Lamb Steaks • Two Purple Figs

Lamb steak is a thick cross-section cut of the leg of lamb that is packed with flavor! We’re using American Lamb today to make sweet and tender Lambs steaks on the grill—save this for your next BBQ!  This post is sponsored by the American Lamb Board. All opinions are my own.

Summer is for salads, ice cream and lots of Lamb on the BBQ, and we can’t get enough! These lamb steaks are a crowd pleaser, dreamy BBQ meal because they take just a few minutes to cook, and they can be served with your favorite side.

A few years ago I shared those grilled lamb skewers which were a HIT and made thousands of times. Those Lamb Birria Tacos (or just good old lamb tacos) along with Thai salad with Lamb, Lamb stir fry and Lamb Gyro are just some of my favorite light summer lamb dishes! 

What is a Lamb Steak?

This cut comes from the leg of the lamb, which is the meatiest part. It’s a thick cross-section cut of the leg that may be bone-in or boneless. Today we’re using bone-in because we love the flavor of bone-in and we love how it holds a perfect steak shape. 

If you have boneless leg of lamb, you can absolutely slice it yourself into thick slices, and grill or pan fry them in a cast-iron skillet. Lamb steak is a delicious and quick alternative to cooking a whole leg of lamb.

Keep in mind, when buying a whole leg of lamb cut into steaks, you’ll get a variety of sizes. That’s because the butcher will cut off the whole leg and the diameter is different along the leg. You can see the image above has the smaller steaks. We cook them just the same way and enjoy leftovers! More on that below.

Never forget to ask for American lamb each time you’re making one of our lamb recipes (or anytime you’re in the mood to cook any lamb recipe!). That’s because it’s the freshest lamb you can have, it’s tasty, buttery, tender and raised by local hard working ranchers and farmers. You’ll be not only supporting those families, you’ll also get the highest quality lamb here—so it’s a win win! 

Lamb Recipe Ingredients:

Super simple ingredients, and the best part is you can customize it to your taste. Use heavy spice blends (although the best way to taste the freshness of this cut is to have it minimally seasoned). And feel free to swap the herbs with your favorite ones.

1. American Lamb Steakscut into 3/4 inch thickness (thinner or thicker are up to your taste).
2. Salt and pepper
3. Onion flakes
4. Fresh oregano or rosemary, or herbs of your choice
   

Herb Butter Ingredients

Melted butter

Salt, pepper, onion flakes,

Chopped fresh herbs

How to Cook Lamb Steak

There are two ways to make the best lamb steaks: Grilling them or pan Frying. The process is basically the same, except with pan frying you’ll need a touch more oil. We feel that grilling them on a charcoal grill adds so much flavor, so we’re grilling today!

Preheat the BBQ – gas or charcoal, and if you’re making them in a pan, use a cast iron or heavy duty skillet and preheat it as well.

You’ll start by seasoning the meat on both sides. 

Mix in all ingredients for the herb butter and have it ready.

Place the steaks on the hot grill or pan and cook for 3-5 minutes before flipping them.

This will depend on the thickness of your steaks. A meat thermometer is best to determine (more on that below).

Once the steaks are ready, drizzle them with the herb butter and let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.

We love serving them with these Air Fryer Potatoes as we did with this Air fryer Lamb Chops with Poblano sauce. Get the lamb, potatoes and poblano sauce recipes on that post. 

Don’t miss on the bone marrow while you’re enjoying the meat! They’re located inside the small bone within the steak and they’re a real delicacy!

If you’d like to create those fancy grill marks: Set your grill to a high heat and place the chops. After about 2 minutes, rotate the steaks 45 degrees to create a crosshatch design on the bottom of the steaks. After 2 minutes, flip the chops. After another 2 minutes, rotate the chops 45 degrees again. Finish grilling for 2 minutes and then remove to rest.

How long to Cook Lamb Steaks?

We recommend a meat thermometer to be precise. USDA recommends the lamb reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F and rest for 3 minutes. This is closer to a medium doneness and it’s just perfect! 

This is the most reliable way to know how well your lamb is done rather than relying on the grill marks or external heat temperature. 

What to Serve with Lamb Steaks

So MUCH! You can Potatoes and grilled veggies as we’ve done here. Other sides like veggies, pastas, rice, salads or just crusty bread are perfect!

Lamb Steak Tips:

1. As your butcher for American lamb to get the freshet leg of lamb.
2. It’s easier to have your butcher cut the steaks for you, choose the thickness and they will cut it off. You can however slice a boneless leg of lamb at home, but not a bone in. To do so, place the boneless meat in the freezer for a couple hours so it’s easier to cut as it firms up.
3. We love minimal seasoning on this cut, however you can marinate it with your favorite ingredients.
4. Make sure the grill or pan is preheated before grilling. 
5. Avoid over cooking the meat, and make sure it has enough time to rest before serving it.
6. The herb butter is optional BUT SO GOOD! Don’t skimp! Make it to your taste—we love a touch of lemon zest, chili flakes extra on the fresh herbs and onion flakes. But you can add any spice, parmesan cheese, garlic , onions and much more!

How to grill to a Medium Rare with a nice crust?

To have beautiful grill marks, chill the meat in the fridge for an hour before grilling. This delays the cooking time just enough for you to have that gorgeous crust on the outside, while keeping the meat to the 140 degrees F internal temperature.

Where does lamb steak come from?

These steaks are cut crosswise from the leg of lamb. They usually have a bone in the middle, and in this case the butcher is best to cut them off for you as the bone can be hard to cut through at home with a regular knife. They also can be boneless, and in this case can be sliced at home to your taste.

Are lamb steaks tough?

Unless they’re overcooked, lamb steaks are NOT tough at all. 

How to season lamb steaks ?

We love simple onion flakes, salt and pepper and herbs seasoning. 

What pan to use for cooking lamb steaks

If cooking lamb steaks in a pan, then use a cast iron or heavy duty pan because of its amazing heat retention and distribution. Also remember that a well seasoned cast iron is a great non-stick pan, but one that also creates a gorgeous crust.

Easy Lamb Recipes

Lamb Tacos

Braised Lamb Shanks 

Lamb Stew – Ali Nazik

Lamb Sausage

Boneless Leg of Lamb

Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with Lamb Crumbles

How to Cook Lamb With Moroccan Spice

Cheese Fondue with Lamb Dippers

Lamb Shoulder Chop Recipe