Lamb breast recipes are easy, delicious, and can save you money! Learn how to cook breast of lamb in the oven with my tasty recipe. Plus, get tips on what is the best cooking method for lamb, lambs breast vs lamb belly vs lamb rib differences, calorie information, and more. You’ll be amazed at how good breast of lamb recipes can be!

Today we’re covering how to prepare lamb breast in the oven. This bone in lamb breast recipe is unrolled for a simple preparation. After cooking, you can cut the lamb between the bones to make tasty lamb breast strips. So tender and flavorful!

Lamb breast is a fatty meat; it’s not lean like some other cuts of lamb. If you’re a fan of pork belly, don’t miss this recipe for breast of lamb. Braised or roasted lamb breast has a similar indulgent vibe that’s going to become a family dinner favorite.

Sometimes you just need to treat yourself, and this lamb breast recipe is a delish way to do it!

🔪 How to Cook Lamb Breast

IMHO, this lamb breast oven recipe is the best way to cook lamb breast. All you need to do is brown the lamb, season with lamb rub, then cover and simmer with a little broth in the oven. This cooking method is called braising.

The packaging my lamb breast came in also recommends braising (but did not give specific directions). With braising, there’s no need to marinate or sauce the lamb, and it comes out juicier than oven roasted lamb breast.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to cook a breast of lamb:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149C).

2. If you purchased a split lamb breast, cut each piece of meat in half (i.e., you’ll have 4 pieces total). Peel or cut the silver skin away from the back of the rack. Cut the carrot, onion, and potato into large chunks.

3. I prefer using a cast iron Dutch oven rather than a roasting pan, so this is a one pot recipe. Heat oil in the Dutch oven over medium heat on the stove top. Brown the lamb for 5-10 minutes in the pot, flipping to brown both sides.

4. Add rosemary, thyme, and chicken broth to the pot. (Add salt and pepper if not using a salty broth.) Tuck the carrot, onion, and potato in around the lamb pieces.

5. Cover the Dutch oven and allow the lamb breast to braise in the oven for 2 hours at 300F (149C). Then take the cover off the Dutch oven, turn the heat up to 425F (218C), and roast for 15 minutes. The cooked lamb will pull away from the bone.

6. After cooking, remove the lamb breast from the pan and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Then cut the ribs apart and serve.

🥘 Breast of Lamb Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make lamb breast

• 3-3½ lbs. lamb breast (1.36-1.59 kg)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and black pepper, to taste (optional)
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 carrot
• ½ onion
• ½ potato

You’ll also need a large cast iron Dutch oven, and tongs for flipping the lamb breast. I don’t bother with a meat thermometer for this recipe, since the lamb cooks for such a long period.

Where to buy lamb breast?

Lamb breast can be hard to find in US grocery stores, but I can occasionally get it at Super Walmart. The last time I bought it, the price of lamb breast was only $3.49 per pound. What a deal!

Thrive Market often sells lamb and may carry lamb breast. US Wellness Meats carries bone-in lamb breast here. At the time of writing, lamb breast isn’t sold on Amazon.

Why is lamb breast so cheap?

Lamb breast is cheap because it is very fatty, with not a lot of meat. A 9-ounce cooked piece of lamb breast only yields about 4-ounces of meat. The rest is fat and bone (though of course yield can vary a bit based on the recipe).

Additionally, a lot of folks are unsure how to prepare lamb breast. (Hopefully we’re going to help you with that today!) It’s not a popular cut of meat in the US.

What is the breast of a lamb?

Lamb breast, or lamb flaps, comes from the underbelly of the lamb. Often it is sold in two pieces as split lamb breast (halved down the middle).

Is lamb breast a good cut of meat?

Lamb breast is good in the sense that it is tasty, but it’s very fatty and not appropriate for low fat diets. Also, if lamb breast isn’t cooked properly, it can be tough and scraggy. Lamb breast is considered low-quality meat in some Western countries for these reasons (source).

Does lamb breast have bones?

Yes, lamb breast contains bones and cartilage. Some recipes require you to remove the bones from lamb breast, and that can be a lot of work. Here is a video that shows how to butcher lamb breast.

Is lamb breast the same as lamb ribs?

Lamb breast comes from the belly of the sheep and includes the lamb breast plate and some ribs (AKA spareribs or riblets). Lambs ribs come from the side of the animal, between the lamb shoulder and lamb loin (source).

Is lamb breast the same as lamb belly?

Yes, lamb breast is the same as lamb belly. Thus, this recipe is a lamb belly recipe.

What is lamb breast used for?

Lamb breast can be served as a main dish, similar to how you’d serve pork belly. You can also use it as a rich addition to stew, curry, and other dishes.

Feel free to make recipe substitutions based on your taste preferences. For example, you can use other dried herbs and spices like sage, parsley, basil, smoked paprika, garlic, cumin, or your favorite dry rub. You could also try different veggies in the pot, like parsnips, sweet potatoes, red peppers, or butternut squash.

