24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (2024)

When you think about lamb, you might picture a traditional roasted rack or leg, served with mint jelly. Why stop there? These delicious lamb recipes include garlic-crusted roast rack of lamb and spicy lamb meatballs with green goddess sauce, as well as yogurt-marinated kebabs and a luscious Rogan Josh.

01of 24

Red Wine-Braised Lamb Shanks

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (1)

Chef Jeremy Silansky uses maple syrup, Vermont's most famous export, to glaze root vegetables, employing a novel (and simple) technique: He reduces the maple glaze in a small skillet, then tosses it with the roasted vegetables right before serving. He likes to serve the lamb shanks with creamy polenta made from local cornmeal and nutty cheese.

Get the Recipe

02of 24

Crispy Grilled Lamb Pitas with Radish-Watercress Salad

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (2)

The robust, fatty lamb here needs a fresh, zippy counterpoint, so it's served with a salad featuring three types of radishes: watermelon radishes, green daikon, and cherry radishes. This trio gets tangled in a pile of also-peppery watercress and dressed with the simplest combo of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Get the Recipe

03of 24

Garlic-Crusted Roast Rack of Lamb

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (3)

Wine aficionado Kenny Rochford's favorite way to prepare a rack of lamb is to simply rub it with plenty of garlic, rosemary, olive oil, and salt before roasting.

Get the Recipe

04of 24

Grilled Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (4)

Instead of butterflying a boned leg of lamb and cooking it whole, cookbook author Cal Peternell carefully cuts along the four natural muscle separations (they're easily visible) and pulls the four pieces apart with his fingers. Grilling the lamb this way is quicker, makes it easier to determine doneness, and simplifies carving. Plus the meat develops a mellow flavor and lots of delicious crust.

Get the Recipe

05of 24

Yogurt-Marinated Lamb Kebabs with Lemon Butter

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (5)

At Shahpura Bagh, a luxurious guesthouse in the Rajasthani countryside, chefs marinate lamb in yogurt to make it exceptionally tender, then give it an extra burst of tangy flavor with a basting of lemon butter just before serving.

Get the Recipe

06of 24

Rosemary-Garlic Lamb Chops with Pimentón and Mint

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (6)

Chef Nancy Silverton adores the grilled, herb-flecked lamb chops scottadito ("burnt fingers"). Here, she adds a kick to the lamb by garnishing it with smoky pimentón de la Vera and little mint leaves.

07of 24

Braised Lamb Neck with Turnip

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (7)

Lamb necks, an underappreciated cut, are fantastic when braised, such as in this homey stew from chef Tony Maws. The meat gets succulent and tender as it cooks in the slightly sweet braising liquid flavored with white wine and fresh herbs, while the neck bones, in turn, intensify and flavor the broth.

Get the Recipe

08of 24

Lamb Biryani

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (8)

If there is an Indian dish that signifies celebration, it’s dum-style biryani. “It’s like shepherd’s pie but way sexier,” says chef Cheetie Kumar. Afterit's baked, give the biryani pride of place on the table before you break through the flaky browned paratha crust to reveal the rice and lamb inside. The rising steam carries with it the aromas of toasted cardamom, cumin, saffron, and Kashmiri chile powder.

Get the Recipe

09of 24

Braised Lamb with Herb-Scented Jus

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (9)

This tender braised leg of lamb makes for an excellent dinner party dish. Chef David Mawhinney likes to sandwich any extra meat and meat juices with pickled vegetables and focaccia for lunch.

Get the Recipe

10of 24

Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Butter

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (10)

Chef David Kinch grills his lamb racks low and slow because it gives him full control of the cooking. The gentle heat keeps the meat juicy, while the rosemary-infused butter he periodically spoons over the racks adds flavor. He sprinkles the lamb with chopped herbs just before serving; the warm meat makes the herbs especially fragrant.

