Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 2 Comments

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This lamb marinade is loaded with all of the best spices and herbs to perfectly complement any of your favorite lamb recipes! Marinating your lamb overnight is recommended for the best flavor, but even just 1 hour will make a tasty difference! No matter how you like to prepare your lamb, this marinade will take the flavor to the next level!

Best Lamb Marinade Recipe

I love using marinades to elevate the flavor of a dish, and this lamb marinade is no exception! It uses simple ingredients that I always have on hand to make your lamb taste extra delicious!

You can get some flavor payoff in just an hour of marinating, but I prefer to let the lamb soak in all of the flavors overnight! Trust me, it is worth the wait!

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (1)
Jump to:
  • Best Lamb Marinade Recipe
  • 🥘 Lamb Marinade Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Lamb Marinade
  • ❓ FAQ
  • 🥩 Tasty Lamb Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

🥘 Lamb Marinade Ingredients

These common ingredients are easy to find if you don't already have them at home! Not to mention, you can always add in some cayenne pepper for some extra spice!

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (2)
  • Oil - 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
  • Lemon Juice - 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
  • Rosemary - 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary.
  • Pepper - 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
  • Mint - ½ teaspoon of dried mint.
  • Thyme - ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme.
  • Basil - ¼ teaspoon of dried basil.
  • Parsely - ¼ teaspoon of dried parsley.
  • Salt - A pinch of salt to taste.
  • Cayenne (optional) - A pinch of cayenne to taste, if desired.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Lamb Marinade

Nothing is easier than just mixing together some spices! All you'll need is a bowl or a storage bag and then you are ready to go!

This marinade is meant for one-time use, so do not reuse marinade that has come into contact with raw lamb.

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (3)
Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (4)
Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (5)
  1. Add ingredients. In a mixing bowl (or Ziploc bag), add your 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of rosemary, ¼ teaspoon each of thyme, basil, and parsley, ½ teaspoon of mint, 1 teaspoon of pepper, a pinch salt, and the optional pinch of cayenne pepper.
  2. Mix well. Stir until the spices are well incorporated.
  3. Add the lamb. Then place your lamb into the bowl (or bag) with the marinade, ensuring that all sides are covered.
  4. Marinate. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight) before cooking.

This delicious marinade is great for any of your favorite lamb recipes! Finally, check out my post on what to serve with lamb for some great side dish ideas! Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

  • Do not reuse marinade that has come into contact with raw meat. After you marinate your lamb make sure to discard any excess marinade.
  • To store: Keep your marinade in a sealed bag or container for up to 1 week before using.
  • To freeze: You can freeze your marinating lamb once sealed in a freezer storage bag. The meat will marinate while thawing in the refrigerator overnight.

❓ FAQ

Should Lamb Be Marinated?

This is a completely personal preference! It also depends on the cut of the meat, as some are more tender pieces than others.

How Long Can You Leave Lamb To Marinate?

Lamb should be marinated for an absolute minimum of 1 hour (but preferably longer), and up to 24 hours max. Marinating your lamb for longer than 24 hours is completely safe, but could eventually result in the meat becoming mushy due to the fibers being broken down.
Overnight is always a good range of time to get the best flavor output.

Is It Better To Marinate In The Fridge Or At Room Temperature?

Meat should always be marinated in the fridge. If you marinate your lamb at room temperature, dangerous bacteria can grow.

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (6)

🥩 Tasty Lamb Recipes

  • Pan Seared Lamb Leg Steak- This juicy leg steak is pan-seared to perfection for an easy and delicious entree!
  • Roasted Rack of Lamb - No need to sear this lamb, it is simply roasted in the oven!
  • Grilled Lamb Steaks - If you're heating up the grill then go ahead and add these grilled lamb steaks to the menu!
  • Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb - This lamb dish is incredibly easy to prepare for any occasion!
  • Smoked Leg of Lamb - Using the smoker is a great way to make a flavorful and effortless lamb entree!
  • Pan Seared Lamb Chops - This dish tastes elegant and fancy, but is super simple to make!

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📖 Recipe Card

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (7)

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5 from 16 reviews

Lamb Marinade

This lamb marinade is loaded with all of the best spices and herbs to perfectly complement any of your favorite lamb recipes! Marinating your lamb overnight is recommended for the best flavor, but even just 1 hour will make a tasty difference! No matter how you like to prepare your lamb, this marinade will take the flavor to the next level!

Author | Angela

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 44kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 0 minutes minutes

Marinade Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried mint
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
  • ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 pinch salt (to taste)
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl (or Ziploc bag), add your extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley, mint, pepper, salt, and the optional cayenne pepper.

  • Stir until the spices are well incorporated.

  • Place your lamb into the bowl (or bag) with the marinade, ensuring that all sides are covered.

