Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (2024)

Learn how to cook perfect Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe every time! Herb crusted and garlic stuffed, this is an easy lamb roast anyone can make!

If you have bone-in leg of lamb, use this leg of lamb recipe. We also absolutely love our braised lamb shanks!

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How to Cook Boneless Leg of Lamb
    • 1. Season with garlic and rosemary
    • 2. Roast uncovered
    • 3. Let meat rest and carve
    • 4. Roast potatoes in fat drippings (optional but so good)
  • How Long to Cook Boneless Leg of Lamb?
  • Tips for Foolproof Results
  • What to Serve with Leg of Lamb?
  • How to Store and Make Ahead
  • FAQs
  • More Roast Recipes to Try
  • More Lamb Recipes
  • Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe Recipe

My favorite way to celebrate anything is with this boneless leg of lamb recipe. I love roasting it because it’s so easy to make but looks grande on the table!

I created this recipe about 15 years ago. I make it for Easter dinner, Holidaysor whenever I need to leave a lasting impression. Works every time!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Easy to make: Boneless leg of lamb is actually the easiest red meat to roast. Lamb is expensive, so I understand your fear of “screwing it up”. You will not!
  • Tender juicy meat: Thanks to the precise cook times for your preferred level of doneness.
  • Garlic lovers’ dream: Stuffed with over 30 slivers of fresh garlic.
  • Foolproof recipe:This lamb recipe is 15 years old, tried and tested on our family.
  • Video: If you are more of a visual learner, video instructions will be helpful.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this recipe you will need 6 simple ingredients you more likely have on hand right now. General rule of thumb is to plan about 1/2 pound of roasted lamb per person.

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (2)
  • Boneless leg of lamb: It is a leg of lamb where bone has been removed and meat rolled, tied or netted into a shape of oval roast. You can find it in many grocery stores fresh or frozen, or in a butcher shop.
  • Garlic: Juicy, fresh and plump garlic cloves make all the difference. I don’t recommend to use garlic powder.
  • Dried rosemary: Dried rosemary is more convenient. However, you can use fresh rosemary if you wish and it will yield even more flavor. Or a mixture of both.
  • Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil goes well with lamb naturally. But you can also use avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
  • Salt and black pepper: To season and taste.

How to Cook Boneless Leg of Lamb

Here is a step-by-step process how to roast a boneless leg of lamb. Full recipe card is located below.

1. Season with garlic and rosemary

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (3)
  • Prep: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F while you are preparing the roast. Cut garlic into thin slivers.
  • Make holes in the roast: In a medium roasting pan or Dutch oven (no need for a rack but you can use one), place deboned leg of lamb roast and make about 20-30 inserts with a paring knife.
  • Stuff with garlic: Stick garlic slice into each opening until you run out of garlic.
  • Season with spices on both sides: Rub the roast with oil all around. Then sprinkle one side with half of rosemary, salt and pepper. Turn around and repeat on another side.

Fat Tip

Fat side up or down? Like with any roast, the best practice is to cook meat with fat side up, so it keeps it moist and juices locked in inside. It acts like a blanket.

2. Roast uncovered

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (4)

Bake lamb roast uncovered according the schedule below until desired doneness when checked with a quality meat thermometer.

Meat will keep “cooking” as it rests. Please keep in mind internal temperature will rise while meat is resting after baking in the oven.

3. Let meat rest and carve

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  • Important to let meat rest:Remove boneless leg of lamb roast from the oven and let rest uncovered for 15 minutes. Do not skip!
  • Remove casing: Transfer lamb roast on a cutting board. Using a sharp carving knife, remove the casing. I highly recommend to sharpen the knife before slicing, helps a lot not to destroy the roast.
  • Carving roast: Slice into 1/4 inch slices against the grain. Thin slices of lamb taste better than thick ones.

4. Roast potatoes in fat drippings (optional but so good)

Lamb is extremely fatty meat. You will see a lot of fat and drippings at the bottom of roasting pan. Take advantage of it to make lamb and potatoes (and other veggies), so good!

