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Leg of Lamb on red bordered plate garnished with rosemary

Instant Pot Leg of Lamb

Instant Pot Leg of Lamb is a super tender lamb leg roast that is braised with onion, rosemary, garlic, and other tasty seasonings. This pressure cooker leg of lamb is suitable for Easter, or any special occasion.

Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword pressure cooker leg of lamb recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings 6 - 8
Calories 622 kcal
Author Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 5 cloves Garlic, divided
  • 4 lbs Boneless Leg of Lamb (or bone-in)
  • 3 teaspoons Kosher Salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion, chopped
  • ½ cup Red Wine
  • 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
  • 2 sprigs Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth, low sodium
  • 2 teaspoons Red Wine Vinegar

(Optional) To Thicken - Mix Together

  • 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
  • 2 Tablespoons Cold Water

Instructions

  1. Slice 4 of the garlic cloves lengthwise. Pierce the lamb in several places and push the garlic slivers into the cuts. Then sprinkle 2 of the teaspoons of salt and the pepper over the entire roast.

  2. If the roast is coming apart from the bone being removed, tie it together with butcher's string.

  3. Turn on the pot's sauté setting. Wait for it to get hot, then add the olive oil. Place the lamb roast in the pot and let it brown for several minutes. Then turn it over and brown the other side. Remove it to a plate.

  4. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot, using a wooden spoon.

  5. Add the wine and continue to cook, still scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot (called deglazing).

  6. Add the rosemary and thyme sprigs, remaining teaspoon of salt, remaining clove of garlic (minced), chicken broth, and the red wine vinegar. Stir well. Then turn off the sauté setting.

  7. Add the lamb roast back into the pot.

  8. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button or dial. Then press the +/- button or dial to select 70 minutes (20-30 minutes for a rare roast). For a bone-in roast, select 85 minutes. This will yield a nicely fork tender leg of lamb. If your roast is larger than 4 lbs* (up to 6 lbs), increase the time by 5 minutes per pound. High pressure.

  9. The pot will take a few minutes to come to pressure. When cook time ends, let the pot sit undisturbed for 20 minutes (20 minute natural release, 10 minutes for a rare roast). Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to manually release any remaining pressure/steam. Turn off the pot.

  10. When the pin in the lid drops back down, open the lid. Carefully remove the roast to a platter and cover. Remove the herb stems from the pot.

  11. Skim the fat off the top of the liquid in the pot, or use a fat separator to defat the liquid.

  12. OPTIONAL: Return the liquid to the pot and turn on the sauté setting. Mix up a slurry of 1 Tablespoons corn Starch to 2 Tablespoons cold water. When the liquid is simmering, whisk in the slurry and stir until it thickens.

  13. Serve the roast sliced, with some of the defatted sauce over it.

Recipe Notes

*For leg roasts larger than 6 pounds, cut them in half and follow timing as directed.