This is how the Greeks make roast lamb – cooked until tender, half braised in a garlic lemon flavoured liquid that transforms into a luscious sauce – no mucking around with gravy! This Greek Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb takes hours and hours to roast, but it is EASY, virtually foolproof and very hands off. A perfect centrepiece for Easter, Sunday Roast or any other occasion for feasting!!
After more ideas? Browse all my roast lamb recipes!
Fork-tender, authentic Greek Slow Roast Leg of Lamb
All around the world this weekend, there will be gatherings of family and friends to celebrate Easter. I was quite interested to learn that ham is very popular in America. Here in Australia, it’s all about roast lamb and seafood.
I love a good roast lamb! I’ve shared quite a few of them – from a classic Roast Lamb Leg, to a Slow Roast Leg of Lamb (fall apart tender!), Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder and even a Slow Cooker Roast Lamb.
But this one I’m sharing today is not just another lamb roast. It’s a Greek one. Rubbed with a simple spice mix, slow cooked until tender, half braised so it sucks up all the yummy lemony garlicky herby flavours.
No carving knife required. See?
Aussies love their lamb. In my family, Sunday Night Roast Dinners are an occasion that triggers fiery correspondence between us kids as we debate the menu. You can read one such dialogue in this Slow Roasted Rosemary Garlic Lamb Shoulder, along with my self proclaimed family title as Roast Queen.
The thing with roasting a leg of lamb is that unless (and even if) you have a meat thermometer, it is actually quite hard to cook the roast perfectly so it is blushing pink on the inside, moist and juicy. It can take just 20 minutes for a leg of lamb to go from perfect to dry.
It can even overcook while resting. Truly. Been there, done that – cutting into the lamb straight out of the oven to take a peek, grinning smugly when I spied pink, set it aside to rest for 30 minutes, then when I carved it, there was not a hint of pink left.
I was temporarily dethroned as Roast Queen when that happened. I’d like to say I stepped down like a good sport, but no, I was overthrown 😤. I’m taking back the title for this Greek lamb though!!
Flavour, flavour, flavour, juicy, juicy, juicy, easy, easy, easy. That’s what this Greek Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb is all about. As long as you allow for sufficient cooking time, it is really hard to go wrong with this.
In true Greek form, this lamb is packed with extra flavour by stuffing bits of garlic into incisions made all over the lamb, then it’s rubbed with paprika and garlic powder. Add a simple braising liquid to keep it beautifully moist and to infuse it with even more flavour, then cook it long and slow.
Oh! The other advantage of this Greek Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb? NO MUCKING AROUND TO MAKE GRAVY! The braising liquid reduces down to an intensely flavoured sauce that needs to be generously poured all over the lamb. This is how it is supposed to be. And I’m not complaining!!!
This lamb does take hours to roast. Hours upon hours. 7 hours for a 3.5kg/7lb leg of lamb, to be precise. But it’s hands off, low maintenance time.
And at the end of it, look at what you get!! Now THIS is a step up from the usual Sunday night roast! – Nagi x
PS Greek Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb is pictured here with my. They really are….well, crunchy!! 😉
Try these on the side
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Truly Crunchy Roast Potatoes – outrageously crunchy!
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Greek Lemon Roast Potatoes – loaded with Greek flavours
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Lemon Potato Salad – skip the mayo, go for fresh lemon flavours
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Greek Salad – big, fresh and juicy
More Roast Lamb Recipes
I love a good roast lamb – so I’ve shared a few over the years!
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Classic Roast Lamb Leg with Gravy – the classic, perfectly blushing pink inside
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Slow Cooker Roast Lamb – fall apart goodness in the convenience of your slow cooker
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Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder – the juiciest, most succulent roast lamb you will ever have!
