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Slow Cooker North African Lamb

Slow cooker North African lamb is recipe will impress any guest. Flavorful and aromatic, the lamb is seasoned and then cooked until falling apart tender. The best part is your kitchen will smell amazing as it cooks. Instructions to make this easy easy lamb recipe in the Instant Pot are also included. 

side view shot of slow cooker north African lamb in a white bowl garnished with parsley

Ingredients For North African Lamb

  • Lamb Roast
  • Ras El Hanout Seasoning
  • Chickpeas
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Beef Broth
  • Onion 
  • Garlic
  • Dates

collage of ingredients for north african lamb

How To Make North African Lamb In The Slow Cooker

Making a tender lamb roast is easy, especially when you use the slow cooker. 

Prepare The Lamb

  1. Rinse & pat dry the lamb. Season the lamb generously with salt & pepper. 
  2. If using the homemade ras el hanout blend, mix together all of the spices in a small bowl. Season the lamb evenly and all over. Press the seasonings lightly into the lamb. 

Slow Cooker

  1. Add diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, chickpeas and broth to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well. 
  2. Add the prepared lamb on top of the food in the slow cooker.
  3. Cook HIGH 4-5 hours, LOW 8-9.
  4. Shred the lamb & stir in the chopped dates. 

Instant Pot

  1. Turn on the Instant Pot to sauté. Once hot, add the oil and the prepared lamb. Sear a few minutes on each side until browned. Remove the lamb and set aside.
  2. Add onion, and cook a few minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Turn off the Instant Pot.
  3. Pour broth and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Stir in the diced tomatoes and chickpeas. Add the lamb back to the pressure cooker.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 15 minutes per pound of meat. When cooking time is complete, let the Instant Pot naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.
  5. Open the lid. Shred the meat & stir in the chopped dates. 
overhead shot of uncooked north african lamb in a black slow cooker

before

overhead shot of cooked north african lamb in a black slow cooker

after

What Cut Of Lamb To Use

This North African lamb recipe is meant to use a leg of lamb. This can be bone-in or boneless. What you see in the pics is a 2.5-pound boneless leg of lamb. Technically almost any cut of lamb will work with this recipe whether it be leg of lamb or lamb chops. However, I do not recommend slow cooking rack of lamb. 

Slow Cooker Moroccan Pot Roast

Ras El Hanout Seasoning

The star of this North African inspired recipe is the ras el hanout seasoning. Ras el hanout is a common spice blend used frequently in North African cuisine. While there are similar or commonly used ingredients, there’s no exact measurements or specific spices that are used. What I love about ras el hanout seasoning is that everyone who makes it has their own unique spin on it. Personally, I can easily find ras el hanout at my local International market. I understand this might not be the case for everyone. Ras el hanout can be purchased online or you can make your own blend. Below and in the recipe box you will find my homemade ras el hanout seasoning mix. I created this rub a couple of years ago for a cooking contest. I didn’t win the contest (I was robbed ha) but it’s been my go-to rub ever since. 

overhead shot of cooked north african lamb in a black slow cooker

 

close up shot of slow cooker north African lamb in a white bowl garnished with parsley with a silver spoon

FAQs & Tips

  • Not a lamb fan? Substitute beef roast like chuck roast.
  • Make this recipe work for you. Don’t have dates? Use figs or dried apricots. 
  • Substitute potatoes for the chickpeas to make this recipe Whole30 compatible.
  • I like to serve this over couscous. 
  • I used a large 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

Lamb Recipes

Air Fryer Lamb Chops

Leg of Lamb

Lamb Shoulder

Air Fryer Kofta Kebabs

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side view shot of slow cooker north African lamb in a white bowl garnished with parsley

Slow Cooker North African Lamb

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

Slow cooker North African lamb is recipe will impress any guest. Flavorful and aromatic, the lamb is seasoned and then cooked until falling apart tender. The best part is your kitchen will smell amazing as it cooks. Instructions to make this easy easy lamb recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

  • Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 23 pounds leg of lamb
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes in their juices
  • 15 ounces canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 68 teaspoons ras el hanout seasoning (see below for homemade)
  • 2 ounces dates, pitted & chopped (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon oil (for Instant Pot)

Homemade Ras el Hanout

  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or less if you’re concerned about it being too spicy)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Prepare The Lamb

  1. Rinse & pat dry the lamb. Season the lamb generously with salt & pepper.
  2. If using the homemade ras el hanout blend, mix together all of the spices in a small bowl.
  3. Rub the seasons into the lamb evenly and all over. Press the seasonings lightly into the lamb.

Slow Cooker

  1. Add diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, chickpeas and broth to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  2. Add the prepared lamb on top of the food in the slow cooker.
  3. Cook HIGH 4-5 hours, LOW 8-9.
  4. Shred the meat & stir in the chopped dates.

Instant Pot

  1. Turn on the Instant Pot to sauté. Once hot, add the oil and the prepared lamb. Sear a few minutes on each side until browned. Remove lamb and set aside.
  2. Add onion, and cook a few minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Turn off the Instant Pot.
  3. Pour broth and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Stir in the diced tomatoes and chickpeas. Add the lamb back to the pressure cooker.
  4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook 15 minutes per pound of meat. When cooking time is complete, let the Instant Pot naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.
  5. Open the lid. Shred the meat & stir in the chopped dates.
  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 hours

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Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Allison R.

Monday 25th of September 2023

How much garlic is needed? The recipe says to add garlic, but it’s not on the ingredients list.

Shannon Epstein

Monday 25th of September 2023

Yikes. It's 3 garlic cloves, minced. Thank you for catching that. I updated the recipe accordingly.

Allison S

Wednesday 26th of July 2023

This came out absolutely delicious!

Jennifer Loveridge

Saturday 4th of April 2020

Great recipe. My husband wants it in the rotation. The kids liked it too. Will definitely make it again.

Lorenzo

Wednesday 2nd of January 2019

Talk about "Rockin the Kasbah!" This looks straight out of Marrakesh!