Lamb Tacos

If you love tacos (who doesn’t), you’ll fall in love all over again with these Lamb Tacos! So flavourful and juicy, so easy and ready in 30 minutes! Don’t miss this recipe!

This recipe is sponsored by The American Lamb Board. All opinions are my own. 

Ever since our Lamb Birria Tacos we couldn’t resist but make tacos with lamb meat. Lamb tacos are bold, juicy, deeply flavorful tacos made with seasoned lamb, typically ground lamb or slow cooked shredded lamb, wrapped in warm tortillas and topped with fresh, vibrant ingredients.

Unlike traditional beef tacos, lamb tacos offer:

• Richer flavor
• Natural tenderness
• Mediterranean and Middle Eastern versatility
• Elevated, restaurant quality appeal

What Are Lamb Tacos?

Lamb tacos are a fusion style taco using lamb instead of beef, pork, or chicken. They feature ground lamb, of course we use American Lamb that is spiced up so beautifully. Now add in some sweet pineapple salsa (mango is another fabulous salsa to make here), luscious Avocado Crema and you’re in for a treat!

Lamb is widely used in:

• Mediterranean cuisine
• Middle Eastern cuisine
• North African cuisine
• Greek cuisine

While tacos originate from Mexican cuisine, fusion of this popular dish has become so widely admired.

This is a weeknight dinner favorite, and a fun way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with a bang. We love Mexican inspired dishes like these Sheet Pan Fajitas, Carne Asana Fries, Crunchwrap Supreme and we love them even more when made with Lamb!

Why You’ll Love Lamb Tacos

• Bold, elevated flavor
• Easy weeknight dinner
• Keto friendly option (without tortilla)
• High protein
• Customizable toppings
• Great for entertaining
• They feel gourmet but are easy to make and cook quickly.

Lamb Tacos Ingredients:

• American Lamb : we use ground lamb for ease and convenience.
• Tortillas: Corn tortillas or Flour tortilla, use your favorite.
• Onions
• Easy Homemade Taco seasoning or spicesSalt and Pepper
  Cumin
  Chipotle Powder
  Mexican Oregano
  Chilli Powder
  Garlic Powder
  Onion Powder
• Garlic
• Cilantro
• Lime juice
• Pineapple Salsa
  Pineapples
  Lime Juice
  Cilantro
  Salt and Chilli powder
  Minced Jalapeno
  Minced red onions
  Olive Oil
• Avocado Crema or Mexican crema
• Avoados
  Sour Cream
  Lime Juice
  Jalapeños
  Cilantro
  Seasoning

Choosing Ground Lamb

Look for:

• Bright red color
• Fine but visible fat
• Fresh smell

Fat Content:

• 80/20 ideal for tacos
• Too lean and the tacos will become dry
• Too fatty will give you greasy tacos

How to Make Lamb Tacos

Here’s how to make the best Lamb tacos:

Start by cooking the onion in olive oil for 2-3 minutes until softened and translucent.

Add in the ground American Lamb along with garlic and taco seasoning mixture.

Cook the taco meat until browned. This should take around 5-6 minutes on high heat. USDA recommends ground lamb reach an internal temp of 160F.

At that point add in the cilantro and the taco meat is ready.

Make the Pineapple Salsa by mixing all ingredients in a bowl.

For the Avocado Crema, you’ll need a food processor to mix all ingredients until smooth. 

Assemble the Lamb Tacos

Use your favorite tortillas: corn or flour tortillas are both great here. Also feel free to char them like we did or keep them as is. If you prefer a hard shell taco, use those too! 

Spread a thin layer of the avocado cream at the bottom of each tortilla.

Top with the cooked taco meat.

Add some pineapple salsa.

Finish with some more lamb mixture, cilantro leaves, sliced jalapeños, lime juice and chilli flakes.

Seriously the BEST! Enjoy them right away! 

You can definitely prepare the Lamb taco meat ahead of time, the salsa and avocado crema too. Just make sure to assemble the tacos right before serving.

Look at that perfect lamb taco bite! SO GOOD!! 