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Slow Cooked Lamb Shawarma – flavour bomb! Your favourite Lamb Shawarma, slow roasted and piled over couscous or stuffed in pita bread
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See all Roast Lamb recipes
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Greek Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
Ingredients
- 12 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 7 lb / 3.5 kg leg of lamb (Note 1)
- Salt and pepper
- 3 tsp paprika powder
- 3 tsp garlic powder (or sub with onion powder)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 large onions, quartered (white, brown, yellow, red)
- 10 sprigs of thyme
- 3 sprigs rosemary
- 3 tsp dried oregano
- 3 dried bayleaves (or 5 fresh)
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml lemon juice (2 - 3 lemons), plus more to taste
- 1 1/2 cups / 375 ml white wine (or sub with chicken broth/stock, low salt)
- 2 cups / 500 ml chicken broth (liquid chicken stock)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 240°C/465°F (220°C fan). (Note 2)
- Use a small knife to make around 25 incisions all over the lamb, with most on the top.
- Cut around 6 cloves into slivers and stuff them into the incisions.
- Sprinkle the lamb generously all over with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Drizzle with olive oil and rub all over the lamb.
- Place the lamb in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes or until it has a nice brown crust.
- Remove from the oven. Turn the oven down to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan).
- Turn the lamb upside down. Pour / place all the remaining ingredients in the pan around the lamb (including remaining garlic cloves). Fill the roasting pan with hot water so it comes up about 1/4 - 1/3 of the way up the height of the lamb.
- Cover with lid or with baking/parchment paper then 2 layers of foil. Bake for 3.5 hours. (Note 3) Top up water if it dries out (e.g. Might happen if your lid is loose)
- Remove the roast from the oven and remove the lid/foil. Turn the lamb over so it is the right side up.
- Cover again and roast for a further 2 1/2 hours, or until you can pull meat apart with forks.
- Remove cover and roast for a further 20 - 30 minutes (to brown). (Note 3)
- Remove from the oven and transfer lamb to serving platter. Cover loosely with foil and rest for 30 - 40 minutes.
- Strain liquid into a clear jug. The fat will rise to the top. Scoop/pour most of it off - I get 3/4 - 1 cup. There should be 2 - 3 cups of Sauce left. Adjust salt, pepper and lemon to taste.
- Serve lamb with the Sauce on the side and Truly Crunchy Roast Potatoes (heat oil while lamb is in the oven, then cook potatoes when the lamb is resting).
Recipe Notes:
4. Adapted from this Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb by Kalofagas.MORE ROAST LAMB
Slow Cooker Roast Lamb Leg with Gravy – The most succulent lamb leg you’ll ever have!
Classic Roast Lamb – Perfectly pink and juicy inside, with a killer gravy!
Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder – My favourite cut of lamb for roasting! Super tender, incredible flavour, and so forgiving!
LIFE OF DOZER
Oh, look who made an appearance when I pulled this out of the oven. Sorry Dozer, no lamb for you! Too much garlic – bad for you!
Nagi I love your recipes and sing your praises to everybody I meet! QuestionI have a half leg of lamb which has been in the freezer since 25/12/2022 it weighs 1.8 kegs will it be OK?? And can you suggest timings?
hi, I pressed enter before I had a chance to correct the spelling of cuisine, and also add ‘thank you so much, now my next venture – your spanakopita.’ any chance my comment can be fixed please?
Hi Nagi,
I followed your recipe but only had a small 1.5kg Woolies leg of lamb. All up it took 4 hours not sure if I did my math right, but it turned out delicious! The fact that my hard-to-please cooking all their lives Greek parents loved it, counts a lot! 🙂 I did pour a little more lemon before and after as it’s a necessity in our cousine!
Is it possible to do the first 3.5 hour cook, then turn and do the 2nd cook the next day?
OMG Nagi, this Greek Lamb Roast was to die for. I am loving all of your recipes so far and this was one of the easiest roasts EVER!! Oh and we had duck fat roast spuds too!
What a beautiful dish! Made this today and all guest loved it! That’s a keeper!
