Roasted Lamb Chops

Delicious Roasted Lamb Chops are easy to make and perfect for a special occasion meal or holiday dinner. The tender and juicy Frenched lamb chops are topped with fresh mint gremolata for a pop of bright flavor. You’ll love how easy this recipe is to make!

overhead shot of lamb chops on a plate with mashed potatoes.

If you’re feeling fancy-like and want a special dish for a special occasion, I suggest giving these roasted lamb chops a try. They might look fancy, but they’re actually easy to make, and the final result definitely gives off “wow-factor” vibes.

Lamb has a distinctive flavor some might describe as gamey or earthy. Pair it with fresh mint gremolata and glasses of red wine (Malbec is my fave), and you get a restaurant-quality meal at home. I love not leaving the house, don’t you?

a lamb chop being lifted out of the pan.

Ingredients

  • Frenched lamb chops – you can find Frenched lamb chops are most grocery stores, or you can ask the butcher to French lamb rib chops for you. Frenching them just means some of the fat and meat is removed to create that lollipop look.
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Fresh garlic cloves
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Mint gremolata for serving – more on this in a minute!
Ingredients for the recipe.

How to Cook Lamb Chops

Season: Take the lamb chops out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you cook them. Allowing them to warm to room temperature will ensure they cook evenly. Pat them dry and season them with salt and pepper.

Score: Use a knife to score the fat cap, which is on one side of the chops. Cut deep enough to cut through the fat but don’t cut the meat underneath. Scoring the fat this way will make it easier and faster to render the fat.

the browned chops in a skillet.

Render: Heat the olive oil in a heavy oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is very hot, place the chops fat-side-down in the pan. Cook them for three minutes.

Roast: Turn the chops over in the pan and add the butter, garlic, and rosemary. Place the pan in a 300ยฐF oven and roast the lamb chops for about 12 to 15 minutes. They are done when the internal temperature is 115ยฐF.

Baste: Take the pan out of the oven and spoon the drippings in the pan over the chops a few times.

Rest: Cover the pan with foil and rest the chops for about 10 minutes. They will continue to cook, and once they are 125ยฐF (or medium rare), they are ready.

overhead shot of the chops in a pan.

Mint Gremolata

While the lamb chops roast, make the gremolata. A traditional Italian gremolata is made with just parsley, but mint and lamb are a classic combination. So, this gremolata has both – it adds a pop of herby freshness and flavor.

  • Chopped fresh parsley
  • Chopped fresh mint
  • Grated garlic
  • Lemon zest
  • Lemon juice
  • Olive oil

Mix the herbs with the other ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.

process collage showing the ingredients for the gremolata and the ingredients mixed in a bowl.

Recipe Tips

  • If you’re not a fan of rosemary, you can omit it. The chops are delicious with just butter and garlic.
  • You can make the gremolata a few hours in advance – just keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
  • Use a meat thermometer to take out all of the guesswork when you roast the chops.
gremolata being spooned over lamb chops.

Side Dish Ideas

Serve these roasted lamb chops with mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or with a green salad on the side with crusty bread.

April
lamb chops on a plate with mashed potatoes.

More Fancy Dinner Ideas

๐Ÿ“ฃ Do you love this recipe? I would love to know! Leave a comment below the recipe along with your recipe star rating.

Print

Roasted Lamb Chops

lamb chops on a plate.

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Roasted Lamb Chops are easy to make and perfect for a special occasion meal or holiday dinner. The tender and juicy Frenched lamb chops are topped with fresh mint gremolata for a pop of bright flavor. You’ll love how easy this recipe is to make!

  • Author: April Anderson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Roast
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

For the Lamb Chops

  • 1 rack frenched lamb chops, cut into double chops (two bones)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary

For the Mint Gremolata

  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, grated (about ยฝ teaspoon)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oilย 

Instructions

  1. Bring the lamb chops to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the oven to 300ยฐF.
  2. Pat the lamb chops dry with a paper towel and season them generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (about 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepperโ€“ but feel free to measure to taste). Score the fat cap (the bright white section on top of the meat) in a crosshatch or diagonal pattern, making sure to only cut the fatโ€“ not the meat itself.
  3. Heat a cast iron or oven-safe heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat the pan until very hotโ€“ just before it begins to smoke.
  4. Add the lamb chops, fat side down, and cook for 3 minutes.
  5. Flip the lamb chops and add the butter, rosemary, and garlic to the pan.
  6. Place the cast iron in the preheated oven and cook for an additional 12-15 minutes, or until the lamb registers 115ยฐF with an internal instant-read thermometer.
  7. Remove the lamb from the oven and baste each chop a few times with the drippings in the pan. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Allow the lamb to rest for 8-10 minutes, or until it reaches 125F internally (for medium-rare).
  8. Slice the lamb into chops and serve with the mint gremolata.

How to Make the Mint Gremolata

  1. Add the parsley, mint, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil to a small bowl and stir to combine.
  2. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.ย 

Notes

Frenched lamb chops are available in most grocery storesโ€“ if you donโ€™t see them, you can always ask the butcher to french them for you.

You can make the gremolata a few hours ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve it.ย 

Nutrition

  • Calories: 324
  • Sugar: 0.3g
  • Sodium: 79.1mg
  • Fat: 25.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 7.3g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15.4g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2g
  • Carbohydrates: 1.9g
  • Fiber: 0.4g
  • Protein: 24.7g
  • Cholesterol: 91.2mg

Do you love this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a comment and your recipe star rating!

The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.