Smoked Leg of Lamb

Smoked leg of lamb has arrived. Move over beef and pork! (well...just for a minute). Lamb is delicious. Garlic, rosemary, and olive oil go so well with lamb and then you smoke it.  Smoking the lamb gives you a great wood roasted flavor, a delicious bark, and a perfectly juicy center. If you haven't smoked lamb, you need to give this a try.

Most people that "eat" lamb, say that have it once in a while. Maybe around Easter, Passover or another holiday. I try to find reasons to eat lamb. A smoked rack of lamb is great and I cook that a few times a year as a treat. With a big family, there either isn't enough to fill your stomach on lamb alone, or it gets very expensive. Smoked lamb shank is more inexpensive but doesn't feed that many people.

But a whole leg of lamb can feed a crowd, and if you smoke it, they will all be coming back for seconds.

Ingredients for Smoked Leg of Lamb Recipe

Lamb - I decided on a boneless leg of lamb, you can absolutely do bone-in if that is what you have. I find the boneless leg makes a cleaner presentation, is easier to slice and takes up less room in my smoker if I am cooking other things too. A boneless leg of lamb usually comes in netting. You will need to remove that before you prep.

Garlic - Garlic is a classic flavor accompaniment of lamb. Any big meat roast is going to be able to hold up to the strong taste of garlic and mellow it out as it roasts.

Rosemary - This is my go-to herb with lamb. It works well with other gamey meats too. I like to use fresh, if you have dried rosemary, that will work just fine.

Olive Oil - The olive oil really helps to hold the garlic and rosemary onto the leg of the lamb. It adds a nice flavor to the bark of the lamb.

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper - Season this well. You will need about ½ - 1 teaspoon of salt for each pound of meat. I like freshly ground pepper. Be generous with it and coat all sides.

Smoked Lamb Instructions

Step 1: Remove the leg of lamb from any packaging and netting. Roughly chop the garlic and rosemary. Drizzle the lamb with olive oil and then rub in the garlic and rosemary all over. Generously salt and pepper on all sides of the lamb. Once done seasoning the lamb make sure it sits tightly together as a roast. If the leg of lamb is falling apart, use butcher's twine to tie it back up into a roast.

Step 2: Place the land directly on the preheated smoker grill grate. If you have multiple racks, place it on the bottom. Leg of lamb will release lots of juices as it cooks, you don't want it to necessarily marinate anything below it on a lower rack. Insert your internal meat thermometer into the thickest part of the lamb to gauge the internal temperature as it cooks. Cook the lamb on the smoker at 250°F for approximately two hours or until the internal temp reaches 135 degrees f.

Step 3: Once the lamb is cooked, remove it from the smoker and let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving it.

Common Questions

What temperature do I cook lamb to?

135°F will give you medium-rare doneness. If you want to have your lamb more on the medium to medium-well done, cook it until the internal temp reads 145°F.

What type of wood should I use for smoked lamb?

I cooked this on my Traeger grill with hickory pellets. I almost mixed in some cherry, I think I might try that next time. Combining hickory and cherry is one of my favorites. If you are doing this in a WSM or WK you can easily play around with different wood chunks to get the flavor you want. Lamb will work well with any type of wood.

What to serve with Smoked Leg of Lamb

A side dish for lamb is typically a starch such as mashed potatoes or rice. However, many variations are possible, such as roasted vegetables or a salad. In general, the side dish should be simple so that it does not overshadow the flavor of the lamb.

• Potatoes - Roast potatoes are a classic side dish served with lamb by roasting chopped potatoes in hot oil or butter. The potatoes are usually seasoned with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices before being roasted.
• Veggies - Our favorite vegetables to serve with smoked meats are green beans and broccoli. You really can serve any steamed or roasted vegetable with lamb. A common pairing is asparagus spears because they are in season in the spring around Easter.

Other Holiday Main Courses

• Turkey - Smoked turkey is made by smoking the bird in a smoker. The heat and smoke from the burning wood flavor the meat. The process can take several hours, but it results in a tender, juicy bird.
• Brisket - Smoked brisket is a type of beef that is cooked slowly using low heat and smoke. The meat is often marinated in a sauce or seasoning before it is smoked, which adds flavor and helps to keep the meat moist. Brisket can be cooked in a smoker or in an oven.
• Pork Loin - The smoking process gives the pork a smoky flavor and a tender texture. Pork loin is a popular cut of pork that can be used in a variety of dishes.
• Salmon - Smoked salmon is another great choice for a holiday entree. Smoking the fish gives it a great flavor will keeping it moist and tender.

And don't forget dessert! Our Mini Egg Brownies are the perfect end to your Easter dinner.