Get the Recipe

11of 24

Lamb and Butternut Squash Tagine with Apricots

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (11)

A tagine is both a type of North African cookware and the stew cooked in it. Here, savory lamb, salty olives, and the warm spices in ras el hanout are balanced by sweet butternut squash, apricots, and a touch of honey.

Get the Recipe

12of 24

Zinfandel-Braised Lamb Chops with Dried Fruit

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (12)

A jammy Zinfandel and dried fruit lend a ton of flavor to lamb-shoulder chops. Serve the dish with steamed Israeli couscous.

13of 24

Pappardelle with Lamb Ragù

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (13)

This easy version of chef Andrew Carmellini's wonderful pasta sauce uses store-bought pappardelle, ground lamb, and chicken stock, topped with fresh ricotta and mint.

Get the Recipe

14of 24

Lamb Rogan Josh

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (14)

Chef Vikram Sunderam relies on plenty of spices, like cardamom, cloves, and cumin, to flavor this succulent lamb stew (the name translates roughly into "red lamb"). We've simplified the spice blend here by employing Madras curry powder.

Get the Recipe

15of 24

Spicy Sichuan-Style Lamb with Cumin

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (15)

Cooking pieces of lamb shoulder in a super-hot cast-iron skillet makes them wonderfully browned and tender. Serve with rice and, optionally, an aromatic, concentrated Syrah.

Get the Recipe

16of 24

Double-Cut Lamb Chops with Garlic-Caper Rub

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (16)

Garlic and capers add a layer of briney umami to the naturally sweet lamb, and reverse searing ensures that the temperature of these chops is exactly right.

Get the Recipe

17of 24

Spicy Lamb Meatballs with Green Goddess Sauce

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (17)

Cooking lamb for a crowd? These merguez-inspired meatballs make a great appetizer, particularly with a cooling, creamy green goddess dip.

Get the Recipe

18of 24

Banana Leaf-Wrapped Lamb Shank Tamales with Morita Chile Salsa

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (18)

Another excellent use for lamb? These tamales, which event producer Paola Briseño González makes for holiday gatherings, have a dense, custard-like texture thanks to the banana leaf wrappers, and are stuffed with unctuous, rich lamb.

Get the Recipe

19of 24

Rosé-Marinated Grilled Leg of Lamb with Walnut Salsa Fresca

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (19)

Studding a leg of lamb with anchovies adds savory depth to this beautiful cut of meat flavored with a garlicky, herbal rosé-based marinade. The flavors in the walnut salsa fresca served alongside mirror those of the marinade, bringing a final dose of richness and flavor to this standout dish.

Get the Recipe

20of 24

Leg of Lamb Cooked Over New Potatoes with Spicy Mint-Rum Sauce

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (20)

Dried lavender and fresh thyme lend floral, woodsy flavor to garlic cloves in a simple paste that seasons the lamb and helps the dried spice crust stick to the meat. The mint sauce — made by cooking mint jelly in a skillet with a splash of rum and jalapeño — will appear very thin when hot but thickens to a glaze as it cools.

Get the Recipe

21of 24

Lamb, Sweet Potato, and Coconut Mafé Curry

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (21)

Perfectly tender lamb shoulder and creamy sweet potatoes balanced by floral coriander, warming turmeric and cumin, and piquant ginger and ground mustard make this West African curry a cozy delight. Fonio is a tiny grain that packs a nutritional punch and provides the perfect base for soaking up the flavorful curry sauce.

Get the Recipe

22of 24

Grilled Lamb Chops with Herby Yogurt Sauce

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (22)

This simple sauce — a blend of yogurt, shallots, salt, and lemon — is an ideal match for lamb's richness; it functions as both a marinade and a finishing sauce here. Serve the lamb with a quick salad of couscous and cucumbers for a complete meal.

Get the Recipe

23of 24

Roasted Eggplant Moussaka with Lamb

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (23)

Roasting eggplant until it's creamy and custardy makes it the perfect base for layering with a rich, meaty sauce in this take on moussaka, which is topped with a luscious layer of ricotta and mozzarella cheese in place of béchamel sauce.