  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight) before cooking.

Notes

  • Do not reuse marinade that has come into contact with raw meat. After you marinate your lamb, discard any excess marinade.
  • To store: Keep your marinade in a sealed bag or container for up to 1 week before using.
  • To freeze: You can freeze your marinating lamb once sealed in a freezer storage bag. The meat will marinate while thawing in the refrigerator overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 44kcal (2%) | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 5g (8%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 0.2g (1%) | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.2mg (1%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

best lamb marinade recipe, easy marinade for lamb, how to make a lamb marinade, lamb marinade, lamb marinade ingredients

Course Marinade

Cuisine American

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (8)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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Comments

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  1. LindaJanuary says

    Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (13)
    Great marinade ...but you forgot the garlic.

    Reply

    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      Thanks! That's a great optional addition!

      Reply

Easy Lamb Marinade: Perfect Addition To Any Lamb Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Should you marinate lamb the night before? ›

Marinating lamb chops can enhance their flavor and tenderness. For an overnight marinade, you can try a mix of olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs (such as rosemary or thyme), lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Marinating can significantly improve taste and texture.

What is the maximum time to marinade lamb? ›

Most recipes for marinating meat and poultry recommend six hours up to 24 hours. It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

Do you marinate lamb in the fridge? ›

Place the lamb chops in a bowl, baking dish, or ziploc bag and pour the marinade overtop. Cover or seal and let the lamb marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the fridge.

Why do you soak lamb in milk? ›

A chief complaint with lamb is its strong smell. Lamb has a very meaty, musky taste and a smell that can be overpowering. Fortunately, there are very simple ways to address this smell. It may be a bit odd, but all you have to do is soak the lamb in milk.

Do I rinse marinade off lamb? ›

It is suggested that after you have marinated meat for a length of time – you should wash it off prior to cooking. However, this is dependent on what oils and spices you use, often it is down to personal preference.

How long should lamb sit before cooking? ›

Tips for Cooking Lamb

Before you begin the cooking process, be sure to remove your lamb from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This helps to ensure that the lamb cooks evenly and that you get an accurate temperature reading.

Can lamb be over marinated? ›

You can marinate chicken, steak, pork, and lamb for too long. And the meat doesn't like that at all. Generally speaking, you shouldn't marinate meat for more than a day.

Why do you soak lamb in vinegar? ›

You do not have to do the vinegar soak overnight, but my grandma always did. It helps to remove the strong gamy taste and to thoroughly clean the lamb.

How long can marinated lamb stay in the fridge? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends storing marinated meat in the refrigerator for no more than 3-5 days. This time frame accounts for the potential growth of harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

What spices go well with lamb? ›

Fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt are simple but amazing flavors that pair amazingly with the lamb! Each of these ingredients adds its unique warmth and depth to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Why is my leg of lamb tough? ›

When meat is sliced with the grain, it often results in tougher, chewier pieces. Follow this tip: The grain of the meat refers to the direction in which the muscle fibers run. Always slice lamb against the grain, cutting across the muscle fibers rather than with them.

Why is my lamb chewy? ›

OVERCOOKING THE LAMB.

When the temperatures reach a certain point, that water starts to boil and eventually evaporates. The gelatin can keep the meat juicy and moist until a certain degree, but eventually, it will burst and leave your meat without any protection—the result: dry, chewy Lamb.

What takes the gamey taste out of lamb? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution.

How long do you marinate lamb in milk? ›

1 : Marinade; combine evaporated milk, lemon juice and garlic in a medium bowl. Place lamb chops in marinade, cover and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours. Remove lamb from marinade. Wipe off excess marinade.

What milk is best for lambs? ›

Many lambs will drink colostrum from a nippled bottle. Others may need to be fed with an esophageal feeding tube. If colostrum is not available from the dam or another ewe on the farm, cow or goat colostrum can be substituted.

Can I marinate lamb chops overnight? ›

As a general rule of thumb, smaller cuts of lamb only need about four hours to sit in a marinade while larger cuts could benefit from a 24-hour to 48-hour marinade. Marinating the lamb for too long won't do it any good; you'll have successfully imparted as much flavor as you possibly can in this time frame.

Should you salt lamb overnight? ›

Allow the lamb to sit for at least 40 minutes at room temperature: this allows the salt to penetrate the meat. If you aren't pressed for time, or want extra flavorful/tender results, consider salting your cut of lamb hours in advance (even overnight) and let it rest on a rack uncovered in the fridge.

What does marinating meat overnight do? ›

Marinating seasons the meat, primarily via salt. Marinating sometimes enhances the exterior of meat by promoting browning. Marinating keeps (or makes) meat tender when cooked. Marinating flavors meat via aromatics, spices, or other ingredients.

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