This no-fail roasted leg of lamb recipe, with a special Mediterranean seasoning, will give you the BEST lamb roast every single time. Follow my simple tips for how to cook lamb leg, so that it is tender and packed with loads of flavor. This lamb recipe comes with meltingly delicious potatoes for the perfect meal in one pan, and if you’re looking for some color and crunch, add a big Greek salad (more ideas below).
My go-to lamb roast
For some, beef tenderloin, roast turkey, or even ham may be the celebratory roast of choice. But where I come from, nothing beats a tender, oven-roasted leg of lamb for all occasions, but particularly for Easter. Not only is it delicious, but it makes a dramatic centerpiece for a special dinner, especially served over gold potatoes.
If you have not cooked lamb leg in the oven before, it is easier than most people think! With a simple technique and my bold, garlicky lamb seasoning, you will have the perfect lamb roast every time.
I’m excited to share my family’s go-to roast lamb recipe, but first some basics and no-fail tips for beginners.
What is leg of lamb?
Bone-in lamb leg is a large and impressive cut that comes from the back haunches of the animal, and it usually weighs anywhere from 5 to 7 pounds (a larger leg will serve up to 12 people). A boneless leg of lamb will weigh about 2 pounds less.
Lamb leg is usually sold without the shank. If you’d like to buy one with the shank attached (as I have in this recipe), ask for “shank-on leg” or “American leg.” A shank-on leg is beautiful for presentation, but that’s about it. So, if you’d rather have the shank removed, feel free to go with that! You will not compromise on flavor.
Expert tips for buying lamb leg
Lamb leg is available in most grocery stores at the meat counter. Here are some tips for buying lamb:
- Buy from a reputable butcher. This is not a cheap cut of meat necessarily, so buy from a place that you can trust, and ask all the questions you need to.
- Look for market weight. Avoid buying baby lamb or mutton, which is older and tougher meat.
- For less “gamy” taste ask the butcher to trim the fat. They will trim the thick outer layer of fat, which typically covers this cut of lamb and tends to make the meat taste strong and gamy. Keep in mind that a little bit of fat insulates the meat and keeps it nice and tender.
Best way to cook lamb leg
Whether boneless or bone-in, the perfect leg of lamb should be either oven-roasted until blushing pink on the inside (with an internal temp around 130°F) or roasted long and slow for several hours until the meat is very tender and falls apart to internal temp around 175°F (I often use the slow cooker for that).
In this recipe, I go for perfectly pink meat. A good meat thermometer will take the guesswork out of the equation and help you get perfectly pink lamb every time – no gray, rubbery meat here!
Remember that the roasted meat will rest for some time (at least 15 to 20 minutes or so) before serving. During this time, the meat will continue to cook, and its internal temperature will rise. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to take the lamb out of the oven just a tad before it reaches your desired doneness.
Cooking time for leg of lamb
How long the lamb will take in the oven depends on how you like it. 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 1/2 to 2 hours in a 325 degrees F-heated oven). And for falling apart lamb, budget about 40 to 45 minutes per pound or until the meat’s internal temp registers 175°F (this can take 5 to 6 hours in in a 325 degrees F-heated oven).
Internal temp guide for cooked leg of lamb
Always keep in mind, as mentioned earlier, the meat will rest for a bit after you take it out of the oven, and its internal temperature will rise as it sits. To me lamb leg is best when cooked to perfectly pink on the inside (internal temp somewhere around 130°F) or when cooked long hours until falling apart tender (internal temp somewhere around 175°F). Here is a quick table:
- Rare: About 15 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 125 degrees F.
- Medium-Rare: About 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 130°F to 135°F. About 1 1/2 to 2 hours or so.
- Medium: About 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 135°F to 140°F.
- Well-Done: About 30 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 155°F to 165°F.
- Falling-Apart Tender Lamb: About 40 minutes per pound or until the internal temp registers 175°F. This can take about 6 hours or so.
Should I marinate lamb leg before cooking?
You do not need to marinate lamb leg for long hours if you don’t have the time. But first, make sure you season the lamb well with kosher salt and black pepper. And for best flavor, give the meat a good rub with fresh garlic, spices, and dried herbs (see my lamb seasoning below). I like to make some slits in different parts of the meat to insert fresh garlic and some of the rub or seasoning – it makes a difference!
