Looking for something different to add to your meal plan? Try lamb ribs. Lamb is known for its unique taste that’s gamier than chicken and pork and earthier than steak. And, yes, you can eat lamb just like you would your favorite pork or beef ribs by choosing lamb ribs from the store.
Keep reading this guide to learn how to cook lamb ribs on the grill, in an air fryer, in a smoker, and more.
What Are Lamb Ribs?
Not to be confused with a rack of lamb ribs, lamb ribs refer to a not-as-tender cut of lamb that comes from the lower part of a lamb’s ribcage. Although they don’t have the supremely tender texture that rack of lamb ribs do, lamb ribs can boast even more flavor if they’re cooked properly. Cooking lamb ribs slowly, keeping them moist during the cooking process, and choosing the best lamb ribs to cook with are the keys to getting excellent and tasty results.
Choosing the Best Lamb Ribs
By nature, lamb ribs typically have a lot of fat on them, so don’t be surprised when you look for the best ribs in the store and are met with fatty ribs that appear to have more fat than meat. As you cook the ribs, some of the fat renders down to tenderize and flavor the meat, so it comes in handy.
What you’ll want to pay attention to is the color of the meat, which should be a dark pinkish-red color. This color indicates fresh and healthy meat. Avoid lamb ribs that have become gray or slimy.
How to Prepare Lamb Ribs for Cooking
To get the lamb ribs ready to cook, you’ll need to take a few minutes for preparation.
First, place the ribs on a cutting board with the meat side facing down. The bone side has a membrane that you need to remove before cooking. It’s translucent and very thin. Use a sharp knife to lift up a corner of the membrane and carefully continue sliding the knife underneath until you can remove the entire membrane.
Then, pat the ribs dry and brush on a light layer of oil. Season the ribs with salt and pepper on both sides. Leave the ribs at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking.
Flavor Suggestions for Lamb Ribs
You can switch up the flavor of lamb ribs by using different seasonings or glazing the ribs with select sauces when cooking. Decide on your flavor profile before starting so you can plan out your seasonings and sauce. Here are a few to consider:
- Orange and rosemary ribs: Make a glaze using brown sugar, orange juice, and fresh rosemary sprigs to cook the lamb ribs in. Add more glaze near the end of the cooking process to help it caramelize and deepen in flavor.
- Curry ribs: Season the ribs with curry powder and make a curry-infused sauce for oven-cooked or slow-cooked ribs for some extra spice and flavor.
- Honey teriyaki ribs: Combine honey and teriyaki sauce to make a lamb rib glaze for an Asian-inspired flavor profile.
- Brown sugar garlic ribs: If you’re craving sweet ribs with a hint of savory garlic, go with a brown sugar and garlic flavor profile. Season the ribs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and use chicken broth, minced garlic, and brown sugar to make a glaze.
Different Methods of Cooking Lamb Ribs
In the following sections, learn how to cook lamb ribs using popular cooking methods, like the air fryer and grill.
Oven-Cooked Lamb Ribs
Place the lamb ribs on a metal rack on top of a baking sheet. Pat them dry and brush them with a light layer of olive oil. Season them generously with your choice of seasonings (salt and pepper, at the least). Wrap the ribs tightly in aluminum foil and place them back on the rack meat side up.
Cook the lamb ribs at 275°F for about 90 minutes, or until they feel tender enough to easily pull the meat from the bone with a fork. Brush on rib sauce and cook the ribs uncovered for another 20 minutes. Let the ribs rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Grilled Lamb Ribs
To make grilled lamb ribs, you’ll use the same preparation steps as oven-cooked lamb ribs, although you can place the wrapped ribs on a grill pan or directly on the grates to cook.
Heat the grill to 275°F and cook the ribs for about 90 minutes. Check that they feel tender with a fork before adding rib sauce. Uncover the ribs and cook them over direct heat for 3-5 minutes on each side. Rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Smoked Lamb Ribs
Pat the ribs dry, lightly coat them with oil, and season them on both sides with your chosen seasoning. Prepare the smoker with wood chips and a water pan. Preheat the smoker to 275°F.
Smoke the ribs with the meat side up for about 90 minutes or until the meat begins to feel fork-tender. Wrap the ribs in aluminum foil to cook for another 30-60 minutes or until the ribs reach 190-200°F. Brush on rib sauce and cook for another 15-20 minutes, unwrapped. Rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
Slow Cooker Lamb Ribs
Pat the ribs dry and season them to your liking. Add ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to the slow cooker. Place the ribs into the slow cooker so that they lay flat with only a slight overlap. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Pat the ribs dry and sear them in a hot skillet with one tablespoon of oil for 3-4 minutes on each side. Rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Air Fryer Lamb Ribs
Pat lamb ribs dry, brush them with oil, and season them to your liking on both sides. Wrap the lamb ribs in foil. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Once preheated, cook the lamb ribs meat side up for 20-25 minutes. Brush on rib sauce, if desired, and cook uncovered for another 3-5 minutes in the air fryer. Rest for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.
What to Serve with Lamb Ribs
Now you know how to make lamb ribs, but what should you serve with them? To help you decide, we’ve rounded up several of the best options:
- Vegetable side dishes: Almost any veggie works with lamb ribs, especially when you cook them the same way you did the ribs (grilled asparagus with grilled lamb ribs, for example). Roasted honey-glazed carrots, pan-fried Brussels sprouts, grilled corn on the cob, and sautéed zucchini are all potential options.
- Potato side dishes: Make your favorite mashed potato recipe, bake white or sweet potatoes, or dice up potatoes to roast with fresh herbs, garlic, and butter.
- Bread and pasta side dishes: Cornbread is an excellent pairing for lamb, as is pesto pasta, risotto, orzo, macaroni and cheese, or cheesy bread puffs.
- Salad side dishes: Salads add a light and fresh element to a meal of lamb ribs. Go Greek with a Mediterranean-style salad, top a classic salad with fresh peaches or strawberries, or make a creamy cucumber salad.
Conclusion: Methods to Cook Lamb Ribs
Bookmark this page for reference when you’re ready to cook lamb ribs. Also, be sure to check out some of our other lamb cooking guides, like How to Cook Lamb Steaks and Lamb Meatball Gyros Recipe, so you can continue experimenting in the kitchen.