Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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Tender, succulent, and flavorful, this roasted rack of lamb comes out reliably perfect every time.

The high-heat oven produces crispy fat and juicy meat, and the seasonings - olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and thyme - are delicious.

Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

Lamb is my favorite meat, and this simple rack of lamb recipe beautifully highlights its rich, bold flavor. I enjoy all cuts of lamb, but the rack is especially delicious, with its tender meat and hot, crispy fat.

This recipe is the perfect entree for a holiday or entertaining because it's delicious, elegant, and easy to make. I love bringing the lamb to the table in all its glory and returning it to the kitchen to carve it.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Rack of Lamb Instructions
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Lamb Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card

Ingredients

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You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

  • Frenched Rack of lamb: I get it at Whole Foods. "Frenched" means that the excess meat, fat, and cartilage were removed from the bones to expose them and make the rack appear neater and more elegant.
  • Olive oil spray: By far my favorite oil to cook with, and it goes well with lamb. Extra-virgin olive oil should be OK to use even at high temperatures, but you can use avocado oil if you wish.
  • To season: In addition to salt and pepper, I use garlic powder, dried rosemary, and dried thyme. I prefer garlic powder to fresh minced garlic in this recipe because it better coats the meat.

Variations

  • Instead of spraying the lamb with olive oil, you can brush it with melted butter or ghee. Both options are delicious!
  • You can vary the spices you use. Good options I tried and liked include onion powder, ground cumin, and paprika. You can add a teaspoon of each additional spice.

Rack of Lamb Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

An hour before you start cooking, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray it with olive oil spray.Place the rack on the prepared baking sheet, fat side up. Score the fat by making small shallow slits in the fat.

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Liberally spray both sides of the lamb with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, and thyme. Allow the lamb to come to room temperature.

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Preheat the oven to 425°F. Roast the lamb in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes until an instant-read thermometer reads 135°F (medium-rare).

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Transfer the lamb to a cutting board. Cover it with foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.

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Using a sharp chef's knife, cut the rack into individual ribs by slicing between the bones.Serve immediately.

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Expert Tip

As with most cuts of meat, including ribeye roast, tenderloin roast, and tri-tip roast, it's important to let the lamb rest for 10-15 minutes after you remove it from the oven.

This rest time allows the juices to settle and redistribute and prevents them from gushing out as soon as you cut into the meat.

Recipe FAQs

How do you carve a rack of lamb?

Turn the rack upside down, locate where the bones are, and carefully cut between them using a sharp chef's knife. As long as your knife is freshly sharpened, this should be easy to do.

What is meant by "Frenched?"

This term simply means that the rack is cut so that the rib bones are exposed. The butcher cuts off the fat and meat that cover the bones to achieve this.

Should you sear the lamb before roasting it?

There's no need to do that. While searing would nicely brown the meat, especially the fat, the same result is achieved when cooking the lamb in a hot oven. The fat comes out wonderfully browned and crispy.

What temperature should lamb be cooked to?

According to the USDA, it should be cooked to medium - an internal temperature of 145ºF with a 3-minute rest period. I prefer it medium-rare, but that's a personal choice.

Serving Suggestions

Anything goes with this recipe. It's a truly versatile entree. But since I roast the lamb in a425°F oven, I like to serve it with side dishes that I can cook in the same oven. So I often serve it with any of the following sides:

  • Roasted Brussels sprouts
  • Eggplant Parmesan
  • Cauliflower casserole
  • Roasted fennel
  • Roasted radishes
  • Roasted cherry tomatoes
  • Roasted cauliflower
  • Roasted broccolini

Storing Leftovers

The leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. To avoid drying out, they should be reheated gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.

Because the leftovers keep so well, I often double the recipe and make two of them - one for serving right away and the other for tasty lunches during the week.

You can also freeze the leftovers in freezer bags for up to three months.

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More Lamb Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks
  • Pan-Fried Lamb Chops
  • Lamb Steak
  • Lamb Meatballs

Recipe Card

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4.98 from 274 votes

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Roasted Rack of Lamb

Tender, succulent and flavorful, this roasted rack of lamb comes out reliably perfect every time.

