Video Instant Pot Irish Lamb Stew

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Instant Pot Irish lamb stew is a comforting meal full of tender lamb and vegetables. Making it in the Instant Pot means dinner is done easy!

I grew up in the Midwest, so winters for me are automatically associated with warm, hearty stews that have been simmering all day.

Of course, I don’t always have the opportunity to get dinner prepped before the day gets busy, so I often turn to my Instant Pot to get a hearty dinner on the table.

Meals like this slow everything down, even when they are made quickly.

I know some of you are tired of the Instant Pot trend, but I say this “trend” is as much here to stay as the slow cooker was when it was introduced.

We use ours nearly every day, from breakfasts like quiche and bacon and egg risotto, to dinners like this stew.

Irish lamb stew is very similar to classic beef stew, simply using lamb instead of beef. I like cooking with lamb meat for a nice change from beef, especially because it is a much more sustainable meat in terms of production.

The flavor is often much milder than you might expect, depending on the cut and preparation. All in all, it’s a great meat to add to your dinner rotation.

As with any delicious stew, leftovers will be even better the next day. And your lunch will already be done. Win all around.

How to make Irish lamb stew in the Instant Pot

First, chop your bacon, then add it to the Instant Pot and set to Saute mode. Cook until the fat is rendered and it is starting to crisp, stirring often to prevent sticking. This will take about 5 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Add the lamb and toss to coat.

Add the lamb to the Instant Pot and sear meat on all sides.

Pour in 1 cup of broth and scrape up the stuck bits at the bottom of the pot. This is called fond and adds a lot of flavor, so don’t skip this step!

Add the rest of the broth (and beer or wine if using), bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure it is set to Seal, not Venting. Switch it from Saute to Manual High Pressure and set the timer for 30 minutes.

While it cooks, chop your vegetables. I use onion, potatoes, and carrots. You can peel the potatoes and onions if you like, or just make sure they are clean.

Once the time is up, manually vent the pressure and open the lid. Add the veggies and reseal the lid, setting the timer for 10 minutes this time.

After 10 minutes, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the rest of the way.

Add salt and pepper to taste and serve!

tips for instant pot irish lamb stew

If you can’t find lamb stew meat at your grocery store, ask your butcher to cut a lamb shoulder cut for you.

Cut your vegetables approximately the same size for even cooking, otherwise you could end up with mushy ingredients.

Don’t forget to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot after sautéeing the lamb pieces. This makes the broth’s flavor richer, as well as thickening it just slightly.

Remove the bay leaves and stems from the rosemary and thyme before eating. If you prefer, you can use a bit of tied cheesecloth or empty teabag to create a bouquet garni that you can remove easily after cooking.

Serve the stew with biscuits, rolls, or crusty bread.