Lamb Taco Tips

• Here’s why we always say buy American lamb. American Lamb is local and as fresh as can be. You’re not only buying quality, tasty lamb, but you also support the thousands of local ranchers and farmers that work long hours, pour their hearts out everyday generation after generation.
• I’m always fascinated each time I visit an American Lamb ranch. The families and their stories, their history, their hard work and love for what they do is heartfelt. The lamb grown in the US is high quality!
• So do ask your butcher or meat department at the grocery store before buying so you know you’re buying the best lamb there is. 
• You can prepare the taco meat three months in advance and freeze it. Heat up the meat in a skillet or microwave before serving. 
• The lamb taco Meat is great served over rice, salad, pasta, ramen, pizza, and much more! It’s a great meal prep option.
• The pineapple salsa can be made two days in advance and stored in the fridge. And the avocado cream can be made up to 4 days in advance.
• Tacos are best enjoyed right away so make sure you assemble before serving.
• Make sure you keep extra sauces on the side! No one can say no to more flavor!

Lamb Tacos Variations

• Mediterranean Lamb Tacos: Add feta cheese, cucumber, mint, and yogurt sauce.
• Greek Lamb Tacos: Use oregano,  tzatziki and tomato.
• Spicy Lamb Tacos: add harissa aioli or chipotle.
• Lamb Barbacoa Tacos: Slow cook lamb shoulder with spices.
• Keto Lamb Tacos: Serve in lettuce wraps.
• Lamb Street Tacos: Small corn tortillas, simple onion and cilantro topping.
• Indian inspired Lamb Tacos: Add garam masala and yogurt mint sauce.

Storage & Reheating

• Store cooked lamb in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days
• Reheat:in a skillet over medium heat adding a small splash of water or broth
• Freezing: Freeze cooked lamb up to 3 months
• Do not freeze assembled tacos.

Why do my lamb tacos taste greasy?

• Too high fat ratio
• Didn’t drain excess fat
• Too much sauce

Do lamb tacos taste gamey?

• Overcooked
• No acid added
• Poor quality lamb, always buy local fresh American lamb

What if the lamb is dry?

• Cooked too long
• Lean lamb
• High heat without fat

Why are tortillas breaking?

• Not warmed
• Using old tortillas

They taste bland, why ?

• Under seasoned
• No acid was added

Are lamb tacos healthy?

Yes, in moderation. Lamb is high in protein and iron but also higher in fat.

What seasoning is best for lamb tacos?

Cumin, coriander, paprika, oregano, garlic, and chili flakes.

Do lamb tacos taste gamey?

Not when you buy local fresh lamb and then get it  properly seasoned and balanced with acid.

What sauce goes best with lamb tacos?

Yogurt based sauces like tzatziki or garlic yogurt or our Harissa Aioli

Can I use shoulder instead of ground?

Yes, slow cook and shred.

What temperature should the meat be cooked to?

Ground lamb should reach 160°F.

Are lamb tacos better with corn or flour tortillas?

Corn for traditional texture,  flour for softness.

Can you make lamb tacos ahead of time?

Yes , always store filling separately and assemble fresh.

Cooking Safety

• Ground lamb must reach 160°F internal temperature.
• Avoid cross contamination with raw meat.
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Ground Lamb Recipes

• Lamb Sausage
• Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with Lamb Crumbles
• Smashed Potatoes With Spicy Lamb
• Juicy Spicy Turkish Meatballs
• Turkish Pizza Lahmacun
• The Best Lamb Burgers Loaded with Nachos
• Ultimate Lamb Kabab Platter
• Pita Bowl
• Moroccan Lentil Soup
• Lamb Meatball Subs On The Grill

5 from 15 votes

Print

Lamb Tacos

If you love tacos (who doesn’t), you’ll fall in love all over again with these Lamb Tacos! So flavourful and juicy, so easy and ready in 30 minutes! Imagine ground lamb, of course we use American Lamb that is spiced up so beautifully. Now add in some sweet pineapple salsa (mango is another fabulous salsa to make here), luscious Avocado Crema and you’re in for a treat!

Course Main Course, Main Dish, street food

Cuisine American, Mexican, TexMex

Keyword ground lamb recipes, how to make tacos, lamb, Lamb recipes, taco night, taco recipe, tacos

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 276 kcal

Author Mahy

Ingredients

• 1 pound American Lamb - ground
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup cilantro minced

Taco Seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon adobo powder

Pineapple Salsa

• 1 cup diced pineapple 1/4 inch dices
• 1/3 cup cilantro minced
• 1/2 cup red onions minced
• 1 jalapeno minced
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt and chilli powder

Avocado Crema

• 1 large avocado peele and pitted
• 1 large jalapeño more or less to taste
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cilantro leaves
• 2-3 tablespoons water to thin out the sauce if you need to.

