How to Cook Leg of Lamb for a Mouthwatering Feast
Learn how to cook a leg of lamb with our step-by-step tutorial and then take it to the next level with some of our favorite lamb recipes.
When it comes to showstopping roasts, main dishes featuring turkey, beef, or pork might be your first thought. If that's you, we're here to make a case for a leg of lamb. The juicy, tender cut of meat is served in Middle Eastern cuisines year-round, but it makes quite a stunning holiday feast.
It may seem a bit overwhelming to attempt to cook lamb for the first time. But we promise leg of lamb is an easy cut of meat that allows for even roasting and tons of flavor. Our Test Kitchen is here to teach you how to cook leg of lamb to juicy perfection. We also include the proper temperature to cook a leg of lamb and what temperature to follow for your preferred preparation (medium or medium-rare). You'll have an impressive roast to display on the dinner table.
How to Cook Leg of Lamb
Because lamb leg is a tender cut, marinating isn't necessary. (If you do so, be sure not to marinate for more than three hours.)
Step 1: Prep Lamb and Season
Take leg of lamb out of refrigerator an hour before cooking and allow it to reach room temperature. Preheat your oven to 325°F (low and slow is the key for a juicy, flavorful leg of lamb). Cut ½-inch-wide slits about 1-inch deep into the leg of lamb. Drizzle with lemon juice, then sprinkle the herb mixture (we like parsley and mint or basil) and seasonings over meat. Insert slivers of garlic from 1 to 2 cloves into the slits cut into the leg of lamb.
Related: How to Peel Garlic in 3 Easy Steps for Your Favorite Recipes
Step 2: Roast Leg of Lamb
Place meat on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast the leg of lamb for at least 2 hours (see chart below for exact cooking times). For the juiciest results, we prefer cooking a leg of lamb to a medium rare (145°F) or medium (160°F) internal temperature.
Step 3: Rest and Serve
Remove leg of lamb from the oven, cover it loosely with foil, and allow it to rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.
Test Kitchen Tip: To carve leg of lamb, turn meat so the bone is parallel to the cutting board. Slice through the bottom of the meat with your knife parallel to the bone, angling straight down.
Related: Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Marinade
How Long to Cook Leg of Lamb
Follow these guidelines for how long to cook leg of lamb to your desired wellness. Use the following chart and roast leg of lamb until the thermometer registers the temperature listed under "Doneness." The meat's temperature will rise to the standard for medium rare (145°F) or medium (160°F) during the time it stands resting after taking out of the oven (see resting step) above.
Lamb | Weight | Roasting Time | Doneness |
Boneless leg of lamb | 4 to 5 lb. 5 to 6 lb. | 1¾ to 2¼ hours | 135°F medium rare |
Leg of Lamb (with bone) | 5 to 7 lb. 7 to 8 lb. | 1¾ to 2½ hours | 135°F medium rare |
Leg of lamb, shank half | 3 to 4 lb. | 1¾ to 2¼ hours | 135°F medium rare |
Leg of lamb, sirloin half | 3 to 4 lb. | 1½ to 2 hours | 135°F medium rare |
How Long to Cook Leg of Lamb Per Pound
Depending on the size of the lamb leg, time may vary slightly—frequently check with a meat thermometer while roasting to avoid overdoing it. If you have a size different than listed in the chart above, use these times as a guide.
Rare: 125°F (about 15 minutes per pound)
Medium-Rare: 130°F to 135°F (about 20 minutes per pound)
Medium: 135°FF to 140°F (about 25 minutes per pound)
Well-Done: 155°FF to 165°FF (about 30 minutes per pound)
Test Kitchen Tip: Freeze lamb in slices wrapped in foil. To warm later, place foil-wrapped slices in a 350°F oven.
Related: How to Cook Rack of Lamb
How to Grill Leg of Lamb
Grill-roasting leg of lamb adds another dimension of flavor that is truly delicious. We recommend grilling leg of lamb using indirect heat to prevent the meat from cooking too fast on the outside before getting to the proper temperature. Use your favorite meat marinade, prep using the steps above, and get cooking by following these times to achieve your favorite leg of lamb temperature.
Boneless leg of lamb roast | 3 to 4 lb. 4 to 6 lb. | 1½ to 2¼ hours | 135°F medium rare |
Leg of lamb (with bone) | 5 to 7 lb. | 1½ to 2 hours | 135°F medium rare |
Buying Leg of Lamb
If you prefer a boneless leg of lamb, purchase without the shank attached. Bones often give the meat more flavor but make carving trickier.
If you're excited about cooking lamb and need more recipe inspiration, we recommend our Slow-Braised Lamb Shoulder Chops with Sherry. Or, try whipping up a batch of Greek Lamb Wraps using roasted lamb shoulder.
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