Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Garlic and Thyme
Tender lamb shoulder slow-roasted with garlic and fresh thyme, creating a deeply savory and aromatic centerpiece. This Mediterranean-inspired lamb recipe, ready in about 230 minutes, pairs bone-in lamb shoulder, garlic cloves, fresh thyme sprigs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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
- 4 lbs bone-in lamb shoulder
- 8 minced garlic cloves
- 4 fresh thyme sprigs
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/2 cup water
The roasting pan we’d use for this → Best Roasting Pans for 2026: Racks, Handles & Sizes for the Holiday Bird
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. Pat dry 4 lbs bone-in lamb shoulder and rub all over with 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tsp sea salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 8 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp lemon zest, and leaves from 4 fresh thyme sprigs.
- Step 2: Place lamb in a roasting pan and add 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan to keep the meat moist during cooking.
- Step 3: Roast uncovered for 3 to 3.5 hours, basting every hour with pan juices, until the lamb is fork-tender and the exterior is golden brown.
- Step 4: Remove lamb from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing against the grain. Serve with pan juices spooned over the top.