Assemble the Tacos

• Tortillas corn, flour or hard shell
• Cilantro leaves
• Lime wedges
• Jalapeno slices
• Chilli flakes

Instructions

1. Make the Lamb Taco meat: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
2. Add in the onions and cook for about 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. To the onions, add in the lamb meat, the taco seasoning and garlic. Mix all together and cook over medium high heat for 6-8 minutes while mixing. USDA recommends ground lamb reach an internal temperature of 160F.
4. When the lamb is cooked through, add in the cilantro and turn off the heat.
5. To make the pineapple salsa: mix all ingredients together in a bowl and adjust the seasoning.
6. For the Avocado Crema: Add all ingredients in a bowl of a food processor and process until a smooth creamy sauce is formed.
7. To assemble the tacos: use you favorite type of tortilla, you may choose to char or not to.
8. Spread a layer of avocado cream at the bottom of the tortilla.
9. Tope with a generous amount of taco meat.
10. Top with the pineapple salsa.
11. Add more taco meat, extra avocado crema, more cilantro, chilli flakes, lime wedges and your favorite taco toppings.
12. Enjoy right away

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Lamb Taco Tips

• Here’s why we always say buy American lamb. American Lamb is local and as fresh as can be. You’re not only buying quality, tasty lamb, but you also support the thousands of local ranchers and farmers that work long hours, pour their hearts out everyday generation after generation.
• I’m always fascinated each time I visit an American Lamb ranch. The families and their stories, their history, their hard work and love for what they do is heartfelt. The lamb grown in the US is high quality!
• So do ask your butcher or meat department at the grocery store before buying so you know you’re buying the best lamb there is. 
• You can prepare the taco meat three months in advance and freeze it. Heat up the meat in a skillet or microwave before serving. 
• The lamb taco Meat is great served over rice, salad, pasta, ramen, pizza, and much more! It’s a great meal prep option.
• The pineapple salsa can be made two days in advance and stored in the fridge. And the avocado cream can be made up to 4 days in advance.
• Tacos are best enjoyed right away so make sure you assemble before serving.
• Make sure you keep extra sauces on the side! No one can say no to more flavor!

Lamb Tacos Variations 

• Mediterranean Lamb Tacos: Add feta cheese, cucumber, mint, and yogurt sauce.
• Greek Lamb Tacos: Use oregano,  tzatziki and tomato.
• Spicy Lamb Tacos: add harissa aioli or chipotle.
• Lamb Barbacoa Tacos: Slow cook lamb shoulder with spices.
• Keto Lamb Tacos: Serve in lettuce wraps.
• Lamb Street Tacos: Small corn tortillas, simple onion and cilantro topping.
• Indian inspired Lamb Tacos: Add garam masala and yogurt mint sauce.

Storage & Reheating

• Store cooked lamb in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days
• Reheat:in a skillet over medium heat adding a small splash of water or broth
• Freezing: Freeze cooked lamb up to 3 months
• Do not freeze assembled tacos.

Why do my lamb tacos taste greasy?

• Too high fat ratio
• Didn’t drain excess fat
• Too much sauce

Do lamb tacos taste gamey?

• Overcooked
• No acid added
• Poor quality lamb, always buy local fresh American lamb

What if the lamb is dry?

• Cooked too long
• Lean lamb
• High heat without fat

Why are tortillas breaking?

• Not warmed
• Using old tortillas

The tacos taste bland, why ?

• Under seasoned
• No acid was added

Are lamb tacos healthy?

Yes, in moderation. Lamb is high in protein and iron but also higher in fat.

What seasoning is best for lamb tacos?

Cumin, coriander, paprika, oregano, garlic, and chili flakes.

Do lamb tacos taste gamey?

Not when you buy local fresh lamb and then get it  properly seasoned and balanced with acid.

What sauce goes best with lamb tacos?

Yogurt based sauces like tzatziki or garlic yogurt or our Harissa Aioli

Can I use lamb shoulder instead of ground lamb?

Yes, slow cook and shred.

What temperature should lamb tacos be cooked to?

Ground lamb should reach 160°F.

Are lamb tacos better with corn or flour tortillas?

Corn for traditional texture,  flour for softness.

Can you make lamb tacos ahead of time?

Yes , always store filling separately and assemble fresh.

Lamb Cooking Safety 

• Ground lamb must reach 160°F internal temperature.
• Avoid cross contamination with raw meat.
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Nutrition Facts

Lamb Tacos

Amount Per Serving

Calories 276 Calories from Fat 198

% Daily Value*

Fat 22g34%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 10g

Cholesterol 61mg20%

Sodium 460mg20%

Potassium 113mg3%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 408IU8%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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