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You can make a tender and juicy Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb with just 15 minutes of prep and less than 2 hours of roasting time. A beautiful way to feed a hungry group of people, it’s a roast that’s perfect for your Easter table, but also wonderful for family meals and dinner parties all year long.
Most of us are used to cooking chicken, pork and beef, but cooking a leg of lamb can be daunting. But I promise that if you follow this simple recipe, you’ll be rewarded with a mouthwatering meal with very little effort.
Table of Contents
- Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Ingredients
- 3 Keys to success
- FAQ
- What to Serve Alongside
- How to Make Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb
- Recipe Video
- Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Recipe
Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Look for cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. It should have a vibrant greenish-yellow hue, which means it’s fresh and packed with flavor.
- Dijon Mustard: Choose a Dijon mustard that’s creamy and has a good balance of tangy and spicy notes.
- Garlic: Choose garlic cloves that are plump and firm with smooth skin. They should feel dense and not hollow.
- Herbes de Provence: Look for a blend that smells fresh and has a rich color. It should have a good mix of rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lavender.
- Kosher Salt: Quantity based on Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt – note that other brands such as Morton are almost twice as salty, so adjust the amount accordingly or to taste.
- Black Pepper: Use freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor. The peppercorns should be consistently sized and have a strong aroma.
“I made this last night and it’s become an instant family favourite … when my fussiest eater says “you can make that again, Mum”, you know it’s a winner! I teamed it with a side salad (it was a 40 degree day here in Australia) and a red wine reduction which teamed beautifully.”
helen
3 Keys to success
- Prepping the Lamb: Begin by unrolling the leg of lamb and trimming away the excess fat and tendon to ensure a tender roast.
- Herb Infusion: Massage the lamb inside and out with a fragrant mix of olive oil, fresh garlic, Herbes de Provence, and creamy Dijon mustard. This infuses deep flavor and moisture into the meat.
- Securing the Roast: After seasoning, carefully reroll the lamb and secure it with kitchen twine. This helps maintain its shape and ensures even cooking. As it roasts, the lamb will develop a succulent interior and a crisped, herbaceous crust, turning into a delectable centerpiece for your meal.
If you’re fortunate enough to have leftovers, make lamb sandwiches (extra mustard for me!) or breakfast hash (like this Corned Beef Hash).
FAQ
What can you season lamb with?
Lamb pairs well with many seasonings, but these are among the best: garlic, mint, mustard, onion, parsley, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme.
What is Herbes de Provence?
Herbes de Provence are a dried herb blend often used in French cuisine. The herb blend varies by brand, but often includes rosemary, thyme, marjoram, savory, oregano, and sometimes lavender (though it wasn’t in the original French version). Some blends also include fennel seed, bay leaf, and/or tarragon.
Which is better bone-in or boneless leg of lamb?
Though both are delicious, boneless leg of lamb has some distinct benefits. It cooks faster and is easier to carve. It fits easily into roasting pans and, for the weight you get more meat (though you’ll likely pay more per pound than a bone-in leg of lamb).
Can I use fresh rosemary instead of dried?
Yes, absolutely. In fact fresh rosemary has more flavor and the leaves are less woody than their dried counterparts. For this recipe, there is some rosemary in the dried herb blend, but you can embellish the herb rub with minced fresh rosemary leaves for more robust flavor.
How do you cook lamb so it’s tender?
The key to tender lamb is to not overcook it. Use an instant read thermometer to be sure that you pull it from the oven at the proper time, 10˚F before it reaches your desired temperature as the cooked meat’s internal temperature will rise after you remove it from the oven). Target temperatures:Medium-Rare 145˚F,Medium 160˚F, Well-Done 170˚F.
What to Serve Alongside
- Gratin Dauphinois (Creamy classic French potato gratin.)
- Lyonnaise Potatoes (Another delicious French potato side dish with caramelized onions that’s made on your stovetop.)
- Fondant Potatoes (These meltingly tender potatoes start on the stovetop and can finish in the oven while your lamb roast rests.)
- Mashed Red Potatoes (Ultra creamy with a method that might surprise you.)
- Brioche Dinner Rolls (Tender, buttery and so easy to make with this no-knead recipe.)
- Sugar Snap Pea Salad (The perfect pair to roast lamb if you’re making it in the springtime.)
- Strawberry Spinach Salad (With pecans, goat cheese, and a tangy, honey sweetened balsamic vinaigrette.)
- Strawberry Spinach Walnut Salad (A riff on the salad above with walnuts and a Strawberry Vinaigrette.)
- Caesar Salad (Because you can never go wrong with this classic salad.)
How to Make Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb
Step 1: Whisk together Dijon herb paste ingredients.
Step 2: Untie and unroll boneless leg of lamb. Trim away excess fat from both sides of the leg. Rub underside with 1/3 of herb paste. Re-roll roast and secure at ends and center with kitchen twine. Rub top with remaining herb paste and place on oven safe baking rack set inside foil lined rimmed baking sheet.
Step 3: Roast in a preheated 425˚F oven for 15 minutes. Reduced heat to 350˚F and roast 1 to 1 1/2 hours more, until an instant read or meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 135˚F for medium rare. Remove roast and let stand 15-30 minutes before slicing. Slice and serve.
Recipe Video
Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb
5 from 18 votes
By: Marissa Stevens
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Total: 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 255
Servings: 10 people
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Juicy flavorful leg of lamb made with just 15 minutes of hands-on time!
Ingredients
- 5 1/2 pound boneless leg of lamb
For the Dijon Herb Paste
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 4 medium garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons dried Herbes de Provence (recipe note #1)
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (recipe note #2)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Place an oven safe rack inside a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil (for easy cleanup).
If lamb roast is tied, untie and unroll. Trim away thick areas of fat and tendon from the top and bottom of the roast, leaving a thin layer of fat on top.
Whisk together all Dijon Herb Paste ingredients in a medium bowl until they emulsify into a uniform paste.
Spread 1/3 of herb paste all over underside of roast. Roll roast back up into its original shape and snugly tie in the center and at both ends with three lengths of kitchen twine. Rub outside all over with remaining herb paste. Transfer roast, seam side down, to rack on prepared baking sheet and let stand at room temperature while the oven preheats.
Preheat oven to 425 °F (218 °C).
Roast lamb in hot oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 °F (177 °C) and cook until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center registers 135˚F (for medium rare – the temperature will rise as the roast rests before slicing), 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Transfer roast to cutting board; let stand 15-30 minutes before slicing.
Snip twine with kitchen shears; remove and discard. Slice roast thinly (about 1/4-inch) and arrange on platter. Serve.
Notes
- If you love the combination of rosemary and lamb, use 1 tablespoon of Herbes de Provence and 1 tablespoon of minced fresh rosemary. And / or to add brightness to herb paste, stir in 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest or more.
- Quantity based on Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt – note that other brands such as Morton are almost twice as salty, so adjust the amount accordingly or to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 830mg | Potassium: 471mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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