in the morning and walk away completely
Recipe Details
Serves: 6–8 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 8 hours on LOW or 4–5 hours on HIGH Freeze: Up to 3 months
Ingredients
1kg lamb shoulder or lamb forequarter chops, bone in or boneless
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups good quality beef or lamb stock
1 can diced tomatoes (400g)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp cornflour mixed with 3 tbsp cold water (to thicken)
Method
Step 1 - Brown the lamb Season lamb pieces generously with salt and pepper and dust lightly with flour. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Brown the lamb in batches until deep golden on at least two sides. This step builds enormous flavour in the final casserole - do not skip it. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Step 2 - Soften aromatics In the same pan reduce heat to medium. Cook the onion for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Transfer to slow cooker.
Step 3 - Add everything else Add all vegetables, stock, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme and bay leaves. Stir well to combine. Season generously.
Step 4 - Cook low and slow Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours until the lamb is completely tender and falling off the bone.
Step 5 - Thicken and finish In the last 30 minutes stir in the cornflour mixture to thicken the gravy. Remove bay leaves. If using bone-in lamb, remove bones before serving.
Step 6 - Serve Serve as is or over creamy mashed potato. The rich gravy is wonderful spooned generously over everything.
Freezing Instructions
Cool completely and remove any bones
Portion into individual containers
Label with name and date
Freeze up to 3 months
To reheat: Thaw overnight in fridge. Reheat gently in saucepan over low heat adding a splash of stock if needed. Or microwave in 90 second intervals until piping hot throughout.
Always ensure food is piping hot all the way through before serving.
Kim's Tips
💕 Bone-in lamb gives more flavour - forequarter chops or bone-in shoulder pieces give the most flavourful result. Remove bones before portioning for freezing.
💕 Lamb shoulder is the best cut - shoulder has enough fat and connective tissue to become incredibly tender during the long cook. Lean leg of lamb will be dry and tough.
💕 Even better the next day - like all casseroles this improves overnight as flavours develop. Make it the day before for an even more delicious result.
💕 Serve over mashed potato - the rich gravy soaks into the mashed potato beautifully making it a complete and incredibly satisfying meal.
What You'll Need
A good slow cooker is the star of this recipe. I've linked mine along with individual freezer containers on my Amazon storefront.
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Pure comfort in a bowl - I'd love to hear if this became a favourite! Leave a comment below or come and find me on Instagram. You're not doing this alone. 💕