Hereโs an easy recipe for perfectly succulent, juicy, and flavorful Air Fryer roast Leg of Lamb, bone-in, made in just 40 minutes! The normal cooking time for a 5โ7-pound leg of lamb is about 40 minutes per pound, so this version cuts down on cook time by over half!
Table of Contents
Want to enjoy more easy meals throughout the week? Try these air fryer mains: Healthy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers, Air Fryer Chicken Bites, or Easy Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer.
So, can you cook leg of lamb in the air fryer? Yes! There are quite a few reasons why you’d want to cook a lamb recipe with this method (see below).
This Air Fryer roast Leg of Lamb, bone in, recipe is even better than an oven baked version. When you roast lamb in air fryer, youโre cooking it in a small space, so the heat stays in contact with the meat better. That means a leg of lamb air fryer recipe cooks much more quickly than an oven recipe.
An air fryer uses hot air circulation, like a convection oven. Since air frying cooks the lamb more quickly, you save money on appliance energy usage.
Plus, you end up with lamb cooked to perfection: crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, just like lamb roast should be. You won’t even need to sear the lamb in a skillet first!
Another must-know when creating an air fryer leg of lamb, bone-in, is how long to cook lamb in the air fryer. The total air fry cook time will depend on a few things. First, air fryers all cook differently. A Ninja Foodie may cook more quickly than a Cuisinart Air Fryer, or vice versa.
The size of an air fryer also affects the cook time, as smaller appliances cook food more quickly. If you’re roasting lamb without bone, it will cook more quickly. Even so, you can use the air fryer leg of lamb (bone in time) cooking times below as a guide. But, always be sure to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp for doneness. Keep in mind the USDA recommends cooking lamb until it reaches 145โ/63โ internally.
Here are some guidelines:
The main ingredients that make this air fryer leg of lamb recipe fantastic are the following.
Half Leg of Lamb
I recommend making this recipe with the bone in, as it adds flavour to the dish. However, you can make air fryer roast lamb without the bone if youโre in a rush. It will cut down on the cook time and still yield juicy results.
Butter
One of the secrets to moist air fryer leg of lamb, bone-in is butter. As the lamb cooks, the butter soaks into the meat, creating juicy meat. You can use regular or sweet cream butter; both will provide a tasty dish.
Rosemary
A lamb roast joint tastes delicious with rosemary but also works with other herb options and seasoning. Try swapping out rosemary with fresh thyme or tarragon. You can also just use a seasoning rub with dried thyme if you don’t have fresh herbs on hand.
Once you know how to cook lamb in air fryer, you can adjust the flavours and ingredients to your liking. Try these variations on this air fryer leg of lamb, bone-in recipe. For a more filling meal, toss veggies like carrots and potatoes into the air fryer underneath the lamb.
To switch up the flavour, make this recipe with or without marinade (depending on your preference). Feel free to experiment with both options. You can also change the seasonings for this recipe. Mint, basil, cumin, and coriander all work well with roasted lamb. I usually recommend cooking this lamb joint in air fryer recipe with the skin on to help keep the meat moist. However, you can also cook lamb without skin to cut down the fat in the dish.
3. Next, add the onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, and olive oil to the leg of lamb (Image 3).
4. Rub the seasonings and oil into the lamb leg and place it into the air fryer. cook for 25 minutes (Image 4).
5. After cooking 25 minutes, coat the exterior of the lamb with butter (Image 5).
6. Cook the lamb an additional 10-15 minutes, then let rest 10 minutes (Image 6).
Here are a few more air fryer entrees to try: Air Fryer Ribeye Steak In Just 10 Minutes!, Amazing Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter, or Soy Garlic Chicken Breast.
Now that you know how to cook leg of lamb in an air fryer without foil, itโs time to plan your sides/sauces. Here are a few ideas! This air fryer leg of lamb, bone in recipe is delicious with mint sauce or jelly.
You can usually find one or both at the local market, so you wonโt need to make it from scratch. This classic pairing perfectly complements one another.
Lamb is also delicious with veg โ roasted, steamed, or pan-fried. If you want to lighten up the lamb, try it with steamed broccoli with salt and pepper. Most veggies will pair well with this recipe. For a more comforting meal, you can go for mashed potatoes or another starchy side.
Fridge
If you have leftover leg of lamb, let it cool fully. Then, store the extra pieces in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay good for up to four days.
Freezer
You can also store extra pieces of air fryer leg of lamb (bone-in) in the freezer. Let it cool, then package it in portions in airtight baggies or containers. Keep leftover lamb in the freezer for a maximum of two months. Before reheating, allow the portion(s) to defrost overnight in the fridge.
Reheat
To reheat your lamb leftovers, microwave portions on a plate until heated through. Be sure to add a sprinkle of broth to help keep the meat from drying out.
Yes. Just like chicken takes longer to cook with the bones in, air fryer leg of lamb, bone in takes longer to cook than without the bone.
The internal temperature will vary depending on how you want your leg of lamb in air fryer cooked. See the section above for more details.
Technically, you can eat rare/pink leg of lamb. However, the USDA recommends you eat leg of lamb (especially if it has a bone) when it is cooked to medium or above.
Yes, overcooking leg of lamb. Cooking lamb for too long can make it dry/tough to eat.
No, you donโt have to debone lamb unless you prefer it. If you do debone the lamb, it will cut down on the cook time.
Follow the same steps in the recipe below. The main difference will be the time it takes to cook butterflied lamb. It should take around 15 minutes (total) to cook, depending on the doneness you want.
Overcooking a lamb joint can make it dry and crusty. Be sure to always use a meat thermometer to check lamb doneness to avoid overcooking.
Make this recipe even more cosy with a tasty dessert like: The BEST Lemon Drizzle Cake, Chocolate Tiffin, or Overnight Weetabix Cheesecake Nutella.
If you tried this Air Fryer Leg of Lamb, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys ๐ Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Comments