32 Ground Lamb Recipes That Will Help You Break Out of a Dinner Rut
You’ve cooked all your favorite chicken, salmon and beef dishes ten times over, so you’re eager for something new that will spice up your dinner rotation. Enter lamb: It’s a versatile protein that pairs beautifully with everything from hummus to pasta to mint jelly. And if you start with ground lamb, it’s a total breeze to prepare—and fast. Whether you grill it, bake it or add it to a stew, this secretly simple meat will quickly become one of your go-tos.
Here are 32 ground lamb recipes that will surprise and satisfy your guests every single time. (Not sure what to make first? Our faves include Lebanese meat pies, spiced meatball and escarole soup and spicy lamb grilled pizzettas.)
40 Lamb Recipes to Whip Up All Year Round, from Gyros to Pasta Bolognese
1. Antoni Porowski’s Moroccan-Style Pasta Bolognese
Paull Brissman/Antoni in the Kitchen
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friedly
This recipe doesn't ask more of you than spaghetti and meatballs, besides a bit of patience. The sauce is gently simmered for about three hours to deepen its flavor. Trust us—it's well worth the wait.
2. Spiced Meatball and Escarole Soup
Linda Pugliese/Help Yourself
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, high protein
Thanks to canned beans and quick-cooking veggies, this soul-soother only takes 45 minutes to come together. Even better, it cooks in a single large pot. The onions and tomato are cooked in lamb fat for maximum savoriness.
3. Meatballs in Sour Cherry Sauce
Feast: Food of the Islamic World
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
This Syrian-inspired dish is the ultimate starter for your next dinner party. The cherry sauce can be made with fresh or frozen fruit, so you can make it any time of year. Serve the meatballs with buttery pita and toasted pine nuts.
4. Oven-Baked Chicken Kofta Wraps
Kristen Kilpatrick/The Defined Dish
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
Chicken makes for a lighter dish, but the Middle Eastern staple is traditionally made from ground lamb or beef. Go ahead and deviate from the recipe by using exclusively ground lamb—or create a sampler of various proteins. (All three pair beautifully with the lemon-garlic aioli.)
5. Hummus and Spiced Lamb Sambusas
Photo: Mike Grippi/Styling: Caroline Lange
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
These handhelds are sort of like Ethiopia’s answer to Indian samosas. They’re flaky, expertly spiced and packed with ground lamb *and* your favorite hummus.
6. Baked Coconut-Curry Meatballs
Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Pro tip: Opt for baking the meatballs instead of pan-frying them. Not only will the oven help them hold their shape and moisture, but you’ll also save yourself from standing at the stove all night. Thank us later, friend.
7. Lamb Gyros
Spend with Pennies
Time Commitment: 10 minutes (with pre-cooked gyro meat)
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein
Pile ’em high with briny feta cheese, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, sharp red onion and alllll the creamy tzatziki. (Fries, pickles and falafel couldn’t hurt either.)
8. Spicy Lamb Grilled Pizzettas
The Defined Dish
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Decadent ricotta and mascarpone cheeses are just the cooling foils for smoky ground lamb. Pop the naan pizzas on the grill for a barbecue main your guests won’t see coming.
9. Grilled Ground Lamb Kofta Kebab
Wholesome Yum
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
Instead of rolling seasoned ground lamb into balls, mold it into flat, patty-like pieces on bamboo skewers. (This makes them a cinch to grill.) Soak your skewers for at least 30 minutes before using so they don't burn.
10. Slow Cooker Greek Tacos with Lamb
Cotter Crunch
Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, high protein
Complete with gluten-free corn tortillas, black olives and fresh produce. You can finish them with Greek yogurt, but we’re betting the usual Taco Tuesday condiments (like sour cream and guac) would still do the trick.
11. Borek
Recipe Tin Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Aka spiced lamb-filled filo pastry. The beyond-flaky swirled masterpiece is studded with pine nuts and currants, but the best part is that it’s served with lemon yogurt sauce for dipping. BRB, drooling.
12. Australian Lamb Meatballs with Buttery Lemon Orzo and Tzatziki Sauce
Dude That Cookz
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Substitute cauliflower rice for orzo to make this meal low carb, gluten free and keto-friendly. (Pasta or not, this powerhouse is already packed with satisfying protein.)
13. Lamb Pie
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, crowd-pleaser
You may think shepherd’s pie is filled with beef because that’s how your fave local pub makes it, but the O.G. actually starred minced lamb meat. This one boasts stout beer and a cheesy puff pastry top in place of mashed potatoes.
14. Lamb Burgers with Pesto Whipped Feta
The Almond Eater
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser
We promise even picky eaters won't miss humdrum beef. Catch us slathering the basil-infused cheese on grilled cheese sandwiches, stirring it into mac and cheese, stuffing it into chicken breasts and so much more.
15. Greek Lamb Lettuce Cups with Mint Yogurt Sauce
The Defined Dish
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, low carb, keto-friendly
They’re low-carb, satiating and ready to devour in 30 minutes—what more can you ask for in a weeknight dinner? (If you were thinking a creamy sauce and a generous dose of feta, this recipe has you covered there, too.)
16. Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Ground lamb is the most natural pairing for couscous, hummus, feta and cukes, but you could always use beef or chicken instead if your picky eaters protest. Whatever you do, don't skip the decadent avocado-yogurt sauce.
17. Lamb Burger with Harissa Mayo and Pickled Red Cabbage
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
The quick-pickled red cabbage slaw adds a refreshing, zingy je ne sais quoi to the handheld. Make it and the harissa mayo ahead to save time before dinner. That way, all you'll need to do is grill the burgers to charred perfection and assemble.
18. One-Pot Mediterranean Ground Lamb Pasta
Whitney Bond
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, one pot
Meaty baby bella mushrooms, Roma tomatoes and red wine get a distinctly Mediterranean makeover, courtesy of ground lamb, feta cheese and fresh mint. Top your plate with Parmesan and feta cheeses, sliced scallions and all the fresh mint.
19. Turkish Lamb Wraps
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
These beauties are finished with labneh, a type of strained yogurt that’s extra creamy and thick (yup, even more so than Greek yogurt). As for the filling, it stars warm-spiced lamb, fresh herbs, cucumber and onion.
20. Mediterranean Lamb & Couscous Stuffed Peppers
The Creative Bite
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly
Tell ground beef and cheddar cheese to make way for this Greek-inspired twist on a weeknight classic. Serve them piping hot with sides of tzatziki and vinegary cucumber-onion salad.
21. Hummus with Lamb
Recipe Tin Eats
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
This aromatic appetizer is a guaranteed home run. Save time by starting with store-bought hummus—just don’t skip the toasted pine nuts on top. You can also make your own hummus ahead, so all you need to do before your guests arrive is prepare the ground lamb.
22. Grass-Fed Lamb Meatballs
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, dairy free
The meatballs 1) are served atop a bed of egg noodles, 2) get doused in buttery gravy and 3) freeze like a charm. Need we say more? Think of this ground lamb recipe as a mushroom-less take on beef stroganoff.
23. Mediterranean Lamb Bowl
The Almond Eater
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, Paleo-friendly, high protein, <30 minutes
Because you can only stay excited about your daily Caesar salad for so long. Did we mention this protein-packed main is gluten free, dairy free (shoutout to coconut-mayo "tzatziki" sauce) and Whole30- and Paleo-friendly?
24. Pastitsio
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Think of this uber-rich baked dish as Greece’s equivalent to lasagna. We’re talking pasta mixed with red wine- and tomato-kissed lamb, coated in a thick layer of cheesy béchamel.
25. Gozleme
Recipe Tin Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, kid-friendly
This recipe for stuffed Turkish flatbread starts with the easiest pastry dough of all time. (Seriously—no yeast required.) If you're allergic to wheat, substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour.
26. Lebanese Stuffed Grape Leaves
Feel Good Foodie
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, gluten free, dairy free
Also called warak enab, these popular appetizers taste just as (if not more) delicious when they’re packed to the brim with ground lamb instead of ground beef. White rice and potatoes keep them carby and filling without the addition of wheat.
27. Lamb Meatballs with Mint and Pea Pesto Pasta
The Defined Dish
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, make ahead
This delightfully simple recipe screams spring. You can even prepare the pesto sauce ahead to lighten your load come dinnertime. Might we suggest making it the main event of your casual Easter menu?
28. Spiced Lamb-Filled Roasted Garlic Hummus
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, dairy free
Make this drool-worthy starter even easier to whip up: Trade top round lamb for ground lamb, so you won’t have to for the meat to marinate. The ground stuff cooks at lightning speed to boot.
29. Spaghetti and Moroccan Lamb Meatballs with No-Cook Romesco Sauce
Feed Me Phoebe
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free, beginner-friendly
You’re only a few pantry staples (roasted red peppers! sun-dried tomatoes! Marcona almonds!) and a blitz in the food processor away from the lightning-fast sauce. As for the meatballs, they're bound by egg and almond meal, so they're safe for gluten-allergic eaters.
30. Greek Moussaka
The Mediterranean Dish
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
This dreamy eggplant casserole is bursting at the seams with ground lamb meat sauce and nutmeg-laced béchamel. Let the moussaka sit for at least ten minutes before cutting it so it has time to set.
31. Lebanese Meat Pies
Feel Good Foodie
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly
Also called sfeehas, these hand pies are made with a simple yeast dough that turns crispy and brown in the oven. The filling calls for ground beef, but you could easily substitute ground lamb for more complexity. Serve them with plenty of yogurt dip.
32. Hashweh (Loaded Lebanese Rice)
The Mediterranean Dish
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Feed a full table with this side that's hearty enough to be a main. The ground lamb is cooked with warm spices until browned in a large pot. Then, it's topped with rice, more spices and water and boiled, so every grain is infused with fatty, savory flavor.
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