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This 5-ingredient lamb chop marinade elevates lamb’s naturally delicious and earthy flavor profile. It’s the secret to making mouthwatering, flavorful, and juicy lamb every time!
Lamb chop marinade
When you want to make the best lamb chops of your life, remember to soak them in this easy lamb chop marinade first. The simple 5-ingredient sauce works its magic to penetrate the meat to give you succulent, over-the-top lamb every time. The marinade takes 2 minutes to put together while the meat only needs 30 minutes to soak!
Soaking lamb chops in this marinade infuses layers of rich, umami-forward flavor while making the meat incredibly tender and juicy. And while it’s meant for lamb chops, you can use it with almost any cut of lamb, including rib chops, shoulder chops, and loin chops.
Why you’ll love this lamb chop marinade recipe
Lamb chops are cut at an angle from the loin, rib, or sirloin area. Just like ribeye steak, Denver steaks, and pork chops, lamb chops are very tender on their own, but a marinade infuses delicious flavors into the meat while making it extra tender and juicy. In short, you should marinate lamb chops because it enhances every bite!
Here are some reasons why you’ll love this lamb chop marinade recipe:
- It yields flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth lamb. Whether you sear, air fry, grill, or sous vide your chops, this lamb steak marinade always gives the meat an over-the-top baseline of flavor.
- It’s budget-friendly. Lamb chops are generally less expensive than a full rack of lamb. That, plus the 5 easy-to-find condiments and aromatics in the marinade, makes this a budget-friendly meal idea (along with veal chops).
- It checks off the 3 components of a great marinade. Like a chicken thigh marinade, the 5 ingredients include an acid (soy sauce and Worcestershire), a flavoring agent (mustard and ginger), and garlic. That’s all it takes to make a well-balanced and over-the-top marinade for lamb chops!
Ingredients needed
There are so few ingredients needed here. While this is great news in terms of convenience, it also means that there’s nowhere to hide! Remember to pick up fresh, good-quality ingredients to achieve the very best flavor and the best-tasting lamb.
- Soy sauce. The umami flavors elevate the lamb’s natural earthy and grassy flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce. To build on the sweet, savory, and tangy flavors.
- Garlic. I highly recommend using freshly minced garlic cloves.
- Whole grain mustard. The peppery and tangy flavor of whole grain mustard is similar to Dijon mustard but has a coarser consistency.
- Ginger. A 1-inch piece of fresh ginger adds a pleasantly aromatic, zesty element.
Gluten free substitutions
Substitute the soy sauce for gluten free soy sauce or tamari instead. Also, look for a gluten free Worcestershire sauce when you’re shopping, as some brands contain barley (malt).
How to make the best lamb chop marinade
Mixing the marinade ingredients and letting the lamb soak up its umami-garlicky goodness is super simple. Here’s how it’s done:
- Make the marinade. Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Coat the lamb chops. Pour the marinade into a large glass bowl or ziplock bag. Add the lamb chops and toss to coat.
Pro tip
Marinating meat in a ziplock bag makes for easy cleanup. If you use a bowl, make sure it’s a glass or ceramic bowl. Metal bowls tend to react with the acid in the marinade, leaving an unpleasant metallic taste behind
- Marinate the lamb. Seal the bag or cover the bowl with plastic and place it in the fridge to marinate.
How to cook lamb chops
Once the lamb is marinated, bring it to room temperature and cook it using your method of choice. Here are the best ways to cook marinated lamb chops:
- Pan sear. Heat a cast iron pan until sizzling hot. Pat the lamb chops dry, then sear for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Grill. Preheat a grill on high. Pat the lamb chops dry, then grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 190ºC/370ºF. Pat the lamb chops dry, then air fry in a single layer for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Sous vide. Place the marinade and the lamb chops in a vacuum-sealed bag, then cook in a 135ºF to 140ºF sous-vide bath for 2 hours. Blot away the excess marinade before quickly searing the chops on both sides in a preheated and oiled cast iron pan.
Whichever cooking method you choose, remember that lamb chops are best cooked between rare and medium (120°F to 130°F). When cooked past medium, lamb tends to taste extra gamey and tough.
Recipe variations
The beauty of this simple marinade for lamb is the ability to mix and match the ingredients and jazz it up with other flavors. Use these ideas for inspiration:
- Mediterranean. Use good quality Greek balsamic vinegar instead of Worcestershire. Add a splash of lemon juice and a handful of fresh chopped herbs, like mint, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.
- Hot and spicy. Kick this simple lamb marinade up a notch with a dash of cayenne, cumin, chili powder, or red pepper flakes. You can also try hot honey sauce.
- Asian-inspired. Use my katsu sauce as a lamb chop marinade by omitting the xanthan gum, using only one tablespoon of water, and whisking the ingredients together instead of simmering. Bulgogi sauce is also a good option.
Storage instructions
To store: Make the marinade and keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge for 1 week. Once you’ve used it to marinate lamb, do not reuse it.
To freeze: Pour the prepared lamb chop marinade into an airtight container and freeze it for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge before using.
Frequently asked questions
This recipe yields roughly ½ cup of marinade which should be enough for 1 pound of meat or about 4 lamb chops.
You should marinate lamb chops for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Any longer and the fibers in the meat will begin to break down, leading to mealy meat.
One of the best ways to serve lamb chops is with a tangy yogurt sauce or with mint-based chimichurri on top. From there, pair the meat with simple sides, like orzo salad, roasted potatoes and carrots, or balsamic roasted brussels sprouts.
Lamb Chop Marinade
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
- 1 inch ginger minced
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
- Add the lamb chops, cover, and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