If you do have the time, you can let the meat sit in the seasoning for a few minutes or stick in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Ingredients: What you’ll need for this lamb roast recipe
There is the lamb, the Mediterranean seasoning, and if you like, potatoes and onions
- 4- to 5-pound leg of lamb bone-in, fat trimmed – Make sure a little fat remains, as this helps the meat remain juicy
- Extra virgin olive oil – Any rich, flavorful EVOO would work here
- Garlic cloves, peeled and sliced – To stick directly into small cuts made in the lamb meat.
- Gold potatoes and a yellow onion, peeled and cut into wedges (optional)
Seasoning
The Mediterranean lamb seasoning here is more of a wet garlic rub that is loaded with big Mediterranean flavors. Here is what’s in it:
- Whole garlic cloves, peeled
- Dried oregano
- Dried mint flakes
- Paprika
- Ground nutmeg
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice
How to make roasted leg of lamb:
Cooking lamb leg in the oven is easier than most people think. Here is the step-by-step tutorial for the perfect lamb roast (print-friendly recipe to follow):
- Take lamb out of the fridge. Be sure to take the lamb out of the fridge about 1 hour before cooking to get it closer to room temperature. This will help it reach a higher temperature faster in the oven, reducing cooking time and ensuring more juicy meat.
- Prepare the seasoning or rub. This rub is best prepared in a food processor. Combine 15 peeled garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons dried oregano, 2 tablespoons dried mint flakes, 1 tablespoon paprika, ½ tablespoon nutmeg, ½ cup olive oil and the juice of 2 lemons. Run the processor until the rub is smooth. Set aside for now.
- Salt and broil the lamb leg. Season the meat generously with kosher salt and black pepper. Place the lamb on a wire rack and place it on the top rack of the oven, under the broiler. Broil in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes on each side until it gets some color. It helps to rotate the lamb while it is under the broiler so it gains color evenly.
- Season the lamb. Remove the lamb from the oven and allow it to cool enough to handle. Peel and slice 5 garlic cloves. The slices should be quite large – even just halving each clove lengthwise would work. the wire rack with the lamb leg into a deep roasting pan and pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of the roasting pan. Make slits all over the meat and insert a slice of garlic into each one.Apply the wet rub to the lamb (make sure it is covered on all sides). Ensure the lamb is in the middle of the wire rack.
- Season the potatoes. After peeling and cutting 8 gold potatoes and 1 yellow onion into wedges, add them to a bowl and season with 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and some kosher salt. Arrange the potatoes and onions in the roasting pan around the lamb. (If you’re going for slow-roasted lamb, don’t add the potatoes to the pan yet).
- Roast (two options): For medium lamb (pink on the inside), cover the roasting pan with the meat and potatoes with foil (make sure it’s tented over so it doesn’t touch the lamb). Roast on the middle rack of a 325 degrees F-heated oven for 1 hour. Then remove the foil and roast for a little longer until you reach slightly less than your desired doneness. Be sure to check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to prevent over or undercooking.
For slow-roasted lamb (fall-apart meat), leave the potatoes out for now. Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (make sure it does not touch the lamb) then place the pan on the middle rack of the 325 degrees F heated-oven. Roast covered for about 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Add the potatoes and onions and return the pan to the oven, covered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or so. Remove the foil and return the pan to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes. - Rest. Remove the lamb and potatoes from the oven and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. While the lamb rests, it will continue to cook a little and its internal temperature will rise a few more degrees. For medium-cooked lamb, internal temp should register around 130°F and for long, slow-cooked lamb with falling apart meat
Sides to serve with lamb leg
I love to serve this leg of lamb recipe with potatoes on a large platter, family-style. It may seem odd, but a bed of Lebanese rice (which you can make while the lamb is cooking) really brings this festive meal together. My Middle Eastern rice pilaf is also a good option (you would not need the potatoes) Add a salad such as: Greek salad, fattoush, chickpea salad, or tabouli. A little tzatziki is the perfect accompaniment to this Greek lamb.
