Air Fryer Lamb Chops
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Tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, my perfectly seasoned air fryer lamb chops taste like they came straight off the grill- and they cook in under ten minutes.
I love lamb, and it’s probably one of my family’s favorite meats ever. Lamb chops, in particular, were once reserved for our summertime grilling, but that changed when I started using my air fryer regularly.
You get the juicy and tender meat that grilling provides, but in a fraction of the time. What used to be a seasonal dinner for us has now become a staple on our weeknight dinner menu.
Why I love lamb chops in the air fryer
- Quick and easy. With less than two minutes of prep and 7 minutes of cooking time, these lamb chops redefine a fast dinner.
- Healthier. I find that frying or baking lamb chops requires tons of oil to keep the meat juicy, but not the air fryer. And we don’t sacrifice any flavor!
- Minimal ingredients. Besides some basics like butter and rosemary, this recipe needs just a handful of ingredients.
- Perfect every time. Cooking them in the air fryer ensures juicy and tender lamb, so you never have to worry about chewy or tough meat.
If you enjoy lamb like we do, try my lamb lollipops or lamb ribs next.
Ingredients needed
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
- Lamb chops (lamb cutlets). Choose thicker cuts of lamb with the bone intact, aiming for at least one inch. Lamb loin chops, lamb shoulder chops, or rib chops will also work, but you will need to increase the cooking time by two minutes. I also tested this recipe with a rack of lamb, but found it to be a little more time-consuming to cook correctly.
- Olive oil and butter. A combination of oil and butter keeps the chops juicy in the middle and tender on the outside. Opt for unsalted butter, as we’ll already be adding salt.
- Garlic. Freshly minced is always preferred, but jarred garlic also works.
- Rosemary. A must for any recipe that calls for lamb. You can also use oregano or other fresh herbs.
How to make air fryer lamb chops
Step 1- Prepare the lamb chops by patting them dry with a paper towel and removing the excess fat.
Step 2- Season. Add the lamb to a bowl. Mix the oil, butter, and spices, then rub over each lamb chop.
Step 3- Assemble. Add the lamb chops to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Step 4- Air fry the lamb chops for 3 minutes on either side or until the meat reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145°F.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“My husband said this was so delicious! The meat was moist and flavorful. I have to agree. I’m not a big fan of lamb, but my husband likes it. So I tried this recipe. I marinated the lamb for about 45 minutes in the olive oil, butter (I melted it), fresh rosemary, and fresh garlic after I seasoned the meat with the salt and pepper. My husband said to “keep this recipe”. For sure, I will!” – Barbara
Ideal temperature and cooking time for lamb
The ideal temperature and cooking time for these chops depend on the level of doneness you want. According to the American Lamb Board, the ideal level of doneness for enjoying lamb chops is 145°F for medium-rare. For this recipe (using 1-inch chops), this took us exactly 7 minutes.
As always, use a meat thermometer to double-check.
- Medium-Rare: 145°F and 7 minutes.
- Medium: 150°F and 7 1/2- 9 minutes.
- Medium-Well: 155-160°F and 10-12 minutes
- Well Done: 165°F and 12 minutes.
Recipe tips and variations
- Cook the lamb in a single layer every time. This ensures the lamb cooks evenly and thoroughly. If needed, cook in batches.
- Pat the meat dry before seasoning it to yield the juiciest chops every time. Any excess moisture actually dries the lamb out quickly.
- Change up the seasonings, soak the lamb in a lamb chop marinade, or baste it with a flavorful sauce before air-frying.
Storage instructions
To store: Place leftover lamb chops in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to four days.
To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled chops in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to two months.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. Medium-rare chops are still quite pink in the center and are suitable for consumption.
Yes, you can bake these in the oven. Once the lamb is prepped, add them to a greased baking sheet and bake at 190C/375F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
If you tried this Air Fryer Lamb Chops recipe, please leave a star rating and comment. It helps others thinking of making this.
Air Fryer Lamb Chops Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 8 small lamb chops bone-in, around 3 ounces each
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons Rosemary chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/370F. Grease the air fryer basket.
- Pat each lamb chop dry with a paper towel and cut off excess fat or sinew.
- Add the chops to a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, butter, garlic, and fresh rosemary. Toss through the chops, ensuring each one is well coated in the seasonings.
- Add the chops in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 3 minutes, flip, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the lamb reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Let the meat rest for two minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving ideas!
We love to keep the sides simple when serving chops because it allows them to stand out. Here are some air fryer vegetables to try:
Just fixed these for lunch. So juicy. So tender. Only thing is, my “air fryer” sucks, I think. I aimed for medium, which took 12 minutes. What kind of air fryer are you using? I assume they are not all alike. Mine is more like a convection oven, so the chops did not turn golden like yours. At any rate, the seasoning was perfect and these were so quick and easy to prepare. 🙂
I bought a package of lamb chops but never made them before. Your recipe was easy and delicious, thank you!!
Great easy and beautifully tasty dish
best air fryer lamb chops. these are so juicy and tender and everyone loved them!
My husband said this was so delicious! The meat was moist and flavorfull. I have to agree. I’m not a big fan of lamb but my husband likes it. So I tried this recipe. I marinated the lamb for about 45 minutes in the olive oil, butter (I melted it), fresh rosemary and fresh garlic after I seasoned the meat with the salt and pepper. My husband said to “keep this recipe”. For sure I will!
The instructions for timing still contradict each other as at the start you say it’s 8 minutes total (‘ready in under 10 minutes!’) but then you say after cooking for 8 minutes the chops must be turned and cooked for another 8 mins.
Recipe is great but the timings issue has already been raised twice and it’s not been rectified as you said it would.
Updated, sorry Chris! It’s 3-4 minutes per side.
The chops were delicious but the recipe is a bit confusing. In the picture area, it says to cook for 8 minutes but in the directions, it says to flip after 7-8 minutes and cook for another 7-8. Mine came out a little too done for me because I flipped them late and realized the mistake after they’d already been cooking for 10… still delicious, though.
Will fix it!
I am a bit confused. Does this stay in air fryer total of 7-8 minutes or 7-8 minutes per side? Thank you, I am anxious to try this.
7-8 minutes per side 🙂
Ultra delicious!!
I LOVE CHOPS. And I never even thought of air frying them. This is ideal, thanks for sharing.
Great, juicy recipe!
Super simple!
I used rosemary rather than the parsley that was specified in the recipe. So good!
Thank you!