Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce
These Air Fryer Lamb Chops require only a handful of ingredients, 5 minutes of prep and less than 10 minutes to cook. You won’t believe how easy they are to make! The Lamb loin chops are marinated in a delicious lemon, herb and garlic marinade, perfectly cooked in the air fryer and then topped with a refreshing mint sauce.
I absolutely love lamb, it is one of my favorite meals to enjoy for a special occasion (such as Easter). I usually grill lamb on the barbecue, but recently on an especially wet and cold day decided to try cooking them in an air fryer and was absolutely shocked at how well they turned out. Cooking lamb loin chops in the air fryer is a practically fool proof method that results in the most juicy chops that are perfectly cooked every single time. For this recipe the air fryer lamb loin chops are marinated in a simple lemon, garlic and herb marinade, cooked until golden on the outside and juicy in the middle and then served with a refreshing 3-ingredient mint sauce that pairs perfectly with the lamb.
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Lamb Chops
- Cooking lamb chops has never been so foolproof! You won’t believe how easy lamb chops are to make in the air fryer
- I used to equate lamb chops with a meal saved for special occasions, but with a cook time of less than 10 minutes and minimal cleanup I’ve realized they are perfect for weeknight dinner.
- This air fryer lamb chops recipe requires less than 10 simple ingredients to create a delicious meal. The simple marinade of olive oil, herbs, lemon and garlic is made with ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen.
- If you do not have an air fryer these lamb chops can easily be made in a large skillet on the stovetop or on an outdoor grill.
- The garlic and herb marinade is incredibly versatile and gives the lamb chops so much flavor. You can adjust the ingredients in the marinade by adding more herbs, or different, or more or less lemon juice or vinegar depending on your preference.
- While these tender lamb loin chops are fantastic on their own, to really elevate the dish and for extra flavor, you can serve them with a simple homemade mint sauce that takes just minutes to make and requires only 3 ingredients.
What’s The Difference Between Lamb Rib Chops, Lamb Loin Chops and Lamb Shoulder Chops
I was shocked to learn just how many different types of lamb chops there are; shoulder chops, loin chops and rib chops from a rack of lamb. These terms are not interchangeable and each cut of lamb is actually from a completely different part of the animal. The two most common types of chops are lamb rib chops and loin chops which you can usually find in any grocery store or butcher.
Lamb Loin chops come from sections between the lambs ribs and sirloin and have a T shaped bone found in them similar to the bone in a T-bone steak. They are generally thicker in cut, and are known for being a cut of very tender meat, and because of this, they are usually more expensive. I find that lamb loin chops have a slightly milder flavor whereas the rib chops can have a rich gamey flavor.
Lamb Rib Chops are part of a rack of lamb and come from a lambs rib section. They are usually sold in 8 and are often thinner then loin chops.
The Lamb Shoulder Chop is the least tender of all of the chops due to the cut coming from the shoulder which is a well used muscle and therefore a tougher cut of meat. They are the cheapest of the 3 types of chops due to the amount of marbling and connective tissue.
Ingredients You Need To Make These Air Fryer Lamb Chops
- Lamb Loin Chops: 2 pounds lamb loin chops should be approximately 6-7 chops. Look for chops that are at least 1 inch thick.
- Olive Oil: Use good quality extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic: minced garlic cloves add so much great flavor to the marinade. If you are not a fan of the strong taste of garlic I recommend swapping the garlic cloves for 1 tsp of garlic powder.
- Rosemary and Thyme: I prefer using fresh herbs for the marinade, but if you can’t find fresh rosemary and thyme, dried can also be used, just be sure to halve the quantity of each to compensate for the concentrated flavor of the dried herbs. Feel free to substitute the rosemary with oregano for a slightly more greek inspired dish.
- Lemon Juice: Adding lemon juice to the marinade has two purposes, to add flavor to the chops, as well as to help tenderize the meat as it marinates. If you do not have lemon juice, I recommend using an equal amount of red wine vinegar and adding a touch of lemon zest to still give the lamb chops a nice lemon flavor.
- Chili Flakes: I like the touch of warmth that red pepper flakes add to the meat. Feel free to skip these if you prefer.
How To Make These Air Fryer Lamb Chops
- In a small bowl whisk together the ingredients for the delicious marinade (olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, kosher salt, black pepper, lemon juice and red pepper flakes).
- Place lamb chops in a large bowl or ziploc bag and pour the marinade overtop. Transfer the lamb to the fridge to marinate for a minimum of 1 hour but ideally overnight.
- Turn the air fryer on to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it to preheat for 5 minutes.
- Place the marinated lamb chops in a single layer to the air fryer basket ensuring that they are well spread out. Cook the lamb chops for 4 minutes and then flip them, spoon any excess marinade overtop and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Leave the lamb chops to rest for 3-4 minutes before serving.
You can find full step by step instructions in the recipe card below.
How Long Should I Leave The Lamb To Marinate
If you are short on time then you can marinate the lamb for just 1 hour, but I usually try to marinate them for a minimum of 3-4 hours and ideally overnight. I do not recommend leaving the chops in the marinade for longer then 24 hours as the acid in the marinade will begin to break down the fibers of the meat which will cause the lamb to become mushy.