Made your Greek lamb with crunchy potatoes yesterday. Big success. Followed each step and didn’t cha he anything. Any good idea for leftover lamb?
Rogan Josh.
For Greek slow roasted Lamb. Where in recipe does it say WHERE OR WHEN the quartered onions go???? I reviewed over recipe many times Thanks.
Step number 7…”Place all remaining ingredients….”
Rogan Josh curry. Nagi has a recipe but you can also buy it in a jar.
It says, add all other ingredients to the baking tray. Put them in together with the herbs, water, lemon, garlic, wine…
Hello this sounds delicious but I have a half leg that’s just 1kg. Would I simply half the cooking time?
Hi Nagi, big fan! Can I follow these steps but use my slow cooker instead?
The Lamb (2.5kg) is falling off the bone after the first three hours.
Might look at an hour for the last “covered” component of the recipe.
Thoughts?
I had the same issue, was falling off the bone after the 1st 3 1/2 hrs. I wonder if it should have been cooked at a lower temp. Also my Leg of Lamb was smaller, around 4Ibs
I had a 3kg and it cooked in around 4hrs maybe I had it too high. (I was aiming for fall off bone meat).My sauce was very acidic lemony. I had to add honey/water and a pinch of bicarb soda. I also smash through the garlic & onions when straining the sauce
I made this last night for some guests with a 2kg leg of lamb and followed the directions and temperatures given exactly. Unfortunately the lamb was over cooked! First time I’ve been disappointed with a recipe on this website.
Made this today,same issue. Really disappointed. Will adjust times on next cook.
This recipe is epic. Due to shortages in store I used dried thyme and rosemary, and it still came out so good. The sauce is so lamby and tasty and the meat falls apart. I cannot rate this highly enough
Thanks for the dried herb advice! Just about to make this and realised I am out 😊
Hi Nagi,
Would this recipe be suitable to cook in a Weber?
Hiya Nagi. You probably won’t see this in time since I’m making this today. I have a 1.3kg half of a leg of lamb. I was wondering if you knew the cook times and the desired internal temperature of the finished product? Big fan of all your recipes! x
I ended up doing it 2 hours for the up-side-down, and 45 for the other side. This got it to about 210F internal, which I think is about right! It’s juicy and falling apart!
Well, I already left you a book so I thought I would just tell you how it turned out. It was wonderful, succulent, and juicy! I only poured some of the drippings over it and served the rest in little tiny au jus bowls. I served it with your truly crunchy potatoes (holy crunch!) and spanakorizo (Greek spinach rice – so good!).
I made this recipe and it turned out great for the friend and myself. Hubby won’t even touch the lamb. 🙂 The last hour of cooking I threw in some nugget potatoes, baby carrots and zucchini and let it cook in the juices. I was asked to do this again when the two of us go to have lamb. Thanks Nagi, for the recipe.
Hi Nagi –
I use your recipe alot, and they always turn out perfectly.
Tomorrow night I have several people coming for dinner and I want to serve slow cook leg of lamb. I was looking at this recipe of yours –
https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-roast-leg-of-lamb/
Looks great BUT my legs (2 @ 1kg each) are boneless or have been boned. Do you have a slow cooked recipe for boned legs? Or if not what would you suggest I chance in the above linked recipe?
Thanks for your time (& all your incredible content!)
Would it be possible to do this with shoulder or to adapt your 12 hour shoulder recipe to have more of the lemony garlicky flavours?
Use this method Kate https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-roasted-rosemary-garlic-lamb-shoulder/, or the 12 hour method and just sub in oregano for the rosemary and add some quartered and squeezed lemons and some extra garlic if you want it! N x
I made this last night for Greek Easter and it was amazing! Only thing is, I had a 5,5 lb bone-in leg and after 3,5 hrs it was good to go.
I’m glad you liked it Nick and thanks for that feedback! N x