How to Cook Lamb Loin Chops

How to cook lamb loin chops smoked, on the stove, baked in oven or air fryer is here. Most tender piece of the lamb without the long bone. We explain how long to cook lamb chops here but this one is the most tender with the most meat.

How to Pan Fry Lamb Loin Chops

This method can be great if you want to cook inside on a dreary day, similar to our Lamb Breast Recipe. You can just use the stove, baste, and heat until it comes to temp inside or bake at the end too. You start this method by preheating your oven to 375°F if you are going to bake at the end, which is recommended.

Season the lamb chops generously with salt and black pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil. Once it is hot, add the meat to the skillet and sear for about 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Add 2 tbsp minced garlic and a sprinkle of dried or fresh rosemary to the skillet. Cook for another minute, stirring frequently.

Add 2 tbsp butter to the skillet and let it melt. Baste the loin chops with the melted butter as it cooks. Transfer the skillet (cast iron is best since it is seasoned and oven safe) to the preheated oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F for medium-rare.

How to Season Lamb Chops

This go around just used simple salt and pepper but if you had a favorite dry rub for meat you could certainly use that or one of ours. Keep in mind that with any of these methods the cook time will vary depending on how thick your pieces are and how consistent you can keep your heat.

If you live in a cold area like we do I would highly suggest getting a smoker blanket to keep in the heat during the winter months. We have one and if we don’t use it it just can’t keep up and burns tons of pellets in the process.

How to Cook Lamb Chops in a Smoker

• Season lamb chops with salt and pepper, both sides.
• Fill smoker with hardwood BBQ pellets.
• Prepare smoker by placing 2-3 long sheets of aluminum foil along the bottom of the smoker element, underneath the rack, for easy cleanup.
• Brush grill rack clean. Set smoker to smoke.
• Once it starts smoking, set temperature to 225°. Insert meat probe if using. Place lamb chops on grill grates for about 40 minutes.
• Cook until meat reaches 135° for medium rare, use probe or internal thermometer to check.
• Remove from smoker, let rest 3 minutes before slicing.

What is the Ideal Lamb Internal Temperature?

The FDA says it should be 145 degrees F before consuming. Some would rather it be more rare where it reads closer to 120-129 F. For Medium Rare you want 130-134°F ; Medium, 135-144°F ; and Medium Well temp. = 145-154 degrees F. You may want a thick cut like this medium but lamb ribs more rare.

How to Cook Lamb Loin Chops in Oven

Once again you want to use a cast-iron skillet for this ideally. A seasoned one is always best, preheat oven to 400 F first. Set meat inside without overlapping. I like to put 1 small pat of butter on top of each one with a sprinkle of your favorite seasonings. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until cooked through for 8 to 10 minutes or until it reaches 145.

Pressure Cooker Lamb Chops

If you want to use your Instant Pot with the high pressure function to cook these you certainly can. Note that the texture on the outside will not be the same.

In an Air Fryer

If you want a bit of sear and browning on the outsides you would need to broil or air fry lamb at the very end for 2 minutes or so.

Alternatively you can use your Ninja Foodi to pressure cook, then change lids and air crisp at 400 for a few minutes. Then you only dirty one pot and get the same ideal results. Still you won’t get the added smokiness but still tender and juicy delicious.

How Long to Grill Lamb Loin Chops

You can use a gas or charcoal grill to make these. Of course the latter it a bit harder to maintain a steady temperature but just make sure you light the coals, allow time for them to cool and turn white first. Then set your pieces over indirect heat and close the lid. Cook on the grill without turning for 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 110 degrees. Then move to direct heat for another 2 minutes to sear.

Lamb rib chops are great made this way too but are thinner so you should decrease initial timing to closer to 4 minutes or so. Always allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving chops and lamb recipes of all kinds before slicing to keep it juicy. A splash of lemon juice, salt and pepper is great.

How to Prepare

How to prepare lamb chops is important to remember too. Before cooking any which way, or an entire rack of lamb for that matter, you want to take it out for a bit. Doesn’t need to be completely room temperature but warmer than straight out of the fridge. You don’t want it to go from cold to hot right away.

All cuts of lamb need a bit of time to adjust per say. If you didn’t with a few, and did with some others and tested all the cooked lamb chops the extreme temperature changed ones would not be quite as tender, but rather a bit more dried out.

What to Serve with Smoked Lamb Loin Chops

Side dishes galore can be served with these. If you want something that is quicker you can leave the tray uncovered with our smoked vegetables recipe and you’re looking at 20 minutes or so for those. With the rest time and all they should be done around the same time. I’d go with yellow squash and mushrooms which cook faster than others.

You could start our smoked bread that is cheesy and pull apart fun earlier, then throw on the meat in the last 15 minutes or so. OMG it is amazing and great for parties. If you have leftovers of either of these you can just cover the aluminum pan with foil and store the rest. For the proteins store in a freezer bag or sealed container when cooled.

It will stay well in the fridge for up to 3 days and I like to use them up by slicing when cold, laying in a pan on the stove and frying it up with a bit of butter and seasonings. Make some rice on the side with vegetables as a sort of lamb bowl of sorts. Or dice it up into smaller pieces, toss with teriyaki sauce and air fry for 4 minutes to just warm it and lock in the saucy flavors.

Ready to get going on this one and try to cook some loin chops yourself? Let us know what you and your family thinks of this duo. Jump to recipe and get going y’all!