Smoked Rack of Lamb with a Curry Spice Rub
On March 31, 2020 (Updated May 11, 2024)
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This Smoked Rack of Lamb is a total game changer when it comes to cooking a rack of lamb. Seasoned with a curry spice lamb rub, this lamb is full of flavor without being too gamey or spicy.
Smoked Rack of Lamb
This smoked rack of lamb is beyond delicious. It’s great served as an entree as well as an appetizer. Lamb tends to run a little gamey, but this lamb is seasoned well and smoked to a perfect Medium Rare to Medium doneness where the meat is nice and pleasant.
Smoke is another delightful element added to this rack of lamb. If you’re trying to decide what wood to use in your smoker, I highly recommend hickory or apple. You can also use mesquite if you want to go really bold with your flavors.
Smoked Rack of Lamb Rub Recipe
This lamb rub is unlike any other you’ve likely tried. It’s unique and totally delicious. This lamb rub recipe pulls a Moroccan flavor with curry and herbs. Here’s what you’ll need to pick up to make this rub:
- Curry powder
- Smoked paprika
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Dried basil
- Dried thyme
How to Smoke a Rack of Lamb
This rack of lamb is incredibly easy to smoke. Simply prep, smoke, rest, and serve! Follow the directions below or scroll down for a printable version of the full recipe card.
- Preheat and prep. Preheat your preferred smoker (I use a Camp Chef SmokePro) to 250 degrees F. While the smoker is preheating, trim any excess silver skin from the lamb. Drizzle the entire rack with olive oil. Combine all ingredients for the lamb rub in a small bowl and season the lamb on all sides.
- Smoke the rack of lamb. Place the seasoned lamb directly on the grill grates of the smoker. Close the lid and smoke until the lamb is cooked to your preferred doneness. I do not recommend cooking lamb above Medium doneness. It took me approximately 1 hour to cook this lamb to Medium Rare.
- Rest and serve. Once your lamb is cooked to your preference, remove the lamb from the smoker and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve hot.
How Long to Smoke Rack of Lamb
With your smoker preheated to 250 degrees F, it will take around 1 hour to smoke a rack of lamb to Medium Rare. This cook time will vary depending on how done you prefer your lamb.
My recommendation for this recipe is to cook to temperature and not to time. Make sure you have a reliable meat thermometer on hand and check your rack of lamb as it is cooking. Remove the lamb when it has reached one of the following temperatures:
- Rare – 125 degrees F
- Med Rare – 135 degrees F
- *Medium – 145 degrees F
- Med Well – 155 degrees F
- Well Done – 165 degrees F
*Lamb is best if cooked no higher than Medium.
More Lamb Recipes
Whether you grill it or smoke it, lamb tastes amazing cooked over an open flame. Check out these other recipes from Hey Grill Hey to help you cook your lamb to delicious perfection:
Smoked Leg of Lamb
Grilled Rack of Lamb with Garlic Herb Marinade
Smoked Rack of Lamb Recipe
Smoked Rack of Lamb
Ingredients
- 1 1-2 pounds rack of lamb
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Curry Spiced Lamb Rub
- 1 Tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Fire up the grill. Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees F. The preferred wood of choice when cooking lamb is hickory or apple.
- Prep the lamb. Trim off excess silver skin on the rack of lamb. Drizzle with olive oil. Combine all ingredients for the curry spiced lamb rub in a small bowl, season the lamb on all sides with the rub.
- Smoke! Place the seasoned rack of lamb on smoker. Close the lid, and smoke for approximately 1 hour or until the lamb is cooked to your preferred doneness. I do not recommend cooking lamb above 140 degrees F (Medium).
- Rest and slice. Remove the lamb from the smoker and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Slice and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Incredible recipe. The spice blend blew me away. It’s perfectly balanced. Thank you!
Made this yesterday to share with a friend as the first smoke of the season (3/14/22). It was delicious and I have to say, the rub is really wonderful. I thought it would be too heavy on the curry, but all the flavors meld together beautifully. I think it would also be quite nice on chicken. Will give it a try. Thanks Susie!
Cooked this recipe for a family Christmas Dinner- made 7 racks in my smoker. This literally blew everyone away. Comments like this was the best lamb I ever ate; that was spectacular were among those I heard. Cooked to 140
I made this last night, twas great. Thanks Suzy!
I’m not big on lamb but this was amazing!!!! My wife is going to love this!