Oven Roasted Bone-in Leg Of Lamb Recipe
This an easy, oven-roasted leg of lamb recipe that is seriously so tasty and finger-licking good you will enjoy! It has the perfect crust on the outside and is extraordinarily juicy, tender, and flavorful inside—literally the epitome of a flawless roast. This palatable main is what you need for the holidays! Excellent for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Sunday dinners!
Perfect Leg of Lamb In The Oven
Say hello to this perfect bone-in oven-roasted leg of lamb recipe that is seriously so tasty and finger-licking good that you will abso-freakingly love! First of all, this roasted lamb leg has the perfect crust on the outside and is extraordinarily juicy, tender, and flavorful inside—literally the epitome of a flawless roast. The best part is that this lamb roast is super easy to make with only a few ingredients. Second, it doesn’t require a special marinade. Furthermore, this roasted leg of lamb would be fantastic for Sunday roast, Easter lunch, Christmas dinner, or better still, put this lamb recipe on your Thanksgiving dinner menu.
I typically make this roast leg of lamb with a bone-in lamb leg, and it always turns out great! However, you can use a boneless lamb leg if that is what you have. This lamb roast is our family favorite here; I hope you and your folks enjoy it as well! Serve this recipe alongside my healthy braised red cabbage, cauliflower mac and cheese, or whatever you desire! Never be intimidated EVER again to roast a lamb leg!
Why You Will love this Easy Oven-Roasted Leg of Lamb:
- It is easy to make (this recipe will not intimidate you)
- This recipe is so tasty and flavorful, literally finger-licking good!
- Gluten-free; this roast leg of lamb recipe is gluten-free. Instead of gravy, I used chimichurri!
- This recipe is low-carb. If you are on a keto and low-carb diet, you are on the perfect holiday recipe that wouldn’t mess up your plan.
- You can make it ahead! Yes, you heard me. You can make this in the evening of the day you plan to use it. Make sure to drizzle the chimichurri before serving for that fresh, crisp taste and look!
- This roast bone-in lamb recipe is versatile; you can make it for a Sunday roast dinner or the holidays!
- Finally, you do not need a special marinade or seasoning to make this recipe! Also, the chimichurri is optional!
The Ingredients You will Need:
To keep this roast lamb recipe keto, I opted for chimichurri instead of gravy. After seeing Cookie + Kate Chimichurri, I decided I had to make mine but with a twist! Nevertheless, you can make your favorite gravy and pour it over this juicy and flavorful meat. The ingredients include:
- Bone-in leg of lamb
For the Rub:
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Maggi or Knorr powder
- Garlic cloves (grated)
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh thyme
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
For Chimichurri (optional)
- Parsley
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- White Vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- A dash of Maggi or Bouillon powder
How to Make the Best Bone-In Leg of Lamb in The Oven:
- Add all the ingredients for the rub in a clean bowl and use a spoon/fork to mix. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Wash/clean the leg lamb and place it on a chopping board or clean surface.
- Cut slits into the leg of lamb before marinating to allow the flavor to penetrate deeper into the meat.
- While wearing gloves, use your hands, and make sure to rub the marinade into every corner of the bone-in lamb leg, especially into the openings. Finally, insert a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme into the slit openings. You can allow this meat to soak up the marinate before you roast, or you can roast it asap!
- Place this seasoned lamb leg in the roast pan. Roast leg of lamb at 425 for 30 minutes uncovered. Then roast covered at 325 for 90 minutes or until done to your desire. Please note that this was a 4 pounds of lamb leg. See my FAQs for tips on how long to roast leg of lamb.
- Make the chimichurri while the meat roasts. Start by adding all the ingredients into a clean pan, including some freshly chopped parsley. Taste for flavors and set aside.
- Allow resting for 10 – 15 minutes or more before cutting or serving. Drizzle the chimichurri on meat before cutting/serving. This step is optional; however, it gives the lamb roast some fresh, crisp, tangy flavors you wouldn’t want to miss. Alternatively, you can use gravy instead.
What to serve with Roasted Lamb Leg?
Roast leg of lamb makes for a perfect Sunday roast, Easter delight, Thanksgiving, or Christmas dinners. You can serve it alongside any side dish, and it will perfectly work out. Having said that, roast leg of lamb goes very well with:
- Baked Brussels Sprouts
- Braised Red Cabbage
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Shredded Beet Salad
- Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
- Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Roasted Butternut Squash
- Air fried Brussels Sprouts
- Any other veggie side such as Broccoli..
Last Easter, we served this roasted lamb with Nigerian Fried Rice, and it replaced baked chicken. Also on the menu were baked brussels sprouts. Everyone loved it!
Leg of Lamb FAQs
Yes, and no. while you can marinate the leg of lamb for hours ahead of roasting, you can easily get away with only seasoning it before cooking. If you have some time, feel free to marinate your leg of lamb for hours before roasting. However, if you are pressed for time, you can season and roast immediately.
