Roasted Leg of Lamb with Creamy Goat Cheese Sauce

This Roasted Leg of Lamb with Creamy Goat Cheese Sauce is the most delicious no-fail lamb recipe. It is much simpler to make than it looks and it is loaded with flavor and the lamb is tender, soft and is absolutely a crowd pleaser.

This roasted leg of lamb has turned into one of my favorite recipes. I’m not a big pot roast, roasted ham or beef tenderloin kind of gal. I much prefer lamb. I know lamb is something you either love or hate and I am 100% a lover of it.

Especially this deliciously tender and juicy leg of lamb. If you have not made lamb leg before, you can make this recipe. It’s super simple, flavorful and feeds a crowd. We make this often for cozy at home dinner parties or even for holidays. It’s something my kids love too, which makes me love it even more.

Please read through all of the steps before making so it’s clear and nothing is confusing. It’s not a hard recipe but it doesn’t require some steps. And my goal is to make sure this recipe turns out as delicious as possible for you!

I cannot wait to hear what you think of this. Let me know if you make it too!

What ingredients you need to make roasted lamb:

• Leg of lamb – you can do bone-in or out. Make sure fat is trimmed
• Garlic cloves – I love using fresh garlic cloves for this
• Dried oregano – oregano is one of my favorite herbs for this recipe
• Paprika – smoked paprika is great addition here
• Avocado oil or olive oil –
• Lemon – use the juice from fresh lemon
• Greek yogurt – really any plain yogurt can work but I like the thickness of greek yogurt
• Goat cheese – goat cheese crumbled works
• Apple cider vinegar – splash of this for acidity is great
• Honey – you can omit if you don’t want this but I love for a touch of sweetness

How to make roasted leg of lamb and goat cheese sauce:

1. First bring the leg of lamb to room temp. Take the leg of lamb out of the refrigerator and leave in room temperature for about 30 minutes to 1 hour
2. Prepare the rub. In a food processor, combine the rub ingredients. Blend until smooth. Set aside (or in the fridge, if preparing in advance)
3. Once the meat is at room temperature, add lamb to a large baking dish or roasting pan and pat the lamb dry and make a few slits in it on both sides and season with salt and pepper
4. Turn the oven on broil. Place the leg of lamb on a wire rack and put it directly on the top rack so that it’s only a few inches away from the broiler element
5. Broil for 5-7 minutes on each side or until the leg of lamb is nicely seared
6. Remove from the oven, then adjust the oven temperature to 325 degrees F
7. Tent a large piece of foil over the roasting pan (making sure it does not touch the lamb)
8. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and roast covered for about 1 hour
9. While the lamb cooks, prepare the goat cheese sauce and set aside
10. Remove the foil and return the roasting pan to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes or until the lamb temperature registers 125 degrees F
11. Remove the pan from the oven and let the leg of lamb rest for about 15 to 20 minutes before serving (the lamb will continue to cook after the oven and its internal temperature will continue to rise to around 130 degrees F)
12. Carve the lamb and serve with desired sides and sauce

FAQs and tips on roasting leg of lamb?

1. What is a leg of lamb? It is a large cut that comes from the back haunches of the animal. It’s about 5 to 7 lbs with the bone-in. Or 3 to 4 lbs without the bone.
2. Where can I get leg of lamb? It is at most grocery stores at the butcher counter. I look for grass-fed and grass-finished so it’s best quality.
3. Is this lamb really fatty? If you don’t trim the fat, yes. Ask the butcher to do this or you can do it yourself. They will trim the thick layer of fat off for you!
4. How do you know if the lamb is ready? For rare it will be 125 degrees F, medium-rare is 130 degrees F, medium is 135 degrees F. Remember the meat cooks more after you take it out of the oven.
5. How long does the cooked lamb stay good for? 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Reheat it in microwave with splash of the marinade.

A few other delicious meat recipes to try:

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs

How to Make Grilled Whole Chicken

Spatchcock Grilled Turkey

Buffalo Blue Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf (gluten-free)

Serve this with my Mashed Sweet Potatoes! They’re so simple to make too.