Storage and freezer instructions
Leftover lamb roast will keep in the fridge for 3 days or so. Just be sure the lamb has cooled before transferring to tight-lid glass containers to refrigerate.
You can also freeze cooked lamb leg. I typically carve the meat, remove the bone, and store the lamb in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 2 months or so. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat the thawed or refrigerated meat in the oven, covered, with a bit of liquid in the baking pan until warmed through.
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Perfect Roasted Leg of Lamb
Ingredients
- 1 4 to 5 pound leg of lamb, bone-in, fat trimmed
- Salt and pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced; more for later
- 2 cups water
- 8 gold potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 teaspoon paprika, more for later
- 1 teaspoon all-natural garlic powder
- Fresh parsley for garnish, optional
For the rub:
- 15 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons dried mint flakes
- 1 tablespoons paprika
- 1/2 tablespoons nutmeg
- 1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lemons, juice of
Instructions
- Bring the leg of lamb to room temp. Take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator and leave in room temperature for about 1 hour. In the meantime, prepare the remaining ingredients and make the lamb rub.
- Prepare the seasoning. To make the rub or seasoning, in a food processor, combine the rub ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside (or in the fridge, if preparing in advance).
- Salt the meat. When ready, pat the lamb dry and make a few slits on both sides. Season with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Lamb. Turn the oven on broil. Place the leg of lamb on a wire rack and put it directly on the top rack so that it's only a few inches away from the broiler element. Broil for 5-7 minutes on each side or until the leg of lamb is nicely seared. Remove from the oven, then adjust the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
- Apply the seasoning or rub. When the lamb is cool enough to handle, insert the garlic slices in the slits you made earlier. Now cover the leg of lamb on all sides with the wet rub and place it in the middle of a roasting pan with an inside rack. Add two cups of water to the bottom of the roasting pan.
For Medium Roasted Lamb Leg
- Season the potato and onion wedges with the paprika, garlic powder and a little salt, then add them to the pan on either side of the lamb.
- Cover and roast. Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (make sure it does not touch the lamb) then place the pan on the middle rack of the 325 degrees F heated-oven. Roast covered for about 1 hour. Remove the foil and return the roasting pan to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes or until the lamb temperature registers 125 degrees F.
- Let rest. Remove the pan from the oven and let the leg of lamb rest for about 15 to 20 minutes before serving (the lamb will continue to cook and its internal temperature will continue to rise to around 130 degrees F).
- Serve. Place the roast lamb and potatoes in a large serving platter over a bed of rice, you like. Garnish with parsley. Or, you may carve the lamb first, then arrange the sliced lamb with the potatoes over the rice.
For Fall-Apart Slow Roasted Lamb
- Cover and roast the lamb. Follow the recipe to step #5, and once seasoned, Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (make sure it does not touch the lamb) then place the pan on the middle rack of the 325 degrees F heated-oven. Roast covered for about 4 to 4 1/2 hours.
- Add the potatoes and onions to the pan. Season the potato and onion wedges with the paprika, garlic powder and a little salt, then add them to the pan on either side of the lamb. Return the pan to the oven, covered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or so.
- Uncover and return the pan to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rest. Remove from the oven and tent the lamb with a piece of foil. Allow it to rest for about 15 minutes (its internal temperature should be at 175 degrees or beyond for fall-apart tender lamb).
Video
Notes
- Quick buying tip: Avoid buying baby lamb or mutton, which is older and tougher meat. Ask the butcher to trim the thick layer of fat.
- How long to roast leg of lamb? For best results follow the recipe for medium roasted lamb or for fall-apart tender lamb (anything in between may be tough). Here is a quick guide for oven roasted lamb leg at 325 degrees F (and remember that with the resting time, the lamb will continue to cook and its internal temperature will rise. The following should be the temps after the lamb has rested):
- Rare: About 15 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 125 degrees F.
- Medium-Rare: About 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 130°F to 135°F.
- Medium: About 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 135°F to 140°F.
- Well-Done: About 30 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 155°F to 165°F.
- Fall-Apart Tender Lamb. About 40 minutes per pound or until the internal temp registers 175°F or beyond.