The length of time to cook a leg of lamb depends on whether you want them rare, medium or well-done.
For instance, you can cook a leg of lamb for 15 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 125 degrees F for rare. Cook it 20 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 130°F to 135°F for medium-rare. For medium, cook a leg of lamb for 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 135°F to 140°F. Finally, cook 30 minutes per pound or until internal temperature registers 155°F to 165°F to make it well – done.
Yes, you can certainly roast this leg of lamb recipe the night before. I have done it before, and we all enjoyed it the following day. On the other hand, if you think that roasting it a day before will affect its freshness, then make it the same day you intend to use it.
Amazingly, you can use this recipe with a boneless leg of lamb; however, the roasting time may differ. I suggest you keep an eye on it and use the temperature to check until it reaches your desired doneness.
Oven Roasted Bone-in Leg Of Lamb Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: Western
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This roasted lamb leg has the perfect crust on the outside and is extraordinarily juicy, tender, and flavorful inside—literally the epitome of a flawless roast. The best part is that this lamb roast is super easy to make with only a few ingredients. Second, it doesn’t require a special marinade. Furthermore, this roast leg of lamb recipe would be fantastic for a Sunday roast, Easter lunch, Christmas dinner, or better still, put this lamb recipe on your Thanksgiving dinner menu.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs. Bone-in Leg of lamb
For the Rub
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of Maggi or Knorr powder
- 3 garlic cloves (grated)
- 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
For Chimichurri (optional)
- 3 tablespoons of thinly chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon of EVOO
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons of white vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- A dash of honey or 1 teaspoon of monk fruit sweetener
- A dash of Maggi or Bouillon powder
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the rub in a clean bowl and use a spoon/fork to mix. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Wash/clean the leg lamb and place it on a chopping board or clean surface.
- Cut slits into the leg of lamb before marinating to allow the flavor to penetrate deeper into the meat.
- While wearing gloves, use your hands, and make sure to rub the marinade into every corner of the bone-in lamb leg, especially into the openings. Finally, insert a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme into the slit openings. You can allow this meat to soak up the marinate before you roast, or you can roast it ASAP!
- Place this seasoned lamb leg in the roast pan. Roast leg of lamb at 425 for 30 minutes uncovered. Then roast covered at 325 for 90 minutes or until done to your desire. Please note that this was a 4-pound lamb leg. See my FAQs for tips on how long it takes to roast a leg of lamb.
- Make the chimichurri while the meat roasts. Start by adding all the ingredients into a clean pan, including some freshly chopped parsley. Taste for flavors and set aside.
- Allow resting for 10 – 15 minutes or more before cutting or serving.
- Drizzle the chimichurri on the meat before cutting/serving. This step is optional; however, it gives the lamb roast some fresh, crisp, tangy flavors you wouldn’t want to miss. Alternatively, you can use gravy instead.
Notes
If you wish for the chimichurri to taste a little sweet, add a dash of honey or monk fruit sweetener. If on keto use the later.
From time to time, I get questions about washing meat before cooking. In reality, I suggest you do you. However, I am on “team wash.” I do wash my meat before I make them!
You can allow this meat to soak up the marinate before you roast, or you can roast asap!
Roast uncovered for the first 30 minutes; this allows this meat to develop the perfect crust.
More Holiday Recipes to Try:
- Salmon with Lime Spinach Sauce!
- Stuffed Turkey Breast.
- Nigerian Meat Pies.
- Homemade Cinnamon Date Roll.
- Whole Baked Turkey Recipe.
- Chicken Pot Pie.
- Peppered Turkey Bites (Best appetizer).
Not sure what to cook for dinner? Grab my 7-day dinner plan here! It’s FREE!
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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! Stay well, safe and keep living your life to the fullest!
This post was originally published in 2021 but I updated to add more information!
A good way to have a low carb dinner during the week nights! This is surely a mouthwatering choice indeed!
Thank you so much, Mirlene!😊
I love lamb meat! I won’t just pass on this recipe without trying it. Will surely try your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
So excited to hear that, Maria. We love Lamb meat too! Let know how it went; hope you guys like it!
That rub sounds absolutely fantastic and I could imagine it with a multitude of dishes!
Oh yes, Shashi! So versatile!
This lamb recipe looks perfect for Christmas dinner!
Yes, I agree!👍🏾
This was a home run recipe! I used it for a large family gathering, using it on both lamb and venison. The compliments kept coming 😊. Only change I made was to add a bit of Mediterranean spice mix and skip rosemary, not being a fan personally. (but, don’t skip the chimichurri!!)
Thank you much for this!
YAY!!!! This made me so happy. Thanks for sharing your experience with making this Lamb Roast. I like the modifications too, Mediterranean spice mix sounds yummy!
Hope you can try more recipes.