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (6)
  • Remove some fat and drippings: Scoop out 1 cup of drippings as it is just too much and roasted vegetables will come out too greasy. Not healthy and there is enough flavor in remaining juice and fat.
  • Add veggies and seasonings: I added about 2 pounds baby potatoes, 2 carrots, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 3/4 tsp salt and ground black pepper to taste. Then stir to coat.
  • Bake: At 450 degrees F for about 35 minutes or until fork tender. You can prep the veggies and seasonings while lamb is cooking, so after just pop them in without even turning off the oven.

Recipe Tip

Do not drain fat into your sink to avoid clogged pipes. Instead, let it solidify for a few hours in a cup before discarding in the garbage.

How Long to Cook Boneless Leg of Lamb?

Here is a handy boneless leg of lamb roasting times chart. Always check with a good internal meat thermometer. Cooking times are listed per 1 pound of meat.

Desired lamb donenessInternal TemperatureTime
Medium rare130F – 135F16 minutes/lb
Medium well140F – 145F18 minutes/lb
Well done150F – 155F20 minutes/lb

All ovens vary due to age, electric vs. gas etc. Not to mention convection oven cooks food faster. So check earlier than later!

My best advice is for 4-5 pounds roast to check internal temperature after 1 hour and go from there. For 2-3 pounds roast, check after 45 minutes. It all comes down to checking often after a certain period of time.

Tips for Foolproof Results

Here are the tips on how to cook perfect lamb roast every time!

  • Plan ahead: Roasting boneless leg of lamb in the oven is easy! It just needs enough cooking time. I recommend to plan ahead with this recipe. Just make sure you understand your dinner will be on the table in 2 hours if you roast lamb. I speak from my own experience.
  • Don’t remove the casing before cooking:Under any circumstances keep netting or rope on. It is what is holding pieces of meat together. If you remove it, meat will fall apart.
  • Bake roast uncovered: You need meat to brown on the outside, not steam. If you cover it with a lid or aluminum foil, roast will steam instead of roasting.
  • Adjust for your oven: All ovens vary, I can’t stress this enough! If your oven runs hotter or takes longer to cook, adjust cook time accordingly to avoid overcooked or undercooked lamb. Rule of thumb is to start checking with instant-read thermometer 1/2 hour before end of cook time as per recipe.
  • If you use a convection oven method: It cooks food faster than regular oven. To cook any recipe in a convection oven, follow this easy formula: reduce the temperature by 25 degrees F orreduce the cook time by 25%. Today some ovens even offer convection conversion completely eliminating any guesswork!
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What to Serve with Leg of Lamb?

Serve sliced boneless leg of lamb on its own, or drizzled with freshly squeezed lemon juice or fresh mint jelly. We usually have lemon on hand at all times, so it rounds up meat flavors nicely.

  • Sauces: Aside mint jelly and traditional gravy, chimichurri sauce adds bright tangy flavor to roasted lamb.
  • Potatoes: Lamb roast would be delicious with healthy mashed potatoes, Instant Pot mashed potatoes, sweet potato mash or this genius cauliflower mashed potatoes.
  • Salads: Look for salads that are bright and colorful like traditional Greek salad, spinach avocado salad, tomato cucumber feta salad or this spinach salad recipe.
  • Vegetables: Garlic green beans and baked asparagus are just classics. Also sauteed broccoli would be very nice!

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store: Refrigerate leftovers whole as a roast or sliced in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It tastes so good cold!

Freeze: Freeze leftover lamb sliced or cut into bite sized pieces in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator and then use as a protein in a salad for lunch, sandwich on-the-go or for lamb tacos!

Make ahead: To save time during a busy day of cooking of a holiday, you can stuff and season roast, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Then let it come to room temperature and roast as per recipe.

FAQs

Do I have to marinate this boneless leg of lamb?

No. Lamb is tender meat. You just need to season it properly. My absolute favorite classic seasonings are garlic and rosemary. Maybe a squeeze of lemon at the end. So, no lamb marinade recipe to follow.

Should leg of lamb be cooked covered or uncovered?

This leg of lamb recipe should be cooked uncovered.

What oven temperature should it be?