Get the Recipe

24of 24

Lamb Barbacoa with Masala Adobo

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (24)

For this dish, chefs Saqib Keval and Norma Listman of Masala y Maíz in Mexico City draw from Indian and Mexican cooking techniques for a one-of-a-kind flavor profile. Fenugreek seeds, available online or at specialty stores, add complexity and a light sweetness here.

Get the Recipe

24 Tantalizing Lamb Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way for lamb to be cooked? ›

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).

What is the healthiest cut of lamb? ›

Lamb a healthier way

Lamb may have saturated fat, but choosing a lean cut means you get less of it. Look for tenderloin, loin chops, or legs. The way you prepare the meat can also make it a healthier option. Before cooking, trim off as much fat as possible.

What temperature should lamb be cooked at in the oven? ›

An exceptional dinner presentation. Carve against the grain for the best texture.
SizeCooking MethodInternal Temp*
5–7lbsRoast 325˚ Fmed-rare 145˚F medium 160˚F well-done 170˚F

Is it better to cook lamb slow or fast? ›

A lamb leg is classic. A 3-hour shoulder is excellent. But for the most succulent roast lamb of your life, slow-roast it for 12 hours in the oven overnight. Cooked at a very low temperature with plenty of braising liquid, you can set-and-forget without a worry.

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 lamb get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

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.

Is lamb healthier for you than beef? ›

If we look at fatty acids, like CLA and omega-3's, lamb comes out victorious and can be seen as marginally healthier. If we look at vitamins, like B12 and zinc, beef comes out victorious. The bottom line is both are excellent and both should be eaten with abundance!

Why is lamb so expensive? ›

Sharp rise in cost of British lamb in UK due to rising demand and import issues. The price of British lamb has hit an all-time high as cold weather and disease in the UK and difficulties with imports have combined with a surge in demand.

Which part of lamb is tastiest? ›

The loin produces the most flavorful and tender cuts of Lamb in our opinion, due to its generous and tasty fat cap. Lamb Loin is located in between the ribs and sirloin. Lamb Loin Chops look like miniature bone-in T-Bone steaks or Porterhouse, that are straightforward to grill or pan-fry.

Is lamb ok a little pink? ›

Lamb is often best enjoyed when cooked to a slightly pink or medium-rare internal temperature. This helps preserve its tenderness and flavor. However, personal preferences for doneness can vary, and lamb cooked to medium or well still tastes great!

How many hours do you cook lamb for? ›

Place the lamb in the oven and roast for 1 hr 40 mins for rare meat, 2 hrs for medium and 2 hrs 30 mins for well done (see our temperature guide below). 2. Carefully lift the lamb onto a board with a moat, or a warm platter, then leave to rest for 20 mins.

How to tell when lamb is done? ›

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.

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.

Do you need to sear lamb before slow cooking? ›

No, you don't have to brown lamb before slow cooking. The meat will still become moist and fall-off-the-bone tender. However, the slow cooker will never be hot enough to brown the meat, so if you decide to skip this step be aware that the finished dish may look paler than expected.

Why is my lamb roast always tough? ›

When meat is sliced with the grain, it often results in tougher, chewier pieces. Follow this tip: The grain of the meat refers to the direction in which the muscle fibers run. Always slice lamb against the grain, cutting across the muscle fibers rather than with them.

Is lamb better medium or medium rare? ›

In our experience, we found most lamb cuts, whether a rack of lamb or lamb loin chops, taste best when served medium rare. So, the meat's internal temperature should reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius). It will have a nice, juicy pink center, and seared exterior.

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 are three methods of cooking lamb? ›

Lamb loin roast is best prepared using dry heat cooking methods such as roasting, grilling, or broiling. Cook lamb loin with care, as it can dry out easily if overcooked. Other cooking methods for lamb loin roast include brushing the loin with oil and sprinkling it with salt and pepper before grilling or broiling.

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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 5414

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.