⏲️ Breast of Lamb Cooking Time

What is the lamb breast cooking time? What is the lamb breast oven temperature? Bake lamb breast for 2 hours at 300F (149C) covered, then 15 minutes at 425F (218C) uncovered.

Another option is to cover the lamb breast after searing and simmer on the stovetop for about 1½ hours. Keep the heat medium-low. This is a great alternative for when you don’t want to use the oven.

Is lamb breast tough or tender?

Lamb breast is a tough cut that can benefit from slow cooking to make it fall-off-the-bone tender. Another option for tender lamb is to cook grilled lamb breast for a shorter period over higher heat.

❓ Can you overcook lamb breast?

Slow cooker lamb breast and sous vide lamb breast are nearly impossible to overcook. Lamb breast on the grill may become burnt if left over high heat too long. It’s also important not to undercook lamb breast.

Is lamb ok a little pink? Color is not a good indicator of doneness in lamb, the internal temp (checked with a meat thermometer) is. Thus, lamb that is still pink may or may not be cooked properly.

According to the USDA, raw lamb breast should be cooked to a minimum internal temp of at least 145F (63C). After cooking, the lamb should rest for at least 3 minutes before slicing and serving.

🌡️ Lamb Breast Leftovers

Leftover lamb breast can be kept in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat lamb breast in an air fryer at 400F (200C) for 3-5 minutes. Alternatively, try reheating lamb breast leftovers in a microwave on high for 1½-2 minutes.

Cooked lamb breast also freezes well. Store it in a freezer bag with the air pressed out.

😋 Lamb Breast Side Dishes

Wondering what to eat with lamb breast? My favorite lamb breast side dishes are mashed potatoes and air fryer frozen vegetables. Here are some other side dishes that go with lamb breast:

• Protein Cornbread
• Herbed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
• Vegan Spinach Salad

📋 Lamb Breast Nutrition

Here is the nutrition info for lamb breast (per 4 ounce serving/112g):

• Calories: 480
• Total fat: 48g
• Saturated fat: 22g
• Cholesterol: 85mg
• Sodium: 75mg
• Total carbohydrate: 0g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 0g
• Protein: 13g
• Vitamin A: 0% DV
• Vitamin C: 0% DV
• Calcium: 0% DV
• Iron: 6% DV

Lamb is a naturally low carb, keto, dairy-free, paleo-friendly, and gluten-free food. (Get the nutrition information for the lamb breast recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

Which is healthier chicken or lamb?

What is the unhealthiest meat? This is actually an impossible question to answer because the various cuts of chicken and lamb vary widely in leanness. Also, we can’t give a definitive answer to what is healthy for you without knowing what your health goals are.

Is lamb healthier than steak?

Again, this registered dietitian says we can’t give an answer to which meat is more healthy without defining your health goals first. We also need to know which type of steak and cut of lamb are being compared.

Is lamb an inflammatory food?

Unfortunately, there’s limited research in humans around the concept of “anti-inflammatory foods” at this time (source). In general, lean cuts of lamb are a better choice for diets that reduce inflammation than lamb that is high in saturated fat.

FAQs

How to make a boneless lamb breast recipe?

Find the popular Gordon Ramsay stuffed lamb breast recipe here. This is a rolled lamb breast recipe, something that’s much easier to make once the lamb breast bones are removed.

How to make a lamb breast recipe in a smoker?

Can you smoke lamb breast? Absolutely! Here is a recipe for smoked lamb breast in a smoker that you may enjoy.

How to make a lamb breast recipe in a slow cooker?

Can you cook lamb breast in slow cooker? Yes, you can! Find a delicious and easy slow cooker lamb breast recipe here. Slow cooked lamb breast is a great recipe to start in the morning, so you’ll have a hot meal ready after work!

How to make Moroccan lamb breast recipe?

Here is a recipe for Moroccan style lamb breast cooked with a variety of fragrant spices.

Can you fry lamb breast?

Fried lamb breast is your best bet for a crispy lamb breast recipe. In this recipe, lamb breast is slow cooked in the oven before pan frying. For a lower fat version, make air fryer lamb breast instead.

Can you BBQ lamb breast?

Yes! Find a lamb breast BBQ recipe here. (Tip: you may want to use aluminum foil on the grill for easier clean up.)

Can you use lamb breast for stew or curry?

Absolutely! If you don’t mind high fat recipes, you can use lamb breast chunks in stews, soups, curries, or casseroles.

👩🏻‍🍳 More Lamb Recipes

Looking for more dinner recipes for lamb? Try these:

• Roast Lamb in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Lamb Chops Recipe (Lamb Loin Chops)
• Lamb Hearts Recipe
• Air Fryer Rack of Lamb (Lamb Ribs Recipe)

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