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My air fryer lamb chops turn out tender and juicy every single time. This cooking method takes just 7 minutes.
Looking for more air fryer dinners? Try my air fryer chicken breast, air fryer salmon, air fryer pork tenderloin, and air fryer steak next.
I love lamb and it’s probably one of my family’s favorite meats ever. Lamb chops, in particular, used to be reserved for our summertime grilling, but that changed since I started using my air fryer religiously.
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 weeknight dinner staple.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- 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. Seriously, though. I love how tender and juicy the chops turn out to be. Cooking them in the air fryer guarantees a perfect result, so you never have to fear chewy or tough meat.
Ingredients needed
- Lamb chops. Choose thicker cuts of lamb with the bone intact. 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 tested this recipe with a rack of lamb, too, but found it was a little more time-consuming to cook properly.
- 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.
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
How to make air fryer lamb chops
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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 145F.
Ideal temperature and cooking time for lamb
The ideal temperature and cooking time for these chops depend on the level of doneness you want. As per the American Lamb Board, the minimum temperature necessary to enjoy 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 7-8 minutes.
- Medium: 150°F and 8 1/2- 9 minutes.
- Medium-Well: 155-160°F and 10-12 minutes
- Well Done: 165°F and 12 minutes.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Cook the lamb in a single layer every time. This ensures the lamb cooks evenly and completely. If needed, cook in batches.
- Pat dry the meat before seasoning them to yield the juiciest chops every time.
- Change up the seasonings, soak the lamb in a lamb chop marinade, or douse it in a flavorful sauce before air frying.
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:
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.
Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer, oven or skillet.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. Medium-rare chops are still quite pink in the center and are suitable to be consumed.
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.
More easy lamb dinners
- Lamb lollipops
- Lamb burgers
- Lamb kabobs
- Lamb ribs
- Or any of my lamb recipes
Air Fryer Lamb Chops
Video
Ingredients
- 8 small lamb chops bone-in
- 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 dry each lamb chop 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 mix.
- Add the chops in a single layer in the basket. Air fryer for 3-4 minutes, flip, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Let the meat rest for two minutes before serving.
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!