Prep Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Rest time10 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Greek

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 538kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 1 rack of lamb Frenched (cut so that the rib bones are exposed), 1 ½ pound, 8 ribs
  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

Instructions

  • An hour before you start roasting the lamb, line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray it with olive oil spray.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (15)

  • Place the lamb on the prepared baking sheet, fat side up. Score the fat by making small shallow slits 1 inch apart.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (16)

  • Liberally spray both sides of the lamb with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, and thyme. Allow the lamb to rest on the counter for about an hour and come to room temperature.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (17)

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (18)

  • Roast the lamb in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part (not touching the bone) reads 135°F (medium-rare), about 25 minutes.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (19)

  • Remove the lamb from the oven. Transfer it to a cutting board. Cover it with foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (20)

  • To cut the rack into individual ribs, turn it upside down, locate where the bones are, and carefully cut between them using a sharp chef's knife.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (21)

  • Serve immediately.

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (22)

Video

Notes

  • The USDA says we should cook roasts to an internal temperature of 145ºF with a three-minute rest time.
  • The nutrition info is from the USDA database.
  • A small, 1-pound rack (like the one shown in the process shots and video) will need about 20 minutes in the oven to reach medium-rare doneness.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power to avoid drying them out.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 6ounces | Calories: 538kcal | Protein: 34g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Sodium: 538mg

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Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (33) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Melanie

    Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (34)
    Best recipe we’ve ever found for roasted lamb!!! Even better as leftovers from fridge OR freezer! Just refresh the seasonings a bit before reheating - Superb and Many Thank-Yous for such an easy recipe (even I can’t screw it up)!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Yay! I'm so glad this was a success, Melanie! Thank you for taking the time to write a comment and for the tip about reheating this dish.

      Reply

Roasted Rack of Lamb - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Should I sear my rack of lamb before roasting? ›

Sear your lamb for about 5 minutes or until your begin to see your desired crust and caramelization forming on the fat, then flip your rack. Place your skillet in the oven and roast until your lamb reaches at least 160 degrees for medium.

Are lamb ribs healthy? ›

Surprisingly, meats consists of many vitamins, but lamb meat includes vitamins that are particularly good for the skin. In addition, vitamins in lamb help nutrients transform into energy smoothly, and prevent fat storage. Therefore, lamb meat is great for a healthy diet.

Can you overcook a lamb rack? ›

This part of the lamb is typically served pink--rare (internal temperature of 125 degrees F) or medium-rare (internal temperature 135 degrees F). To avoid overcooking lamb rack, roast to 5 degrees below the final temperature you want.

Can you reverse sear lamb rack? ›

When finished in a hot pan, a reverse-seared rack of lamb comes out pretty well, maybe not by the standards of what the reverse sear does on a larger piece of meat, but certainly by my lamb-eating criteria.

Which of the following cooking methods is best for rack of lamb? ›

Roast the rack of lamb in an oven preheated to 450 degrees F for 12 to 18 minutes, depending on how you like your meat cooked. For medium-well: An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).

Should you flip the rack of lamb? ›

Cook the lamb.

Arrange the lamb with the ribs pointing down. Cook for 15 minutes at 450ºF, then flip over and cook for another 10 minutes until the lamb has an internal temperature of 130ºF.

Why do I feel so good after eating lamb? ›

Lamb is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

This issue is important because omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect, while omega-6 is pro-inflammatory. Providing these two essential fatty acids are relatively balanced, they are both beneficial.

What is the most unhealthy meat to eat? ›

try to limit processed meat products such as sausages, salami, pâté and beefburgers, because these are generally high in fat – they are often high in salt, too. try to limit meat products in pastry, such as pies and sausage rolls, because they are often high in fat and salt.

Is lamb more unhealthy 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 my lamb rack chewy? ›

SLICING THE LAMB INCORRECTLY.

If you cut it incorrectly, you'll end up with tough, chewy meat — even if you cooked it perfectly! The advice is always to cut the meat across the grain.

How many racks of lamb per person? ›

Cut lamb chops away from the rack by slicing between the bones. Serve 2 to 3 chops per person. Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

Do you rinse rack of lamb before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Why sear racks of lamb? ›

I sear these sides to add those char flavors all around the lamb ribs and too ensure I have more of a medium-well to well-done level of doneness without drying them out too much by cooking longer in the oven. This searing part should only take about 1-2 minutes per side or less. Now you are done!

Should I sear roast before roasting? ›

Searing meat is an essential step if you want to make the most flavorful roasts, steaks, chops, and more.

Should I sear before roasting? ›

It's not really necessary to sear your roast before cooking, but caramelizing the surface gives the cut an incredible depth of flavor, enhanced with the complex layers of nutty caramel and coffee-like bitterness that meat-lovers find delicious.

Should you brown lamb before cooking? ›

Browning the meat doesn't take long and has some advantages, including a good looking, caramelised surface and richer coloured dish. It can also give a deeper flavour, and some say a better texture.

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