Cooking Temp For Lamb Chops

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What Are Lamb Chops?
How To Make Lamb Chop Marinade
How To Cook Lamb Chops In The Oven
Baked Lamb Chops FAQs
Lamb Chop Recipe Storage Instructions
What To Serve With Lamb Chops
Tools To Make Baked Lamb Chops
How To Cook Lamb Chops In The Oven

This easy lamb chop recipe may be basic, but for quality meats, isn't that the best kind? These baked lamb chops make a perfect meal for entertaining, holiday meals, or even just a special dinner at home. It's as easy as mixing up my simple lamb chop marinade, giving them a gorgeous sear, and cooking the lamb chops in the oven.

You know I'm a huge fan of simple how-to guides for roasting various meats in the oven – chicken breast, chicken legs, and sirloin steak are all simple and popular.

But sometimes, it's also nice to get a little fancy at home. At-home date nights in are a delicious way to make great cuts of meat and seafood – without paying an arm and a leg for it! Some of my other favorites are reverse sear steaks, perfect prime rib, and lobster tails. For a fraction of going out. Adding a guide for how to cook lamb chops in the oven felt natural!

How to cook lamb chops - shown on a white surface

What Are Lamb Chops?

Lamb chops are one of the best cuts of lamb, making them expensive, but so delicious! The meat is taken from the ribs and then cut into separate lamb chops. A rack of lamb is lamb chops that haven't been cut into individual chops.

What do lamb chops taste like?

Lamb is a very tender cut of meat, which many people enjoy, and while it tastes similar to beef, it also has a slight gamey flavor. Cooked correctly, I find the gamey flavor to be mild and not at all over-powering.

What is the difference between lamb loin chops vs lamb rib chops?

Lamb loin chops and lamb rib chops are two different cuts of lamb. The loin chops are cut from the waist of the lamb and they don't have any rib bones.

This lamb chop recipe uses lamb rib chops, and does contain a bone.

How To Make Lamb Chop Marinade

I know next on your list is probably how to season lamb chops, and I've got a great marinade for perfect lamb chops.

Lamb chop marinade ingredients:

This simple marinade recipe gives amazing flavor to these homemade lamb chops, and it's made with basic ingredients:

Olive oil
Lemon juice
Garlic
Fresh rosemary
Fresh thyme
Dried oregano
Sea salt
Black pepper

How to marinate lamb chops:

Mix lamb chop marinade. Simply whisk all your ingredients together.

lamb chop marinade with whisk

Marinate. Add the chops and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 30-60 minutes.

TIP: If you have time, marinate for up to 24 hours. Longer than that may make the meat too mushy.

raw marinated keto lamb chops in a glass bowl

How To Cook Lamb Chops In The Oven

After marinating, the process to make baked lamb chops in the oven is super quick.

We start with the stovetop and then move them to the oven to finish. (This is actually convenient because you can sear them while the oven preheats!)

Sear. Heat oil in a large cast iron grill pan (this one is a great size) until it's screaming hot. Add lamb chops in a single layer and sear until browned. Flip and sear the other side.

TIP: Sear lamb chops in batches. If making 8 lamb chops, sear them in two batches, so that you don't crowd the pan.

Seared lamb chops in cast iron grill pan

Bake. Immediately transfer the skillet your oven, and roast lamb chops in the oven to desired doneness.

TIP: Use a meat probe like this to monitor temperature. They heat quickly! Check the lamb temperature chart below for recommendations.

Roasted lamb chops out of the oven in cast iron grill pan

Rest. Remove lamb chops from pan once they're done, or they will continue cooking. Tent the chops with foil, and rest for 5 minutes before serving (internal temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees).
Repeat with remaining lamb chops. Wipe out pan in between batches and sear and roast remaining lamb chops. Transfer to a serving dish.

Roasted lamb chops on a platter with lemon, rosemary, tomatoes, and cucumbers

How long to bake lamb chops at 375 degrees?

After the lamb chops are seared, they will bake for a short time at 375 degrees F:

2-5 minutes for medium-rare to medium, OR
5-8 minutes for medium-well to well done

But, it's always best to go by temperature than time. Use the chart below as a guideline.

Lamb Chops Time Chart:

Doneness	Brown On The Stove	Then Broil For	Target Temperature *
Rare	2 minutes per side	0-2 minutes	120 degrees F
Medium Rare	2 minutes per side	2-4 minutes	130 degrees F
Medium	2 minutes per side	3-5 minutes	140 degrees F
Medium Well	2 minutes per side	5-7 minutes	150 degrees F
Well Done	2 minutes per side	6-8 minutes	160 degrees F

*Temperatures are before resting. International temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees while resting.

TIP: Cooking above medium is not recommended as it may taste gamey.

How do you know when lamb chops are cooked?

The best way to determine when your chops are cooked through is by using a probe thermometer, so that you can track the lamb chop temperature the entire time it's in the oven roasting. Simply set it to the desired doneness temperature from the chart above, and it will sound an alarm once it reaches that temperature.

