How To Cook Lamb Chops

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cooked lamb chops

Cooking lamb chops can seem a bit daunting, but it’s easier than you might think. Whether you’re looking to grill, pan-sear, or bake them, this guide has you covered. We’ll walk you through different methods step-by-step, ensuring you achieve perfectly cooked lamb chops every time, along with providing helpful tips for flavoring and thoroughly cooking lamb chops to a safe temperature.

What Are Lamb Chops?

Lamb chops typically come from sheep that are one year old or younger and can be cut from the shoulder, rib, loin, or sirloin area. Depending on where the chops come from, some lamb chops are more flavorful or tender than others, similar to cuts of beef from a cow. 

  • Rib chops: Rib chops are cut from the rib section of lamb and typically have a curved bone running along one side. They are known for their tenderness and distinct, decadent taste. 
  • Loin chops: Loin chops come from the back of the lamb and resemble small T-bone steaks. They include a portion of the loin muscle and are also very tender and flavorful.
  • Shoulder chops: Shoulder chops come from the shoulder area, which is exercised more than the rib and loin areas. While they are generally less tender than rib or loin chops, they are packed with flavor and are often more affordable than other lamb chops.

Lamb chops can take on many flavors, which is why they are prized for their versatility. You’ll see them a lot in Mediterranean dishes, but they’re also popular in Australia, India, France, Italy, and other countries around the world.

Tips for Preparing Lamb Chops

Chefs who cook lamb chops regularly tend to have a few strategies in place to cook their chops successfully each time. Here are the most common things they do for delicious lamb chops:

  1. Hold the chops at room temperature for about 30 minutes before you cook them. This allows the temperature to rise slightly throughout the chops, which will help them cook evenly.
  2. Pay attention to the fat content. Fattier chops, like rib chops, do better when cooked over low heat for a longer amount of time, like roasting in the oven, to allow their fat time to render down and tenderize the meat. Meanwhile, leaner cuts, like shoulder chops, are best cooked more quickly, like on the grill, to prevent them from drying out.
  3. Coat lamb chops in a light layer of oil before seasoning them to help your seasoning adhere to the surface. Also, pat the chops completely dry before brushing on a layer of oil.
  4. Pull lamb chops from the oven before they reach your desired doneness to prevent them from overcooking. Once your chops are removed from the heat, they’ll continue cooking slightly as you rest them. Removing them when they’re about 5 degrees away from your desired doneness is best practice. 

Flavor Variations

As we mentioned earlier, lamb chops are highly versatile, making it easy to experiment with new flavor profiles to match the dish vibes you’re going for. 

One of the most popular ways to enjoy lamb chops is Mediterranean style, which typically combines olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, and oregano to create a marinade for the chops before cooking. Moroccan-style lamb chops are also a hit; season your chops with paprika, garlic, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, salt, pepper, and lemon juice for tons of flavor in each bite.

You can also try the following flavor profiles:

  • Lemon herb
  • Garlic mint
  • Chipotle
  • Garlic rosemary
  • Ginger soy
  • Honey balsamic
  • Pesto
  • Honey garlic
  • Garlic butter
seasoning lamb chops

Lamb Chops Cooking Temperature

To be considered cooked to a safe temperature, a lamb chop’s internal temperature should reach 145 degrees. However, some people eat lamb rare or medium-rare, similar to steak, which are technically cooked to lower temperatures than what’s deemed a safe cooking temperature. It’s up to you how to cook your lamb chops, but we’ve included a helpful temperature guide to get your desired level of doneness below. Use a digital meat thermometer with the probe inserted into the thickest part of each chop to check their temperature accurately.

Temperature Guide

DonenessTemperature to Pull Chops from HeatFinal Temperature
Rare120-123°F125-130°F
Medium-Rare125-128°F130-135°F
Medium130-135°F135-145°F
Medium-Well140-145°F145-155°F
Well-Done150-155°F155-160°F

Different Methods of Cooking Lamb Chops

You can use just about any type of cooking method to cook lamb chops, including the grill, frying pan, and slow cooker. Below, find details on using each method.

How to Grill Lamb Chops

Remove the lamb chops from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you’re ready to cook them. 

About 15-20 minutes before you begin cooking, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Pat the lamb chops dry before brushing on a light layer of olive oil. Then, season with salt, pepper, or your other choice of seasonings. Grill each chop for 4-8 minutes on each side, or until they reach 125-128°F for medium rare. If they need a little more time, move them to an area of the grill with indirect heat to continue cooking until your desired doneness is reached. 

Once cooked, remove the chops from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes to retain their juices. 

grilling lamb chops

How to Broil Lamb Chops

Let the lamb chops rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Position an oven rack about six inches away from your heat source. Then, preheat the broiler.

Remove the lamb chops from the marinade if you used one. Pat the chops dry, brush a layer of olive oil on both sides, and season them as desired. Add the chops to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Broil them for 4-5 minutes before flipping the chops to the other side to broil for another 4-5 minutes, or until a thermometer reads 125-128°F for a medium-rare cook. 

Remove the chops from the oven and rest them at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving. 

broiling lamb chops

How to Bake Lamb Chops in the Oven

Place the lamb chops on a clean cutting board to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F. 

Pat the chops completely dry before brushing on a layer of olive oil and seasoning them with your chosen seasonings. If desired, sear the lamb chops for 1-2 minutes per side in a hot frying pan before cooking them in the oven. Otherwise, place them on a foil-lined baking sheet and transfer them to the oven. Cook for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until they reach 125-128°F for medium-rare.

Rest the chops for 5-10 minutes at room temperature before serving. 

oven baked lamb chops

How to Pan Fry Lamb Chops

Rest the chops at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. 

About 5 minutes before you’re ready to cook, heat a large frying pan or cast-iron skillet with a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat. Pat the lamb chops dry before brushing on a layer of oil and seasoning them with your favorite seasonings.

Add the lamb chops to the pan, and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side. If cooking to medium-rare, remove the chops when they’ve reached an internal temperature of 125-128°F. If you’d like to cook them more, turn the heat to low and continue cooking the chops until they reach your desired temperature. 

Remove the lamb chops from the heat to rest at room temperature for a few minutes.

pan frying lamb chops

How to Cook Lamb Chops in the Crock Pot

Chop a yellow onion and place it in the bottom of a slow cooker. Pat the chops dry and season them with your choice of herbs and spices. Then, place the lamb chops on top of the onion in the slow cooker. Top the chops with one tablespoon of minced garlic. Cook the chops on low for 4-6 hours.

After cooking, if desired, sear the chops in a frying pan or broil them to add crispiness to the surface.

crock pot lamb chops

How to Cook Lamb Chops in Air Fryer

For best results, marinate your lamb chops for at least 1-2 hours before air frying them to help them tenderize. Otherwise, season the chops as desired after letting them rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. 

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5-10 minutes. Add the chops to the basket, making sure each chop has room around it for air to flow. You may need to work in batches. Air-fry the chops for 6-10 minutes, flipping during the halfway mark. Check that the temperature reaches 125-128°F for medium-rare. If you want to cook the lamb chops further, turn the air fryer down to 350°F and continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes.

Rest the chops at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving. 

air fryer lamb chops

Wrapping Up

Want to learn more about cooking lamb? If you love lamb chops, you’ll also love lamb ribs and lamb steaks. After you’ve perfected the lamb chop cooking methods in this article, visit Steak University for guides on how to cook lamb ribs and how to cook lamb steaks