Smoked Lamb Shoulder Recipe

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Smoked Lamb Shoulder is an absolute treat. This slowly smoked lamb shoulder recipe is spritzed with a savory mix of apple cider vinegar and juice, and then pulled for tender and flavorful lamb. This recipe is a great one for your next summer cookout!

A smoked lamb shoulder cooking on a pellet grill
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Recipe Highlights

  • Lamb Shoulder needs a low and slow cooking method, either on a smoker or in some braising liquid for the tender pulled texture.
  • The lower temperature slowly renders the intramuscular fat for a juicy and tender bite.

It’s common to hear folks dismiss the flavor of lamb. This is unfortunate, as it can be absolutely incredible when done right (and sourced from quality meat). This misconception often comes from the experience of eating overcooked lamb, or even mutton (meaning lamb that is over 1 year old, and thus not officially “lamb”).

The idea for this lamb shoulder recipe was inspired by how we smoke pork shoulder. The technique is identical and the flavor is out of this world, especially when you start with a high-quality lamb.

Ingredients

  • Lamb Shoulder – It’s most likely you will find boneless lamb shoulder, and we recommend it so you don’t have to cut away the bones.
  • Binder – We use extra virgin olive oil to help bind the seasoning to the shoulder. You can also use chicken stock, mustard, or other liquids that you like the flavor.
  • Seasoning – Our favorite lamb seasoning is our pork seasoning, which has sugar, herbs, and savory spices. It also has a good portion of kosher salt.
  • Spritz – Spraying flavored liquid onto the lamb while it smokes helps the smoke and flavor stick to the meat. We use apple cider vinegar and apple juice.

What is Lamb Shoulder

Lamb Shoulder, as implied by the name, comes from the upper portion of the leg of a lamb. Most often it’s from the front legs and can also be called lamb arm. It’s similar to the pork butt in that it is a muscle that gets a lot of movement, which makes for a tough cut.

The meat is tough if you just grilled it hot and fast, therefore it really needs to be slowly braised or slowly smoked in order to render out the intramuscular fat resulting in that soft delicious texture.

As it smokes, it also mellows out the unique and often gamey flavors that can come from lamb. But those signature flavors will also vary from rancher to rancher, so don’t assume a fresh lamb is going to be gamey at all.

Buying Lamb Shoulder

Lamb shoulder will either come bone-in or boneless. We have smoked both and found that buying boneless is much easier for consistency in size and for the pulling process after it’s done. For the price of lamb, it also cuts back on the per pound price that you would pay for by adding the bone.

Consider buying from a reputable butcher, where they know the lamb rancher. This assures that the lamb will be fresh and less than 1-year old sheep. The older the lamb and as it crosses the 1-year threshold, the more it can take on the more pronounced flavor of mutton. You can read more about lamb in our recipe for leg of lamb.

Preparation

For this lamb shoulder recipe, we are preparing a boneless lamb shoulder.

  1. Start by removing the butcher twine holding it all together. Do this to open the meat up for trimming and seasoning. Lay it out flat on a sheet pan.
  2. Next trim away any excess fat on both sides of the shoulder or cartilage using a good quality filet or boning knife.
  3. Coat both sides of the lamb with olive oil and lamb seasoning. If you want a more savory rub with no sugar, consider our herb-focused chicken seasoning.
  4. Tie the lamb back up again with more butcher twine tightly so it’s one uniform roast as you put it on your smoker.
Three photos, side by side, demonstrating how to prep lamb shoulder for the smoker

Now it’s time to smoke the lamb shoulder.

How to Smoke Lamb Shoulder

A smoked lamb shoulder cooking on the grill
  1. Prepare your smoker targeting 250 degrees Fahrenheit (F) using fruit wood, like apple or cherry. Alternatively oak or hickory are good options. We find mesquite a little too smoky for lamb.
  2. Place the lamb shoulder on the smoker and smoke for three hours. Insert an instant-read Bluetooth thermometer, like the Thermoworks Smoke Unit, to monitor the internal temperature. In this phase, the smoked lamb will start to turn red and develop a bark.
  3. After three hours, start to spray the shoulder with the spritz. The spritz adds some moisture to the smoked lamb and helps the smoke molecules to stick to the meat. Make sure to use a food-safe spray bottle for this.
  4. After spritzing for two to three hours (five to six hours total) the internal temperature of the shoulder should be at, or around, 165 – 170 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, wrap the shoulder in butcher paper or aluminum foil and place it back into the smoker to continue cooking.
  5. Place the thermometer probes back into the shoulder and continue smoking until the internal temperature of the lamb reaches 200 – 205 degrees F. You know it’s done when somewhere in that range an instant-read thermometer can probe the meat with no resistance, much like the feeling of room temperature butter (i.e. it should feel soft and tender). We use the Thermoworks Thermapen One.
  6. Remove the roast and then let it rest for 30 minutes. Then remove and pull the meat.