We cook this boneless leg of lamb roast at 425 F for the entire roasting time. It might seem high but trust me I have tested this recipe well. If you cook it at 300s F, roast will take hours and hours to cook through. It is quite thick piece of meat.

What is the cooking time for lamb per pound?

Lamb roast cooking time per pound depends on how well you like it done. For medium-rare cook for 16 minutes per pound, for medium-well cook for 18 minutes per pound, and for well-done it’s 16 minutes per pound.

What internal temperature should it be cooked to?

Internal temperature of lamb for medium-rare is 130-135F, for medium-well is 140-145F, and for well-done it’s 150-155F. But keep in mind that temperature will rise a bit more during rest time, so I recommend to remove lamb 5-10 F below your desired doneness.

More Roast Recipes to Try

  • Boneless turkey breast roast
  • Sirloin tip roast
  • Beef eye round roast

More Lamb Recipes

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (8)

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (9)

Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe

How to cook perfect Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe every time. Herb crusted and garlic stuffed, this is easy lamb roast recipe anyone can make!

4.99 from 177 votes

Servings 8

Calories 175

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Print RecipeSave RecipeRate Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

Boneless Leg of Lamb Roast

Roasted Potatoes After (Optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

  • In a medium roasting pan or Dutch oven, place boneless leg of lamb roast and make 20-30 inserts with a paring knife. Stick garlic slice into each opening until you run out of garlic.

  • Rub roast with oil all around. Then sprinkle one side with half of rosemary, salt and pepper. Turn around and repeat on another side.

  • Bake uncovered according until desired doneness. Remember meat will keep "cooking" as it rests.

    °Medium Rare:130 – 135 degrees F internal temperature – about 16 minutes/lb.

    °Medium Well:140 – 145 F internal temperature – about 18 minutes/lb.

    °Well-Done: 150 – 155 F internal temperature – about 20 minutes/lb.

  • My best advice for 4-5 lbs roast is to check internal temperature after 1 hour and go from there. For 2-3 lbs roast, check after 45 minutes. It all comes down to checking often after a certain period of time towards the end.

  • Remove lamb roast from the oven and let rest uncovered for 15 minutes.

  • Using a sharp knife, remove the casing and discard it.

  • Slice lamb into 1/4 inch slices against the grain. Serve warm at a celebration table or use cold leftovers in sandwiches or salads.

Roast Potatoes in Fat Drippings (Optional)

  • Scoop out 1 cup of fat and drippings from the pan and leave in the rest.

  • Add potatoes, carrots, garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir well.

  • Bake at 450 degrees F for about 35 minutes or until fork tender. You can prep the veggies and seasonings while lamb is cooking, so after just pop them in without even turning off the oven.

Video

Notes

  • Make ahead:To save time during a busy day of cooking of a holiday, you can stuff and season roast, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Then let it come to room temperature and roast as per recipe.
  • Store: Refrigerate roast whole or sliced in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It tastes so good cold.
  • Freeze: Freeze leftovers sliced or cut into bite sized pieces in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator.
  • Don’t remove the casing before cooking:Under any circumstances keep netting or rope on. It is what is holding pieces of meat together. If you remove it, meat will fall apart.
  • Adjust for your oven: All ovens vary. Rule of thumb is to start checking with internal meat thermometer 1/2 hour before end of cook time as per recipe.
  • Meat will keep “cooking” as it rests: Please keep in mind internal temperature will rise while meat is resting after baking in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 362mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: North American

Author: Olena Osipov

Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

Categories:
Christmas Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Easter Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Holidays, Mother’s Day, Pork and Lamb, Thanksgiving, Video

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe (Super Easy!) - iFoodReal.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the best temperature to cook a leg of lamb? ›

For a medium cooked lamb, which is perfectly pink on the inside, budget about 25 minutes per pound or until the internal temp registers somewhere around 130°F (about 1 ½ to 2 hours in a 325 degrees F-heated oven).

Should you sear leg of lamb before roasting? ›

For the perfect roast lamb, we recommend seasoning the surface of the meat, and then searing it, especially fat side down in a pan before roasting. Why bother with searing? Contrary to some stories, searing is less about locking in moisture, and all about improving the flavour!

