17 Festive Lamb Recipes for Your Christmas Table

Two lamb chops on a plate with glazed carrots and a mint garnish
Photo: Chef John

If you've only eaten lamb on Easter, open up to the possibilities of lamb for Christmas dinner. The rich meat pairs extraordinarily well with winter flavors. Plus, it's much easier to cook than you might imagine and is priced comparably with other splurge meats like prime rib or goose. Lamb also adds a touch of elegance that makes a holiday meal feel truly special. Take a chance on serving lamb for Christmas this year — you just might never go back.

01 of 18

Pistachio Crusted Rack of Lamb

rack of lamb crusted with crushed pistachios
Allrecipes

With the power of Herbes de Provence, mustard, and pistachios, you can make a restaurant-worthy rack at lamb right at home, in just under an hour. This recipe by Chef John requires just a few ingredients, but it's big on flavor and yields a lamb so tender the meat falls off the bone. Get ready, you'll probably be asked to make it again next year.

02 of 18

Easy Leg of Lamb

Leg of lamb with potatoes
Kim's Cooking Now

Garlic cloves, fresh rosemary, and garlic powder are all you need to make this boneless leg of lamb sing. This dish is so succulent and simple you'll want to make it all winter long. If you don't live near a specialty butcher, you can easily find boneless leg of lamb at Costco or order it online.

03 of 18

Jinx-Proof Braised Lamb Shanks

Jinx-Proof Braised Lamb Shanks
Susan Camargo

Lamb shanks seem decadent and hearty, but they're a foolproof cut of meat, especially when they're slowly roasted in this aromatic, deeply flavored broth. The drippings and sauce combine to make a rich gravy that's excellent over rice or potatoes.

04 of 18

Chef John's Grilled Lamb with Mint Orange Sauce

Chef John's Grilled Lamb with Mint Orange Sauce
Chef John

Fresh herbs, orange marmalade, and complex spices unite to make an unbeatable topping for grilled lamb chops. This recipe is simple and straightforward, and once it's marinated it only needs about 15 minutes on the grill, depending on your desired doneness. The mint orange sauce also works great with other grilled meats, such as pork chops.

05 of 18

Lamb Braised in Pomegranate

a platter of lamb chops garnished with pomegranate arils and fresh mint
Chef John's Pomegranate-Braised Lamb. Danielle

Tart, juicy pomegranate is bold enough to be paired with lamb without being overpowered by the meat's richness. The dynamic flavors match up well with a huge range of sides, such as couscous, roasted squash, mashed potatoes, or even polenta. Anyone who calls themself a lamb lover needs to try this pairing.

06 of 18

Roasted Lamb Breast

Chef John's Grilled Lamb with Mint Orange Sauce
AmbLonMac

Let Chef John introduce you to a new cut of lamb. "Ya'll I would usually submit a picture of the dish along with my review but to be completely honest with you it didn't last very long on my plate! Before I knew it I had eaten it all," says Allrecipes Allstar Tracey Ferrari Posner. "For those of you who have not yet tried this dish YOU MUST! I almost spent 20 on a piece of lamb yesterday until I came across this cut of lamb I had never tried before. For 5, I thought I'd take the chance and try it out. WOW! Chef John really knows his stuff!"

07 of 18

Braised Lamb with Radishes and Mint

braised lamb and radishes with mint garnish
The Gruntled Gourmand

If you need to use up an abundance of radishes, we highly suggest making this braised lamb. On their own, radishes may not seem all that flavorful, but here, they absorb flavor from the lamb shoulder and robust sauce. This recipe works with other cuts of lamb, but be sure to use one that has a good amount of fat.

08 of 18

Vietnamese Aromatic Lamb Chops

lamb chops with cilantro
Mary C

"Oh. My. Goodness. This was out of this world, and I would agree the best lamb I've ever had," says community member Javagoddess. "I didn't have lamb chops — only lamb stew meat — so I was worried that it wouldn't work as well. The marinade tenderized it perfectly, and then caramelized it in a beautiful manner. Absolutely delicious!"

09 of 18

Simple Grilled Lamb Chops

Simple Grilled Lamb Chops
Keith W

Did you know that you can make a fantastic marinade for lamb with ingredients that are in your kitchen right now? It's true — a simple blend of vinegar, salt, olive oil, garlic, onion, and pepper creates a tanginess that complements lamb's rich flavor and texture. Keep the marinade recipe in your back pocket for the next time you grill some steaks.

10 of 18

Greek Orange Roast Lamb

roast lamb on bed of potatoes
Diana Moutsopoulos

Roasted lamb and potatoes are a winter staple in Greece, and creator Diana Moutsopoulos learned a great secret from her Athenian aunt: Fresh juice from an orange provides an even better flavor than lemons. Both the lamb and the potatoes end up tender and flavorful.

11 of 18

Chef John's Roasted Leg of Lamb

Chef John's Roasted Leg of Lamb
Chef John

We've already established that fresh pomegranate and pomegranate juice makes a good partner for lamb, and the same is true with pomegranate molasses. The resulting flavor will impress even the pickiest of eaters, and this recipe is surprisingly simple — just be sure to leave enough space in your fridge so the leg of lamb can marinate overnight.

12 of 18

Herbed Lamb Chops

Herbed Lamb Chops

You don't need a pretentious marinade to bring out serious flavor in grilled lamb — red wine vinegar, white wine, and some fresh herbs make a sophisticated, yet simple solution. If you're fond of acidic and tangy foods, you'll love this, and the marinade works well with other grilled meats, like pork chops.

13 of 18

Roast Leg of Lamb with Rosemary

Roast Leg of Lamb with Rosemary
Photo by meesh.

"Lamb is a favorite around our household, but had always been reserved for dinners at restaurants," says community member JENNMICHE. "I was nervous about cooking lamb, but not anymore. This lamb was wonderful"

14 of 18

Moroccan Lamb with Shiraz Honey Sauce

Moroccan Lamb with Shiraz Honey Sauce
De00304

This rack of lamb takes inspiration from Moroccan cuisine and manages to have a lot of flavor despite requiring very few ingredients. Look for ras el hanout, a traditional Moroccan spice blend, in specialty or international grocery stores.

15 of 18

Roasted Rack of Lamb

Roasted Rack of Lamb
Photo by Kyle Benson.

This classic, can't-miss recipe is simple and flavorful, but tastes like something you'd have at a fancy restaurant — yes, it's that good, and you can even use your trusty cast-iron skillet. If you're sensitive to sodium, reduce the salt by half.

16 of 18

Mint Crusted Rack of Lamb

Two lamb chops on a plate with glazed carrots and a mint garnish
Chef John

Juicy, tender lamb and a slightly sweet crust prove that opposites attract, especially when it comes to meat. This recipe isn't the easiest, but if you have the skills, it'll impress everybody at the table.

17 of 18

Lamb Chops with Balsamic Reduction

two Lamb Chops with Balsamic Reduction garnished with fresh rosemary on a plate
SunFlower

"This was my first time making lamb, so I was more than a little nervous," says community member KITTEN. "I cannot believe how great this was! My husband kept making sounds after biting into it, 'Ooh, Ahhh,ummmm....' I would give it ten stars if I could. The lamb was great served on a bed of wild greens and the reduction sauce was perfect drizzled over everything including my rosemary baked potato wedges."

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