Chefs Note

If the smoked lamb is done earlier than you want to serve, then store the lamb wrapped (not pulled) in a cooler with no ice for up to four hours. This will hold the temperature until ready to pull and serve.

Pulling

Using two large forks, or a pulled pork shredding tool, gently pull at the edges of the shoulder. If you pulled while probe tender, the meat should easily come off. As you shred, remove any cartilage or leftover fat pockets and discard.

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Pulled Smoked Lamb Shoulder on a sheet pan

Saucing

There are a number of sauces we would recommend. If using a sauce, just toss it with the warm pulled lamb. Note that we aren’t using mint.

Serving Suggestions

To stretch your dollar you can serve it as an appetizer and place on a crostini, similar to this brisket crostini recipe. You can also use it for a pizza or lamb sliders.

But one of our favorite uses is to serve it in pita bread with a little bit of tzatziki sauce. The smoky and super tender meat is nicely balanced by the fresh and cooling tzatziki. Just fill some pita bread with some crunchy greens, and a hefty amount of pulled lamb, and top with your favorite tzatziki recipe.

Smoked Lamb Pitas
After pulling the lamb, consider pulled lamb pitas.

Frequently Asked Questions

how long does it take to smoke lamb shoulder

Plan 30 minutes per pound for smoked lamb shoulder at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also about the same time if you choose to smoke at 225 degrees F.

should you wrap lamb when smoking

Yes, we recommend wrapping after the lamb has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This will speed up the smoking process and lock in the juices. You will lose a slight bit of the bark but it’s a good tradeoff.

is lamb a good meat to smoke

Lamb is a perfect meat to smoke low and slow. It brings out the rich flavor with the added smoke flavor profile.

What To Serve With Pulled Lamb

Whenever we serve pulled lamb shoulder we like to add a rich side dish and pair with wine.

Wine Pairing for Lamb Shoulder

For the lamb alone I loved it with a nice Pinot Noir (I vote Oregon Pinot for the balance of earthy and fruity flavors). But with pitas, smothered in that bright citrusy and herbal tzatziki sauce, it works surprisingly well with a bright and fruity rosé.

Side Dishes

More Lamb Recipes


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About Vindulge

Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.

*This post was originally published April of 2016 and updated June of 2021 with more recipe details, how to instructions. The recipe remains the same.

A smoked lamb shoulder cooking on the grill
4.50 from 6 votes

Smoked Lamb Shoulder Recipe

How to smoke a lamb shoulder and what to do with it after it's cooked.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 hours
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total: 10 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

  • Butcher Twine
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Ingredients 

For the Smoked Lamb Shoulder:

For the Spritz:

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup apple juice

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat Smoker: Prepare your smoker targeting 250 degrees Fahrenheit (F) using fruit wood, like apple or cherry. Alternatively oak or hickory are good options. We find mesquite a little too smoky for lamb.
  • Prep Lamb: Start by removing the butcher twine. Lay the meat out flat on a sheet pan. Next, trim away any excess fat on both sides of the shoulder or cartilage using a good quality filet or boning knife. Coat both sides of the lamb with olive oil and dry rub. Tie the meat back up again with more butcher twine tightly so it’s one uniform roast as you put it on your smoker.
  • Smoke: Place the lamb shoulder on the smoker and insert an instant-read Bluetooth thermometer, like the Thermoworks Smoke Unit, to monitor the internal temperature. Smoke for three hours. In this phase, the lamb will start to turn red and develop a bark.
  • Spritz: After the first three hours, start to spray the shoulder with the spritz. The spritz adds some moisture to the lamb and helps the smoke molecules to stick to the meat. Make sure to use a food-safe spray bottle for this.
  • Wrap: After spritzing for two to three hours (five to six hours total) the internal temperature of the shoulder should be at, or around, 165 – 170 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, wrap the shoulder in butcher paper or aluminum foil and place it back into the smoker to finish cooking.
  • Place the thermometer probes back into the shoulder and continue smoking until the internal temperature of the lamb reaches 200 – 205 degrees F. You know it’s done when somewhere in that range an instant-read thermometer can probe the meat with no resistance, much like the feeling of room temperature butter.
  • Remove and Rest: Remove the roast and then let it rest for 30 minutes, then pull the meat.

