Grilled Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Marinade

3 reviews

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This Grilled Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Marinade is incredibly tender and the perfect balance of mint, herbs, and acidity. It’s a great introduction into the wider world of meat that is simple to prepare and impressive to serve to guests.rack of lamb sliced in half propped up over a bundle of fresh herbs.

Grilled Rack of Lamb

My dad is the lamb lover in my family. In fact, the first time I ever cooked lamb was for my dad on Easter. My daughter also loves every time I make lamb, and I don’t blame her! This grilled rack of lamb is wonderfully tender and oh-so delicious.

Not only is this rack of lamb incredibly tender, it’s also just the right amount of gamey. If you’re looking to branch out from beef, chicken, and pork, lamb is an ideal next step. Consider it the perfect in-between to introduce you to more exotic flavors without going too crazy.

Rack of Lamb Marinade

When preparing to cook my rack of lamb, it’s key to mix up a great marinade to tenderize the meat and add tons of flavor. This marinade is a aromatic garlic herb marinade that contains 5 key elements.

  • Fat. Fat is important and prevents the protein in the meat from being broken down by the acid.
  • Acid. Tenderizes the meat and adds tons of tart flavor to compliment the meat.
  • Sugar. By adding sugar to your marinade, you balance flavors in the marinade.
  • Salt. Salt helps bring big flavor to the interior of the meat and provides the savory element to your marinade.
  • Herbs and Spices. This is where the flavor of the marinade comes in. By mixing and matching fresh herbs, onion, garlic, and more, you create a unique flavor profile to compliment your meat.

This lamb was just begging for a fresh mint marinade. Roast lamb with mint jelly was a favorite in my family growing up, so the mint in this recipe was a must-have and an homage to special childhood dinners. You’ll find the mint perfectly compliments the rich lamb flavor.

seasoned rack of lam on a grill with aluminum foil on the bones sitting on grill grates.

How to Cook Rack of Lamb

My preferred way to cook a rack of lamb is to stick in on the grill. By grilling your lamb, it comes out juicy, tender, and oh-so delicious. Once you have it good and marinated, cooking it on the grill gives it the perfect final flavor.

  1. Marinate the lamb. Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a zip top bag, add the rack of lamb, and massage to coat. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours prior to grilling.
  2. Grill on indirect heat. Preheat your grill to 450 degrees F for two-zone cooking. Remove the lamb from the marinade and wrap the bones in aluminum foil to prevent burning. Grill on indirect heat for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 100 degrees F.
  3. Sear over direct heat. Move the lamb to the direct side of the heat and grill to your preferred doneness (approximately 2 minutes per side). I do not recommend cooking lamb above Medium Rare, so stay close and remove the rack promptly when it reaches the appropriate temperature.

grilled rack of lamb sliced into individual chops.

How Long to Grill Rack of Lamb

Lamb is ready in 20-30 minutes, depending on how hot your grill is and on the thickness of the lamb meat. As always, cook to temperature and not to time, keeping in mind that lamb is lean. It will dry out and and can taste gamey if it is overcooked. Keep your meat thermometer handy (I don’t cook anything without my ThermoWorks Mk4), and remove promptly when done. I do not recommend cooking your lamb over Medium Rare. Here is a quick guide to temperature doneness for lamb:

  • Rare – 125 degrees F
  • Med Rare – 135 degrees F
  • Medium – 145 degrees F
  • Med Well – 155 degrees F
  • Well Done – 165 degrees F

Side Dishes for Lamb

Lamb is one of those fancier main courses; perfect for a romantic night in with your significant other. Check out these delicious side dishes for lamb to make a gorgeous, complete meal.

Grilled Ratatouille
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Grilled Tomatoes
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Burst Tomato Salad

grilled rack of lamb with individual chops arranged on a wood cutting board with herbs.

Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Marinade Recipe

Follow the recipe, and I’ll teach you the simple steps to making your own grilled rack of lamb with garlic herb marinade at home. Hey Grill Hey is dedicated to help you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes and videos on YouTubeInstagram, or our Facebook Page.

Grilled Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Marinade

By: Susie Bulloch (heygrillhey.com)
5 from 3 votes
This Grilled Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Marinade is incredibly tender and the perfect balance of mint, herbs, and acidity. It’s a great introduction into the wider world of meat that is simple to prepare and impressive to serve to guests.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Marinade Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 30 minutes
Servings4

Ingredients
 

  • 1 rack lamb approximately 6-8 bones

Garlic Herb Marinade

  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh mint, finely minced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, finely minced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely minced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme, finely minced
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients for the garlic herb marinade in a zip top bag and mix to combine.
  • Preheat your grill for two-zone cooking. Aim for 450 degrees F for your direct side of heat.
  • Place your rack of lamb in the marinade and massage to coat. Place in your refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours.
  • Remove rack of lamb from the marinade and shake off any excess marinade. Wrap the bones in heavy duty aluminum foil to prevent them from burning.
  • Place your lamb on indirect side of heat for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the lamb reaches 100 degrees F in the thickest part of the lamb, making sure your thermometer isn't touching the bone.
  • Move the lamb to direct heat and grill to your preferred doneness, approximately 2 minutes per side. Leave the lid open on your grill and don't leave. Their is a fat cap on a rack of lamb, and over the direct heat it will cook quickly and has a potential for flare up. Stay close to remove the rack as needed.
  • Refer to the temperature guide in the notes, I do not recommend cooking lamb above Medium Rare.

Notes

Lamb is lean and can taste gamey if overcooked, so I do not recommend cooking your lamb over Medium Rare. Below you can find temperatures for lamb doneness:
  • Rare – 125 degrees F
  • Med Rare – 135 degrees F
  • Medium – 145 degrees F
  • Med Well – 155 degrees F
  • Well Done – 165 degrees F

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 170IU | Vitamin C: 4.1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About

FOUNDER/BBQ BOSS LADY

Susie is the BBQ Brain behind the Hey Grill Hey website. Her passion for smoked meats and developing fun, new recipes have landed her on the Food Network, cooking turkeys with Shaq, and on a couple of Guinness World Records. When she’s not grilling, she is hanging out with Todd and their three kids, preferably outdoors!

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Recipe Rating




Reader Reviews

11 Reviews

  1. Sonja says:

    Can I smoke this instead of grill it?

  2. Marc Davies says:

    This recipe made for the BEST rack of lamb I’ve ever had!!! They were AMAZING! My wife and kids loved them. Due to time constraints I was only able to marinade them for 2 hours so I can only imagine how much better they’ll be next time given 4 . I also made a cabernet sauce to accompany them and added 2 TBS of the marinade to it.

  3. LaRita Smith says:

    Can you also use this same marinade and time when cooking on stovetop

    1. Hey Grill Hey says:

      Absolutely!

  4. DJ says:

    I can already taste my very young days.

    Thank you!

  5. Jim says:

    Outstays recipe!!!

  6. Gail says:

    I’ve been missing seeing your posts!!! I love your recipes and can’t wait to start trying them again!! I’ve or a green egg now and need something new to try!!

    1. Hey Grill Hey says:

      Fantastic! You’ll love that green egg!

  7. Leesa Trapp says:

    Would love tips for smoking too. PS…sliced orange and or lemon in maranade is the boss..