Leftover Lamb Recipe: Lamb Sliders

I’m not one to let food go to waste, and love to get creative with refreshing last nights dinner. In this recipe for lamb leftovers, I’m using some tangy pickled red onions and a quick and easy sauce to make some bomb leftover lamb sliders.

The recipe for the lamb itself is a winner, and these lamb sliders are the perfect way to use any you have leftover. There’s no shortage of leftover lamb recipes on the internet, this one just happens to be a favorite of mine; why?

My love of sandwiches has been extensively documented on this site, so it’ll come as no surprise to you that my go-to for leftover leg of lamb is a slider dish. Deeply flavorful, with a bright tart garnish, this slider is perfect for just about any occasion.

Jump to Recipe

The unsung hero of this recipe is the sauce. Influenced by the flavors of Greece, it is the perfect compliment to thinly sliced lamb. That said, it’s also great of grilled lamb chops.

It’s a great recipe to serve at a backyard cocktail party, a tailgate, or any where you want effortless sophistication that doesn’t skimp on flavor.

The best part? This sandwich invites customization. Don’t like feta? Leave it off. Love the crisp mint flavor? Add a bit more to the sauce. My lamb slider recipe is meant to inspire you.

Lamb Slider Ingredients

• Cucumbers: There are countless varieties of cucumbers at the grocery stores and farmers markets. I like to use the seedless English variety for their sweetness. Seedless is helpful as well and conveniently they are available and just about any grocery store.
• Herbs: You’re definitely going to want to use fresh dill and mint in this sauce. I’ve used the dried versions in the past and while they’re still good, the fresh herbs really bring something a little extra. So, use fresh if you can get them.
• Garlic Paste: For simplicity I use the stuff that comes in a tube, but you could also make fresh paste if you have garlic on hand. I don’t recommend using the pre-diced garlic in the tiny jars though, I find it’s just too bitter.
• Yogurt: If you’re counting calories, etc. you can try the low fat stuff, but I don’t recommend that either. Both the taste and texture are off so let your hair down and go with the whole milk yogurt.
• Pickled Red Onions: These really compliment the sliders, and about every other sandwich you might make. My recipe for quick and tangy pickled red onions is super simple, you’ll definitely want to keep a jar of these in your fridge.

How Long Does Leftover Lamb Last?

Leftover lamb is good for three to four days in the refrigerator, assuming of course it has been packaged correctly. I find it keeps best when placed in a zip top style plastic bag.

Seal the bag almost all the way closed, and then force as much air out of the bag as possible before quickly sealing it completely. Removing the air is key to keeping the lamb as fresh as possible.

If you have a vacuum sealer, that’s even better — especially if you plan to freeze the leftover lamb. I’ve frozen it for several months in a vacuum sealed bag and found the quality to still be fine when used in any recipe for lamb leftovers.

How To Reheat Lamb Without Drying It Out

Leg of lamb can get dry quickly when reheating in the microwave, so I don’t recommend that. Instead, place the lamb in an oven safe vessel and add half a cup of chicken or beef stock.

Cover the vessel and place in an oven preheated to 300 °F for about 15 minutes. The lamb will be nicely heated though and will maintain moisture from the stock steaming away in the pan.

Lamb Slider Recipe

Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 mins.
Ingredients
2 lbs thinly sliced leg of lamb
8 slider rolls
Pickled red onions
16 Oz. crumbled feta cheese

Sauce:
1 cup whole milk plain yogurt
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Zest from one lemon
2 tbsp cucumber, finely diced
1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
2 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper

How To Make Lamb Sliders

Step 1: In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for sauce, whisk together thoroughly, and set aside.

Step 2: Separate slider rolls and place equal amounts of thinly sliced warm lamb on each bottom bun.

Step 3: Top boneless leg of lamb with desired amount of feta, pickled red onions, and sauce. I love cheese, so I tend to go heavy on the feta here. If you’re looking for a brighter flavor, play around with the proportions of pickled red onions and sauce you use.

Step 4: Top with top bun, and serve.

Lamb is a wonderful ingredient to work with, and combining it with a bright mint yogurt sauce and pickled red onions really compliment the flavors of leftover lamb.

So quick and easy, this is the ideal recipe for a busy weeknight or for a large party. Make these sliders the next time you’re planning a get together and watch how quickly they’re gobbled up.