What Internal Temperature Should I Look For
I always recommend using a meat thermometer when cooking red meat or chicken to ensure that you do not end up with raw (or overcooked!) food. Be sure to insert the instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the lamb. The thickness of the lamb chops will impact the cooking time, but as a general rule the following cook time and internal temperature of the meat can be used as a guide keeping in mind that the meat will continue cooking and internal temperature will increase by an additional 10 degrees f as it rests.
Medium Rare: After 7 minutes of cooking remove the lamb from the air fryer at 135ºF and it will reach 145º F as it rests
Medium: After 8 minutes of cooking remove the lamb from the air fryer at 150ºF and it will reach 155-160º F as it rests
Medium-Well: After 8 minutes of cooking 9 remove the lamb from the air fryer at 160ºF and it will reach 165-170º F as it rests
Can I Cook These Lamb Chops On The Stovetop?
Of course! If you do not have an air fryer, you can easily cook these lamb loin chops in a pan. Heat a cast iron skillet or frying pan on medium-high heat, add in a little bit of oil (I recommend olive oil or avocado oil) and once the pan is hot add the lamb chops. Leave the chops to cook in the hot skillet for 3 to 4 minutes before flipping and cooking for a further 3 minutes before removing from the cast-iron skillet and leaving to rest for 4-5 minutes. These pan-seared lamb chops should have a nice golden color which will be darker then if you cook them in the air fryer.
Can I Cook These Lamb Chops On The Grill
Absolutely! Heat a grill on medium heat. Add the marinated lamb chops to the hot grill and cook for 4 minutes per side. Be sure to check the internal temperature as you are cooking to ensure that the chops don’t become overcooked.
Ingredients For The Mint Sauce
- Mint: Fresh mint is the star of the show in this mint sauce. Be sure to buy mint that is fresh and not wilted or brown in color.
- Honey: honey is used as a sweetener to contrast the acidic taste of the vinegar, feel free to swap the honey for any other sweetener of choice such as maple syrup or coconut sugar.
- White Wine Vinegar: If you do not have white wine vinegar you can use apple cider vinegar in its place.
How To Make The Mint Sauce
This mint sauce couldn’t be any easier to make! Simply place all of the ingredients into a small food processor or blender and blend until the mint is broken into very small bits (or you can blend further until it forms a smooth consistency).
Tips For Making These Air Fryer Lamb Chops
- When buying lamb loin chops, choose ones that are at least 1 inch in thickness
- Don’t skip preheating the air fryer! This will give the chops nice color similar to searing in a pan when they are placed in the air fryer basket.
- For the best results, rest time is key to ensure you have juicy lamb chops! Be sure to leave the cooked lamb chops to rest on a cutting board or plate for 3-4 minutes before cutting. This times allows the juices in the lamb to redistribute through the meat which results in very juicy air fryer lamb chops, if you cut them too soon, the juices will run out of the meat onto the cutting board.
What To Serve With These Air Fryer Lamb Chops
There are so many side dishes that would be fantastic served with these herb and garlic lamb chops. I like serving them with crispy roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans or asparagus. For a greek inspired spin you can even serve them with tzatziki and greek salad.
What About Leftovers
Leftover Air Fryer Lamb Chops can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I enjoy eating leftover lamb chops at room temperature, but if you prefer to eat them warm, I recommend heating a pan on medium heat. Add a touch of oil and once hot, add in the lamb loin chops and cook for just 30-45 seconds per side, you do not want to cook them for any longer otherwise the lamb will become overcooked and chewy. Leftover lamb loin chops can be eaten as is, or sliced up and added to a salad, sandwich or wrap. I like to toss the tasty lamb chops into a salad and use the mint sauce as the salad dressing.
Here are a few more lamb recipes that you might enjoy:
- Greek Lamb Meatballs
- Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Chimichurri
- Spiced Lamb & Lentil Stew
- Middle Eastern Lamb Stuffed Eggplant
- Greek Lamb Burgers
- Braised Lamb Shanks
- Braised Lamb Ragu
If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lamb loin chops should be approx 6-7 chops
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp chili flakes
Mint Sauce
- 1 bunch fresh mint
- 1 tsp hot water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, lemon juice & chili flakes.
- Add the lamb chops to a ziploc bag or bowl and pour the marinade overtop. Leave to marinate for a minimum of 1 hours but ideally overnight
- Put the air fryer on 400 and leave to preheat for 5 minutes
- Add the lamb chops to the air fryer basket, spread them out in an even layer and cook for 4 minutes, after 4 minutes flip them over and spoon any of the excess marinade over the top of the chops and cook for another 2-3 minutes (looking for an internal temp of 135 degrees fahrenheit)
- While the lamb is cooking in a food processor combine all of the ingredients for the mint sauce and pulse until the mint is broken into very small pieces. Set aside;
- Allow the lamb chops to rest for 3-4 minutes. Serve with the mint sauce on the side
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