Lamb Loin Chops Recipe (Cast Iron) (2024)

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This easy lamb loin chops recipe will be your family's favorite. Lamb loin chops marinated in olive oil, lemon, paprika and garlic make a delicious dinner for everyone!

When it comes to cooking, we always try to use seasonal produce. Fresh and in season ingredients give such an amazing flavor to the dish and we try to use them as much as possible. These lamb loin chops are the perfect family dinner, served with seared onions and tomatoes. I love serving these pan seared lamb loin chops with some Mediterranean salad or Mediterranean potato salad for more flavor.

In addition to beef, chicken, and seafood, lamb is also a favorite as its extraordinary flavor and tender texture are perfect for many different recipes. Some of our favorite lamb recipes are braised lamb shanks, lamb stew, roasted leg of lamb and stuffed eggplant with lamb and walnuts.

What's the difference between lamb loin chops and lamb chops?

Lamb loin chops are cut from the waist of the lamb and have a small piece of bone. Lamb chops are basically rib cuts and have the rib bone. They are both perfect for pan searing and grilling. In general, lamb has more fat than meat so you might want to trim the fat a bit before marinating and cooking the lamb.

Do lamb loin chops have bones?

Yes. Lamb loin chops have a T shaped bone about halfway down the cut and you can easily remove it when eating.

Like other Mediterranean recipes, this delicious lamb loin chop recipe is made with olive oil, a generous amount of garlic and a good squeeze of fresh lemons. It's tender, savory and definitely super tasty! This is an easy cast iron lamb loin chops recipe that you can make at home for a nice family dinner.

To make this tasty meal, I used Open Nature™ products from my local Star Marketwhich are high quality, minimally processed products and are free of any artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. Open Nature products have none of the "bad" stuff: no chemical additives, no high fructose corn syrup, and no unrecognizable ingredients.

Pan seared lamb loin chops ingredients

To make this delicious lamb loin chops recipe, you need the following ingredients:

Lamb loin chops
Olive oil
Lemon
Garlic
Onion powder
Paprika

I love using smoked paprika for this recipe but you can also use regular paprika for this recipe. This recipe calls for 6 cloves of garlic but you can use more or less depending on your preference. Fresh lemon and extra virgin olive oil play an important role in this recipe as they are the base of the marinade.

What I love the most about Open Nature products is that they are good, clean, and I feel good about using them for me and my family. The quality and value that I get from Open Nature is great and the flavors are completely on point.

What do you marinate lamb chops in?

These lamb loin chops are marinated in a combination of olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, onion powder and paprika. Marinate the lamb loin chops for at least 30 minutes, up to 5 hours. The lemon garlic marinade brings out the delicious flavor of lamb and makes it so tender.

How to cook lamb loin chops in a skillet

Lamb loin chops can be cooked pretty quickly, especially if you like your meat medium rare to medium. Four minutes on each side in a hot cast iron skillet would work perfectly. Once you've seared them on both sides, turn the heat off, cover the pan and let the lamb loin chops rest in the pan for ten minutes if you like them to be medium. If you like them on the well done side, cook them in the oven at 350°F for ten minutes after you've seared them on both sides.

What is a good sauce for lamb chops?

I love serving lamb loin chops with a delicious Mediterranean yogurt and mint sauce. This fresh sauce is simple, yet so flavorful as it contains garlic, fresh mint and Open Nature plain Greek yogurt. Simply chop the mint and mix it with Greek yogurt, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Serve this sauce on the side with pan seared lamb loin chops.

What is a good side dish for lamb loin chops?

Roasted potatoes are a great side dish for this lamb loin chops recipe. I prefer to roast them with salt, pepper and just a little bit of thyme, keeping them quite simple as the lamb loin chops bear most of the flavor of the meal. A large bowl of fresh green salad with tomatoes is another good compliment to the lamb loins, especially when served with delicious Open Nature balsamic vinaigrette. I also love serving these pan seared lamb loin chops withCaprese Pasta Salad and Greek Potatoes Oven Roasted.

Notes and tips for making this lamb loin chops recipe

Marinate the lamb chops for 30 minutes up to five hours. Lamb absorbs flavors pretty quickly therefore you can just start cooking them after marinating them for 30 minutes.
Before pan searing the lamb, make sure it is at room temperature. If the lamb is cold, the center is going to be completely raw after cooking both sides.
Pan sear lamb loin chops anywhere between 4 to 6 minutes per side and then turn the heat off, cover and let it sit for ten minutes. The internal temperature should be 150° if you like it to be medium.
If you would like it to be more done, after searing it on both sides, cook it in the oven at 350°F for ten minutes.
Cast iron skillet is the best option to sear lamb loin chops.

Step-by-Step Recipe

Lamb Loin Chops Recipe with Roasted Potatoes

Shadi HasanzadeNemati

This easy lamb loin chops recipe will be your family's favorite. Lamb loin chops marinated in olive oil, lemon, paprika and garlic make a delicious dinner for everyone!

