Slow Cooker Lamb Tagine with Apricots

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-15 · Updated 2026-05-15

A comforting slow-cooked lamb tagine with dried apricots and warm North African spices. This Moroccan-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 440 minutes, pairs lamb shoulder, onion, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs, cut into 2-inch chunks lamb shoulder
• 1 large, diced onion
• 4 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 cup, chopped dried apricots
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup toasted, for garnish slivered almonds

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; brown 2 lbs lamb shoulder chunks in batches for 4-5 minutes per batch until caramelized on all sides; transfer to slow cooker.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add 1 large diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, and 1 tsp paprika; cook for 1 minute until spices release aroma.
4. Step 4: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste and 2 cups chicken broth to the skillet, scraping up browned bits; bring to a simmer then pour over lamb in the slow cooker.
5. Step 5: Add 1 cup chopped dried apricots, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the slow cooker; cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours until lamb is tender.
6. Step 6: Before serving, stir gently and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds for texture and brightness.