This Instant Pot Rack of Lamb seasoned with numerous spices and cooked to perfection to make a flavorful and tender cut of meat.
Cooking a rack of lamb can seem difficult, but this Instant Pot recipe makes it easy. Using an Instant Pot cuts down the cook time, and makes sure the meat stays tender and juicy.
By covering the lamb in sugar and spices, the taste of this lamb brings up notes of smokiness and sweetness. It’s a great balance and combination of flavors. This instant pot rack of lamb will pair with many side dishes for a scrumptious lunch or dinner.
» You might also like Instant Pot Lamb Shanks.
Ingredients You Need
- Double Rack of Lamb: When buying a rack of lamb, ask for it to be “frenched” which is a style that removes much of the meat and fat along the bone so it looks nicely cleaned up.
- Cooking Oil: Use any oil you like, but it’s best to use one with a high smoke content. I typically use avocado oil or vegetable oil. You can use olive oil, but it might produce quite a bit of smoke while sautéing.
- Smoky Paprika: Gives a smoky flavor to the lamb, but it is not spicy. You can also use Spanish paprika if you don’t want to add smokiness.
- Brown Sugar: Balances the savory flavors with its sweetness.
- Salt & Ground Black Pepper: adds flavor and tenderizes the lamb.
- Garlic & Onion Powder: using a powdered version gives the lamb a nice flavor and aroma. Don’t replace these with fresh garlic and onion as they will burn.
- Mild Chili Powder: adds a bit of heat. Make them spicy by using a spicy chili powder.
Equipment information
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo. It will typically fit 2 racks of lamb set together inside the pot. However, you’ll want to check the sizing before you set out to make this. Be sure the rack of lamb you buy fits into your pot. You might need an 8-quart pot for a larger rack or more than one.
How to Make Instant Pot Rack of Lamb
Pat dry the rack of lamb. Mix together the seasonings in a bowl and use it to season the lamb. I use all the seasoning for the lamb. It might seem like a lot, but it’s the perfect amount to give lots of flavor to the meat.
Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot and allow the pot to heat up. When hot, add the oil and then the lamb, meat side down.
Sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. Since this recipe is for 2 pieces of lamb, you’ll have to take one out to rest and then sauté the other. When the second piece is done, remove it also from the pot and cancel sauté mode.
Pour the water into the pot and deglaze with a whisk to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. You don’t want to skip this step because the browned bits will cause a burn notice if not removed.
Set the lamb racks in the pot with the bones facing up. They’ll be standing up and touching in the middle, to keep them both propped upright. If you’re only cooking one rack, insert the trivet and set the rack on the trivet. This is to keep the meat up out of the water.
Lock on the lid and set the vent to sealing. Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button and set the time to 1 minute on high heat. That’s right! All you need is one minute of cook time.
When done, allow it to do a 12-minute natural pressure release. Then release any remaining pressure. Transfer the lamb to a plate and tent it with foil. Let the lamb rest for 5-10 minutes.
Cut the lamb into single chops and serve with your favorite side dish. I like to serve it over a bed of potatoes and carrots with some delicious gravy, which you can make from the drippings in the pot.
Why Use An Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. If you don’t have one, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot and the many accessories you can buy for it.
- Don’t Have an Instant Pot? This guide can help you choose the right one.
- See reviews and prices for Instant Pots on Amazon.
- Learn some great Instant Pot Tips & Tricks.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Instant Pot.
Questions About the Recipe
Can I use my oven instead?
Yes. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, but still want to make this rack of lamb, you can use the oven. Sear the lamb in a hot skillet, then cover it in the spices. Wrap the bones in aluminum foil, then place the rack of lamb into a preheated oven that is heated at 425°F. Let it bake for about 20 minutes for a medium cut of lamb. Remove it from the oven and rest it for 10 minutes.
What does it mean for a lamb rack to be “frenched”?
Having a “frenched” rack of lamb may sound fancy, but it is nothing too crazy. It is a couple of lamb chops connected where the rib bones are showing. Most racks of lambs in America are sold frenched, but butchers will gladly help you if need be.
Tips for Making Rack of Lamb
- Let the lamb get to room temperature before starting to season and cook it.
- Experiment with other seasonings like turmeric and curry powder to give the lamb a nice Indian flavor.
- Cut your rack of lamb in half if the whole rack doesn’t fit in the Instant Pot. Interlock the bones like a tent, so they cook evenly and have enough space in the pot.
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Instant Pot Rack of Lamb
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- Rack of lamb frenched (single or double rack)
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon Spanish paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Pat dry the rack of lamb. Mix together the seasonings in a bowl and use it to season the lamb.
- Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot. When hot, add the oil and the lamb, meat side down.
- Sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pot and cancel sauté mode.
- Pour the water into the pot and deglaze to remove any browned bits.
- Set the lamb racks in the pot, standing up so the bones raise the meat out of the water. (If only cooking 1 rack, insert the trivet and set the rack on the trivet).
- Lock on the lid and set the vent to sealing. Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button and set the time to 1 minute on high heat.
- When done, allow it to do a 12-minute natural pressure release. Then release any remaining pressure. Transfer the lamb to a plate and tent it with foil. Let the lamb rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Cut the lamb into chops and serve with your favorite side dish.
Notes
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
Spicing was good but cooking time given way too low and it was still raw when I took it out
Sorry about that Marc. Since everyone’s altitude, size of the rack, etc, is different there’s no way to get the timing right for everyone. The timing I give is perfect for my Instant Pot to get it to a nice medium rare.
One place said cook for 6 minutes with natural release, elsewhere, it said 6 minutes. That’s a huge difference in pressure cooking. Which is correct? I suspect that 6 minutes is correct, and the 1 minute is a typo and an invitation to trichinosus! Please correct me if I’m wrong, or otherwise correct your recipe. Thanks!
Hi Bill, I can see where the confusion is coming from. The 6 minute cooking time includes 5 minutes for sautéing and 1 minute for actual pressure cooking. Then you will need a 12 minute natural release after that. This should result in perfectly cooked lamb that isn’t overdone. I hope you give it a try.