4.75 from 4 votes

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Ingredients

Lamb Loin Chops

▢ 6 Open Nature lamb loin chops
▢ ⅛ cup olive oil extra virgin
▢ 1 lemon juice of
▢ 6 cloves garlic minced
▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 ½ teaspoon paprika

Yogurt Mint Sauce

▢ 1 cup Open Nature Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt Strained
▢ ⅓ cup fresh mint chopped
▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
▢ ¼ tsp salt
▢ ⅛ tsp freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Lamb Loin Chops

In a large bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder and paprika.
Add the lamb loin chops to the marinade and mix well so all the pieces are covered in marinade.
Cover the bowl, refrigerate and marinade for at least thirty minutes.
Bring the bowl out of the fridge and let the lamb loin chops come to room temperature.
Meanwhile, heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat until it starts smoking.
Place lamb chops in the pan, 2 or 3 at a time and sear for five minutes on each side.
Once you've seared them on both sides, add some salt to the lamb loin chops, turn the heat off, cover the pan and let them sit for ten minutes.
Serve with roasted potatoes, yogurt mint sauce and a fresh green salad served withOpen Nature™ Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Yogurt mint sauce

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, serve immediately with the lamb loin chops.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal

Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

This post was sponsored by Star Market. As always, all opinions are mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Unicorns in the Kitchen!

Lamb Loin Chops Recipe (Cast Iron) (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to grill or pan fry lamb chops? ›

Lamb chops are very tender, so it's best to season with salt and pepper and cook (either pan fry or grill on a barbecue or chargrill pan), over high heat for a few minutes each side.

What seasonings go well with lamb? ›

Fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt are simple but amazing flavors that pair amazingly with the lamb! Each of these ingredients adds its unique warmth and depth to enhance the flavor of the dish.

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Which cooking method is best for loin chops? ›

Common methods for cooking a pork chop include grilling and baking, both of which can work well, but we believe they are best pan-roasted over high heat or barbecued. Choose a bone-in chop wherever possible – the bone toils to prevent the chop from drying out and infuses the meat with a greater depth of flavour.

How to cook loin chops so they are tender? ›

First, we sear one side of the chops until browned, flip them, turn the heat to low, and cover the skillet with a lid. The second side will slowly turn golden brown, and since we added the lid, the heat from the pan will gently cook the middle. By gently cooking the chops this way, they stay juicy and become tender.

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Is it better to cook lamb chops in butter or olive oil? ›

You may use olive oil if its flavor will compliment the dish, and is to your taste. You could even use animal fat like clarified butter, lard, or bacon fat if you choose, but each of these will bring a unique flavor. You may choose a neutral oil if you want less flavor influence from the oil.

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Should you rinse lamb chops before cooking? ›

While washing meat and poultry to remove dirt, slime, fat or blood may have been appropriate decades ago when many slaughtered and prepared their own food, the modern food safety system doesn't require it. Meat and poultry are cleaned during processing, so further washing is not necessary.

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Is lamb OK to be pink? ›

A rare, or pink, lamb chop that has been seared well on the outside should be fine because any bacteria on the outer surface will have been killed by the heat. But minced or diced lamb or mutton should never be served pink. It needs to be thoroughly cooked and browned. The same goes for burgers.

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What makes lamb taste better? ›

The big, bold Lamb flavor goes well with spices like coriander seeds, cumin, curry powder, harissa paste, garlic, rosemary, oregano, thyme, black pepper, chilly flakes, and mint. Spices compliment Lamb, but it also holds its flavor with just salt and pepper.

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What makes lamb taste good? ›

Fat produced from grass creates a lovely flavoursome addition to the meat. Lamb's robust flavour takes well to being seared and charred.

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Why are my lamb loin chops tough? ›

Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Rib chops should be cooked to about 130°F, while loin chops are better at 135°F or even 140°F.

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Are lamb loin chops a good cut? ›

Lamb Loin (also Lamb Saddle)

The center of the animal, this contains the most tender cuts of lamb meat and is usually presented cut into loin chops or whole as a loin roast. Full of tender meat. Cook: roast, grill, pan fry, braise.

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Are lamb loin chops healthy? ›

It is a delicious and rich source of protein that has important vitamins and minerals. When consumed in moderation, it is a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet. Like other red meats, lamb can increase your chances of developing certain chronic illnesses. Experts recommend eating red meat in moderation.

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How does Gordon Ramsay cook his lamb? ›

And when you have a gorgeous cut, like a rack of lamb, you can cook it the good ol' Gordon Ramsay way—which is to say, lightly pan-sear it first, then baste it with an herby, garlicky butter, and finally finish it off in the oven until it's still pink and juicy in the middle.

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How do you cook lamb loin chops Jamie Oliver? ›

Preheat a griddle pan to high, then cook the lamb for 3 minutes on each side, or until cooked to medium. Serve the chops in a pile on one end of a chopping board and arrange the bowl of houmous, coleslaw and spicy nuts nicely around them, then sprinkle with the coriander leaves.

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