How do you cook lamb so it's not chewy? ›

Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Rib chops should be cooked to about 130°F, while loin chops are better at 135°F or even 140°F.

How does Gordon Ramsay roast lamb? ›

And when you have a gorgeous cut, like a rack of lamb, you can cook it the good ol' Gordon Ramsay way—which is to say, lightly pan-sear it first, then baste it with an herby, garlicky butter, and finally finish it off in the oven until it's still pink and juicy in the middle. It comes out perfectly every time.

Does lamb leg get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The leg and rack of lamb are perfect for herb-crusting and oven-roasting; since the shank and shoulder are a bit tougher, they fare well in stews or braises—the long cook time allows them to significantly break down and become fork-tender.

Is it better to cook lamb slow or fast? ›

Slow cooking in liquid transforms tougher cuts of lamb into fork-tender meat. Neck, shoulder and belly, either diced or as whole joints, are the best cuts for slow cooking and need to be cooked for at least 2 hrs at 150°C to soften the meat.

What is the preferred cooking method for lamb? ›

The dry heat of roasting is best for tender cuts of lamb, like the leg, rack, and loin. If you'd like to roast a cut like a lamb shoulder, go for a long, slow roast. If you're cooking a bone-in leg, keep in mind that because of the thicker and thinner portions of the cut you'll get a range of doneness.

Should lamb roast be at room temperature before cooking? ›

Before roasting lamb, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. A piece of meat at room temperature will roast more evenly. Use a roasting rack to ensure even browning and heat circulation around the meat.

Do you need to soak lamb before cooking? ›

What do you soak lamb chops in? As you may already know, fat holds odors and flavors. Therefore, trimming as much fat as possible before cooking it's a great tip. To help in this process, it is recommended to soak the lamb chops in lemon water (or vinegar water) for 30 minutes.

What seasonings go well with lamb? ›

Fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt are simple but amazing flavors that pair amazingly with the lamb! Each of these ingredients adds its unique warmth and depth to enhance the flavor of the dish.

What can I add to lamb to tenderize it? ›

Tenderising lamb meat

Baking soda / bi-carb and cornflour/cornstarch are the secret ingredients that tenderise the lamb meat.

Why is my lamb roast always tough? ›

Lower temp = more succulent meat – Tough cuts like lamb shoulder need slow-cooking to tenderise them. The lower the roasting temperature, the less total moisture evaporation and thus juicier meat.

What makes lamb taste better? ›

The big, bold Lamb flavor goes well with spices like coriander seeds, cumin, curry powder, harissa paste, garlic, rosemary, oregano, thyme, black pepper, chilly flakes, and mint. Spices compliment Lamb, but it also holds its flavor with just salt and pepper.

Does boneless lamb cook faster? ›

Because the bone acts as an insulator, boneless lamb leg cooks faster than bone-in lamb leg, giving you more leeway in terms of hitting the exact doneness you want, but this advantage can be easily mitigated with careful monitoring and a good thermometer.

How do you keep lamb moist when cooking? ›

All the lamb needs is a sprinkle of salt and pepper, drizzle of olive oil. Add beef broth/stock and water into the pan (keeps everything all nice and moist + makes pan juices for gravy), cover then slow roast for 5 hours until tender and fall apart.

What is the best meat temperature for lamb? ›

Cook all raw lamb steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145° F (62.8° C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

Can you eat lamb at 135 degrees? ›

Medium Rare: Achieve a slightly more cooked but still pink and juicy result by cooking lamb to an internal temperature of 145°F (pull out at 135°F). Medium: For a more balanced and slightly pink interior, aim for an internal temperature of 160°F (pull out at 150°F).

Should a leg of lamb be at room temperature before cooking? ›

Immediately putting this large cut of meat in the oven after removing it from the fridge can lead to uneven cooking and an even longer cooking time. To ensure a leg of lamb cooks evenly, remove it from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for an hour before cooking.

What temperature is best for slow cooking? ›

Slow Cooking – Cooking Times of Different Types of Meat

The exact temperature at which different types of meat are cooked can be found in many charts and recipes, but is usually between 74 to 80°C for meat, 80 to 90°C for poultry and 56 to 60°C for fish.

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