- This recipe is featured in 25+ Mediterranean Easter Recipes.
- Storage and freezing instructions: Leftover lamb roast will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or so. Just be sure the lamb has cooled before transferring to tight-lid glass containers to refrigerate. You can also freeze cooked lamb leg. I typically carve remove the bone and store the lamb in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 2 months or so. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in the oven, covered, with a bit of liquid in the baking pan.
- Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients, including extra virgin olive oils and spices used in this recipe (like paprika and nutmeg).
Nutrition
*This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2016 and has been recently updated with new media and information for readers’ benefit
I am terribly allergic to mint. What can I use as a substitute? You have another lamb dish-your Greek leg of lamb. Can I substitute rosemary for the mint?
Many thanks
GM
We Love your recipes
Hi, Gayle. You have a few options. You could just simply omit the mint, or you could add a bit of parsley here instead. Without the mint, the flavor profile will change a bit, but it’ll still be delish! Don’t be afraid to experiment with the spices and herbs to suit your needs :).
For the Fall Apart Lamb, your recipes says cook for 4-41/2 hrs. Egg veg., cook for 1more hour, then uncover and cook 20 mins. Now, that’s almost 6 hours. But in the notes, it states 40 mins. per lb. So that would mean cooking for 3 hours. I’m confused!
ADD veg not egg!
I really appreciate the two alternative approaches in one post, thank you. Per my experience (and confirmed using your recipe) it is best to avoid the middle temperatures with a leg of lamb. A medium rare to medium is our favorite but my wife’s Greek family really likes the low n’ slow well done approach.
Would you mind sharing the manufacturer of your roasting/pan and rack?
Thank you for your post!
Love your cooking style, love your recipes, absolutely delicious food!
Thanks so much, Teresa!
Suzy, what happens if you omit salt? So many recipes call for salt, but I have to eat low sodium. What is the consequence for not adding it?
Hi, Sheri. It depends on the recipe. For the vast majority (including this one), omitting the salt doesn’t necessary ruin the recipe or anything. It may just taste a bit flat. You should be able to remedy that a bit by playing up the other spices to suit your taste.
Hi,
I would really appreciate some helpful advice from any or all Suzy subscibers.I love lamb andhave has hundreds of lamb meals throughout my life,but had never tried the slow cooked lamb method which sounded delicious.
I purchased a fresh leg of lamb [bone in] for $22.00 [ $4.98 a lb] and proceeded to cook it at 325 degrees for 4 hours but when I took it out of the oven the bed of carrots and onions were all burnt and the lamb was way overdone. I don’t know what I did wrong and would appreciate any helpful advice. I would also like to know how to fit a lamb leg into a slow cooker.
Thank you for your attention.
Hi, Mike! One thing to keep in mind is that oven temperatures can actually vary quite a bit. I’m wondering if your oven runs a little hotter than the oven this recipe was originally tested on. So, lowering the temperature or reducing the roasting time on your next attempt might help. I highly recommend testing for doneness by using a meat thermometer, rather than relying only on cooking time. For that fall-apart, slow roasted lamb, you’re looking for an internal temperature of at least 175 degrees F. Leg of lamb cooks wonderfully in a slow cooker! To make it fit, you’d just need a slow cooker large enough for the leg you are attempting to cook. We also have an amazing Boneless Leg of Lamb recipe with some specific slow-cooker instructions you should check out!
I wanted a well seared succulent leg of lamb and that is exactly what I got!! The only thing I did differently was added carrots and placed all the veggies down on the bottom of the roasting pan while the lamb was placed in the roasting rack. The veggies soaked up all the flavorful juices and the lamb was beautifully pink!! Thank you for the recipe!!
Delicious roast lamb! So juicy and tender!
Thanks, Ania!
Can you apply the rub the day before and let it marinate over night in the fridge? I know it doesn’t need to marinate bc it’s a tender cut, but I’d like to spread out the work and was wondering if it would still taste okay if I put the rub on it the day before it is served, then brought it to room temp for 1-2hrs, and then roasted it day of. Thanks!
Hi, this recipe looks delightful but whole leg of lamb is generally not available where I am located while lamb shanks are plenty available. Do you recommend using this recipe with with about 6 lamb shanks?
