How to Cook Leg of Lamb for a Mouthwatering Feast (2024)

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.

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.

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.