Feast it Forward with 
American Lamb

Nominate your favorite restaurant for a chance to win a holiday feast on us!

It’s the season of giving — and we’re celebrating the chefs and restaurants that make American Lamb shine on the plate. Whether it’s the local bistro that nails the perfect lamb shank or the cozy spot that serves up your favorite lamb burger, we want to hear where you’re dining this holiday season!

How it works:

1️⃣ Tell us your favorite restaurant serving American Lamb.
2️⃣ Share the dish you can’t stop thinking about (bonus points for a photo!).
3️⃣ You’ll be entered to win a $200 gift card to that restaurant — so you can Feast It Forward and enjoy a meal on us!

It’s our way of giving back to the places and plates that make the holidays so flavorful.

Click Here for Contest Rules

Ready to Feast It Forward?

Fill out the form and tell us where you’re getting your American Lamb fix!

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    'Tis the season for holiday entertaining! This year, let American Lamb take center stage on your holiday table. Use this page as your go-to guide for delicious recipes, cooking techniques, and recommended cooking times and temperatures.

    Appetizers

    Leg Recipes

    Rack Recipes

    Shoulder Recipes

    Shank Recipes

    Cooking Techniques

    There’s no reason to be intimidated.

    Lamb is easy to prepare and fun to cook! When cooked properly, lamb is flavorful and juicy, and the methods for preparing it are no different than those you use for beef and pork. We’ll give you directions for braising (slow cooking with moist heat), roasting (cooking with dry heat) and grilling. With these simple techniques in mind, we’ve assembled a collection of everyday recipes and tips to equip you with the inspiration and know-how to put local lamb on your table.

    Braising
    Red Wine Braised American Lamb Shanks with Butternut Squash

    BRAISING IS A COOKING METHOD USED FOR MEAT AND VEGETABLES IN WHICH THE ITEM IS BROWNED IN FAT, TIGHTLY COVERED AND COOKED SLOWLY IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF LIQUID.

    A long cooking period at low heat helps to develop flavor and tenderize meat by breaking down its fibers. Braising can be done on the stovetop, in the oven or in a slow cooker. A tight-fitting lid is key to preventing the liquid from evaporating.

    Lamb shoulder and shank are less tender cuts of meat that are best prepared using moist cooking methods including braising and stewing,

    Be sure to sear the lamb on all sides until browned before adding braising liquid. The proper determination for doneness is tenderness, not temperature. Lamb is done when the meat is fork tender.

    Roasting
    bone-in leg of lamb on platter with lemon wedges, greens, and flowers

    ROASTING IS AN OVEN-COOKING METHOD IN WHICH THE MEAT IS COOKED UNCOVERED IN ORDER TO PRODUCE AN EXTERIOR THAT IS WELL BROWNED AND A MOIST INTERIOR.

    Roasting works best with fairly tender cuts of lamb like the rack and loin and leg.

    For perfect medium rare lamb, 15 to 20 minutes per pound in a 325°F oven is a good rule of thumb. The temperature of the meat will rise another 5 to 10 degrees (this is called “carryover cooking”), so take it out with that in mind.

    Note: Bone in leg roasts cook faster than boneless because the bone acts as an insulator.

    Complete Roasting Guide

    Time and Temperature Guide

    Boneless Leg of Lamb

    A dish of boneless leg of lamb with white beans and gremolata.
    SizeCooking MethodCooking TimeInternal Temp*
    4–7lbsgrill / roast20–25 min/lb
    25–30min/lb
    30–35 min/lb
    med-rare 145˚F
    medium 160˚F
    well-done 170˚F

    Bone-in Leg of Lamb

    Lamb leg with potatoes
    SizeCooking MethodCooking TimeInternal Temp*
    5–7lbsRoast 325˚ F20–25 min/lb
    25–30 min/lb
    30–35 min/lb
    med-rare 145˚F
    medium 160˚F
    well-done 170˚F

    RAck of Lamb

    SizeCooking MethodCooking TimeInternal Temp*
    1—1.25" thickroast / grill9—12 min/lb med-rare 145˚F

    Lamb Shanks

    SizeCooking MethodCooking TimeInternal Temp*
    .5–1" lbbraise / roast1–2 hrs/lbmedium 160˚F

    Lamb Shoulder

    Slow Cooked Beer Braised American Lamb Shoulder
    SizeCooking MethodCooking TimeInternal Temp*
    3–4lbsbraise / roast / smoke20–25 min/lb
    25–30 min/lb
    30–35 min/lb
    med-rare 145˚F
    medium 160˚F
    well-done 170˚F
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