I didn’t have the ingredients to make this quite as written but it was still outstanding. My modifications: 1) I didn’t have any dried mint and the pot I expected to pick fresh hasn’t grown back much from winter yet. I used about a teaspoon of fresh mint leaves and made the rest up with dried parsley. I’m sure the mint would have been much tastier! 2) My food processor is huge compared to the volume of the wet rub, so I mixed it in a mortar and pestle. It took a lot of patience to get all my rough-chopped garlic pieces smushed down, but it was doable. Next time I’ll mince the garlic finer and still do it by hand. 3) Butterflied leg of lamb was the only cut available at the store I went to, so after trimming I tied it back into a mostly cylindrical roast with kitchen twine before broiling. All the extra surface area ended up meaning more nooks and crannies to hold the wet rub 🙂 4) Because the ~4lb cut of meat I had was boneless, it was done before the potatoes and onion were soft. I let the meat rest and put the veggies back in the oven at 450F for about 20 minutes. They could have used 25, but 20 was enough to get them nearly all softened and a little browned (after the soupy juices evaporated from the bottom of the pan).
I will be making this again after I get my hands on some dried mint!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Dawn! Very helpful!
Hi Suzy, I look forward to making this for Christmas Eve. Would you recommend roasting the lamb in a convection oven or a regular oven ?
Hi, Anastasia. I typically use a regular oven.
Hi! Would you recommend using the instant pot if going for the long and slow method, and then finishing off on the oven? (I don’t have a slow cooker)
Hi Sabeen! That may work, but check to see if your Instant Pot has a slow cooker setting. Many do.
Can I roast the night before to have it ready for 11 o’clock early lunch?
Hi, Tatiana. For the best results, I really recommend roasting the day you are going to eat it.
This was really good. I had it with your roasted broccoli recipe(that is perfection). I’m thinking about making it again and adding cumin to the lamb rub. Have you tried that and if so how was it?
I have not, but would love to hear your thoughts if you give it a try!
Not a fan. The recommended broil didn’t sear, had to pull it out and do it stovetop. There was way too much wet rub, I would half this next time. While the meat came out perfectly cooked afte about 95 minutes, I put the vegetables back in another 30 to get them reasonably done al dente…. the vegetables do not really brown, temp too cool to roast and they were just like a weird afterthought. I much preferred Suzy’s rack of lamb recipe which was simply phenomenal. This I would make again without the vegetables and dialing back the rub quantity. Also, the slivers of garlic inserted in the meat didn’t add much and could be omitted. Summary of review – meat only 4.5, vegetables zero.
I pray this is NOT CORRECT. On what planet does a 5lb bone in leg of lamb take 30 minutes to cook medium well done. Please stipulate what type of meat you use in this application recipe as my LAMB is still cooking after TWO hours or more. When providing a recipe, BE VERY SPECIFIC, as we do love to follow good old styled recipes.
Sorry – some elements I do like but please adhere to DETAILS because US POOR PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO THROW OUT our food. Some people are looking for tried and true recipe applications. Others are NOT savvy enough to know what to change or modify to make their food prep and cook the best for the best outcome.
Hello! As stated specifically a few times in the recipe details, it is 25-30 minutes PER POUND to get to lamb that is medium well done. So the total cooking time to get a 5 lb. bone in leg of lamb to be medium well done would be approximately 2-2.5 hours.
I had no problem in cooking this to perfection, iam lebanese and familiar with lamb meat . It’s easier and tastier than beef roast! Thanks Suzy for this awesome recipe
Wow, SO good! The rub is delicious and the flavor gets all the way through the roast. Easy instructions, came out perfectly medium rare. Braising it seemed to be the key, don’t skip. I didn’t have mint, but will try it with that next time. I cut up the potatoes and they were nice and tender, and flavorful. Probably the best lamb we’ve ever had! Thanks for a great meal!
Suzy, could I use this recipe with a boneless lamb? I know you have another recipe for boneless, but this looks and I’d like to try it with my 6 lb boneless lamb.
Sure, Caroline. The cooking time will vary, though. You may like to cook the potatoes a bit first before adding the boneless lamb.