Notes

Buying: Consider a boneless lamb shoulder. Be sure you have butcher twine at home. 
Pulling: Using two large forks, or a pulled pork shredding tool, gently pull at the edges of the shoulder. If you pulled while probe tender, the meat should easily come off. As you shred, remove any cartilage or leftover fat pockets and discard. 
Chef’s Note: If the lamb is done earlier than you wish to serve, then store the lamb wrapped (not pulled) in a cooler with no ice for up to four hours. This will hold the temperature until ready to pull and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 152mg | Sodium: 167mg | Potassium: 739mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 hours
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 10 hours 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: barbecue, bbq, grilling
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 378
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!


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Vindulge

About Mary


I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!

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35 Comments

  1. Any idea how long it takes to smoke a 3 lb lamb shoulder instead of the 5 lbs listed in your recipe? I can’t seem to find that anywhere online. Ours just went in the smoker, so I’ll go by temperature, but figured I’d ask in case anyone else might be wondering. Thanks!

    1. Jay sorry we missed this. I imagine a 3 pound shoulder will likely take a similar amount of time with the stall. How long did yours take?

  2. To achieve a softer, braised style of pulled lamb, which type of braising liquid would you suggest?

    1. Michael – we love the following for it’s simplicity and we use it with our beef short ribs. https://www.vindulge.com/smoked-beef-short-ribs/

      We also have a recipe in our cookbook with a lamb shank that follows a general format of a Coq au Vin with carrots, celery, onion, chicken stock, and herbs too. But the wine bath from our short ribs is super rich and instead of wrapping you can place the wine bath and shoulder in a pyrex dish, cover in foil, and finish.

    2. Bluegrass Black Dip-
      2 cups water
      1/4 cup Worchestershire sauce
      1/4 cup cider vinegar
      2 teaspoons lemon juice
      1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
      1 teaspoon black pepper
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      1/2 teaspoon onion salt
      1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
      1/4 teaspoon allspice powder
      Bring to a boil and slightly reduce….

  3. So, we had a boneless leg of lamb in the freezer for awhile and figured Easter would be a great time to try it out. I found your recipe and injected it, seasoned, then smoked. The only thing is I was reading your directions to bring it to 165, then wrap and pull it once it hit 195. I started questioning this as that seems too well done per my liking, and most other recipes call for a final temp between 145-165. I ended up pulling it off at 166, unwrapped, and let it rest for only about 10min. It ended up coming out really good & everyone liked it, but I would say it was closer to medium well to well done with not much red in the middle. I’ll do the lamb again, but I think I will wrap it around 130 and pull it closer to 155 next time.

    1. You bring up a great point Russell, first, thank you for taking the time to comment. For this post we focused on pulled lamb shoulder, which is very similar to leg of lamb. Like comparing pork shoulder to ham. Similar cuts. But you bring up a great point, that if not pulling, you can totally cook like a steak. And leg of lamb is leaner than shoulder, just like pork shoulder. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

    1. So we pretty consistently use a fruit wood on lamb. Living in Oregon it’s most commonly apple or cherry. Sweeter and balances the lamb without the potential of too much smoke.

  4. 4 stars
    Hi. It does look very tasty. Some questions though:

    What does spritz mean? How do you”inject”? What is Kosher salt? Is it just blessed salt or something?

    1. Sven, all great questions:
      Spritz – this is a spray bottle of liquid you use to spray down the meat with flavor. A mop is similar, only you use a mop brush and dab the meat with it versus a spray bottle. An injection is literally a large meat syringe that you fill with liquid and then you add into the meat, it adds that moisture into the meat while it cooks. Kosher salt is a large grain or coarse salt. I believe that most kosher salts are called that because it’s used to draw out blood in koshering meat, not that it’s actually “kosher”, but not sure. I know I like it because of it’s size of grain and no iodine.

  5. Giving it a bash tomorrow. Not much of a rosรจ drinker, but I’m sure a few frosties are interchangeable.

    1. That’s great! I’d love to hear how it goes! And I forgive you for not being a rosรฉ drinker ๐Ÿ˜‰ Plenty of other good alternatives ๐Ÿ˜‰

  6. Oh my. Mary. This is drool-worthy! I love lamb, but have never tried smoked lamb shoulder, and I just LOVE this dish with the pita bread and tzatziki! YUM!