Can lamb chops be pink in the middle?

Yes, your lamb chops can be pink in the middle. In fact, they will be pink if you cook them to the recommended medium-rare to medium doneness – as shown below!

Lamb chop on a plate with cross-section showing medium rare

Baked Lamb Chops FAQs

Are lamb chops healthy?

Yes, lamb chops are a great source of protein and healthy fats. They're also almost always grass-fed.

Where can I buy lamb chops?

Not all grocery stores will carry lamb chops, so you might want to call ahead before making a trip. I recommend seeking out a butcher shop or store that has high-quality meat.

How many lamb chops per person?

This really depends on the size of the lamb chops. One large lamb chop is enough for one person, but if they are on the smaller side, two to three per person should be plenty.

Can lamb chops be cooked from frozen?

Yes, you can cook lamb chops from frozen, but the baked lamb chops will take longer to cook.

However, they will cook more evenly if you thaw them (in water) first, instead of searing frozen ones.

Lamb chops plated with herbs and lemon wedge

Lamb Chop Recipe Storage Instructions

Can you make them ahead?

Lamb chop recipes like this are best cooked right before serving, but you can mix up the lamb chop marinade and marinate them up to 24 hours ahead.

How to store leftovers:

Store leftover lamb chops in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Can you freeze lamb chops?

Yes, you can freeze raw lamb chops for 2-3 months. You can freeze cooked if you really want to, but they are more prone to be dry or overcooked by the time you thaw and reheat them.

How to reheat lamb chops:

I use the same method for reheating roasted lamb chops that I do for reverse sear steak to preserve the pink center:

Preheat the oven to a low temperature, such as 250 or 300 degrees F.
Place the lamb chops in a baking dish and add a little broth to the bottom (this will create steam to keep moisture in). Seal the top with foil.
Heat in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until warm.

Lamb chops on a plate with fresh rosemary and lemon

What To Serve With Lamb Chops

All these roasted lamb chops need is a few sides. I love serving them with veggies or salads, and a fresh, healthy bread. Here are some great recipes to consider:

Healthy Side Veggies – Veggie sides such as roasted asparagus, sauteed zucchini, or mashed cauliflower pair very well with this lamb chop recipe.
Salads – Salads such as Greek salad (shown in the photos here!), Israeli salad, or cold roasted vegetable salad all share similar Mediterranean flavors – and pair well with lamb.
Healthy Breads – Healthy breads such as fathead dinner rolls, almond flour bread, or 90-second bread pair make a great side for roasted lamb chops.

Cast Iron Grill Pan – Using cast iron is key for making the best lamb chops, as it gets super hot (creates a great sear!) and can go from stovetop to oven. This grill pan is my favorite because it's large enough to fit 4 large chops (or 6 smaller ones) AND even provides grill marks!
Cast Iron Skillet – If you don't want to get a grill pan that is limited to, well, grilled things, get this cast iron skillet instead. It still gets you that great sear and is more versatile.
Instant Read Meat Probe – This is the best way to tell when meat is perfectly cooked. Use it for this recipe for lamb chops, but also for chicken breasts, reverse sear steak, and roasted brisket.

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6 tbsp Olive oil (divided into 5 tbsp and 1 tbsp)
1 tbsp Lemon juice
6 cloves Garlic (crushed)
1 tbsp Fresh rosemary (chopped)
1 tbsp Fresh thyme
1 tsp Dried oregano
2 tsp Sea salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper
8 large Lamb chops (~3.5 pounds)

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

In a large bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons of olive oil with the remaining lamb chop marinade ingredients: lemon juice, crushed garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add the lamb chops. Turn them to coat in marinade and press the marinade into the chops. Cover with plastic and marinate at room temperature for 30-60 minutes. (Alternatively, marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, but let lamb chops sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes, until screaming hot and shimmering. Add the lamb chops in a single layer, fat side down. Sear for 2 minutes, until browned on the bottom, then flip and sear for 2 more minutes until browned on the other side. If making 8 lamb chops as written, you'll need to do a batch of 4 on the stovetop and then the oven (below), then repeat stovetop and oven with the remaining 4.
Immediately transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Roast lamb chops for about 2-5 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, or about 5-8 minutes for medium-well to well done. (However, cooking above medium is not recommended, as it may taste gamey.)
Remove lamb chops from the oven and transfer to a plate (do not let them sit in the pan or they will overcook).
Repeat the sear and oven combination with the remaining lamb chops. (It's best to wipe out the pan in between batches.)
Tent with foil and rest for 5 minutes per serving. (Temperature will rise an additional 5-10 degrees.)

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Serving size: 1 large lamb chop (~7 oz)

Video Showing How To Make Lamb Chops:

Tap here to jump to the video for this recipe -- it's located directly above the ingredients list. It's the easiest way to learn how to make Lamb Chops!

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 383

Fat 22.4g

Protein 42g

Total Carbs 1.3g

Net Carbs 1g

Fiber 0.3g

Sugar 0.1g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

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How to cook lamb chops in the oven - recipe pin