A smoked leg of lamb is a holiday showpiece that is easier than it looks. Herb crust, gentle smoke, and pulled at a rosy medium-rare. Set your serving time below.
How long to smoke a leg of lamb
At 225°F, plan about 38 minutes per pound; hot and fast at 325°F runs closer to 25. Pull to your doneness: medium-rare around 130°F is the sweet spot, with carryover adding a few degrees on a roast this size. Bone-in carries more flavor; boneless carves easier.
The herb crust
Garlic, rosemary, thyme, and olive oil, worked into a lightly trimmed surface, clings and forms a fragrant crust. Leave a thin fat cap to baste the meat as it renders.
Leg of lamb on a pellet grill
225°F with oak or pecan, pull at medium-rare, and rest before carving against the grain. A reverse sear adds a crust if you like.
FAQ
What temp is smoked leg of lamb done? Medium-rare around 130°F is ideal; 140°F for medium. Lamb dries and turns livery when overcooked.
How long does a leg of lamb take? Roughly 38 minutes per pound at 225°F. The calculator plans it to your weight and dinner.
Bone-in or boneless? Bone-in is juicier and more flavorful; boneless is easier to carve and cooks a bit faster.
How Much Leg of Lamb Do I Need to Buy and Cook?
Fine-tune trim & cook loss
Lost to trim: - · lost to the cook: -
💲 Compare price: boneless vs bone-in
How Much Lamb Per Person (Serving Size Chart)
| Guests | Raw Leg of lamb to buy | Trimmed (on the smoker) | Cooked (served) | Good pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 3.2 lb | 2.6 lb | 2.0 lb | ~3.2 lb (sizes vary) |
| 6-10 | 6.4 lb | 5.1 lb | 4.0 lb | ~6.4 lb (sizes vary) |
| 11-15 | 9.6 lb | 7.7 lb | 6.0 lb | ~9.6 lb (sizes vary) |
| 16-20 | 13 lb | 10 lb | 8.0 lb | ~13 lb (sizes vary) |
| 21-30 | 19 lb | 15 lb | 12 lb | ~19 lb (sizes vary) |
| 31-40 | 26 lb | 21 lb | 16 lb | ~26 lb (sizes vary) |
| 41-50 | 32 lb | 26 lb | 20 lb | ~32 lb (sizes vary) |
Raw weight to comfortably feed the top of each range at an average appetite (~0.40 lb cooked per person), no leftovers. Bump up a size for hearty eaters, light sides, or leftovers.
Leg of lamb prices this week (and the trend)
$8.99/lb average grocery feature price (week of Jul 18, 2026)
By region this week: Northeast $8.99
See prices for every cut → · How much should you buy? · Cooking for money? Price the whole job
Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Market News weekly retail feature reports, tracked by MeatSmokingCalculator. Prices are advertised grocery features – your store will vary.
Times & temperatures
| Style | Method | Pit temp | Approx time | Pull / done temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boneless | Slow and Low | 225°F / 107°C | ~38 min/lb | Rare 120°F · Medium-Rare 130°F · Medium 140°F · Medium-Well 150°F · Well 160°F |
| Boneless | Hot and Fast | 325°F / 163°C | ~25 min/lb | Rare 120°F · Medium-Rare 130°F · Medium 140°F · Medium-Well 150°F · Well 160°F |
📊 See the full smoking times & temps chart for every cut →
Written by John Kirker, who built the first meat smoking calculator in 2011. Times come from cooks we have actually run and logged; temperature and feel decide the finish, never the clock alone.
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