Oven Baked Lamb Chops

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If you want to know the true meaning of the words juicy and tender, cut a few lamb chops and pop them in the oven.

Of the many roasted lamb chops recipes out there, this is one I can always count on to be a hit whenever I host dinner parties.

There is a beautiful simplicity to the recipe that somehow manages to produce excellent results every time.

All I need to do is add lamb chops to the oven and the rest will take care of itself.

If you love oven-baked lamb chops but have been struggling to get the recipe to come out perfectly, this is for you!

Once you master this simple recipe, you will never again have any problems when you cook lamb chops in the oven.

Are you craving a tender lamb chop? Grab your apron and let’s get started!

What Are Lamb Chops?

You would think that by now everyone knows what a lamb chop is, but a surprisingly high number of people easily confuse this special cut with other lamb cuts.

An easy way to know that what you are buying is a lamb chop is to simply go for the most expensive cut in the butchery.

You may hear some people referring to lamb chops as cutlets which is the same thing.

Since the cut comes from the ribs or the rack, it is easy to separate lamb chops and therefore they are a great option when you want to serve individual portions.

Many people who have tasted roasted lamb chops will tell you that this is their favorite meat choice.

There are so many good things to say about why lamb chops are right up there with the best-tasting meat dishes you will ever come across, but in the end, it is best to try out this recipe and treat your taste buds to something special!

Difference Between Lamb Loin Chops and Lamb Rib Chops

In terms of taste and tenderness, there is not much difference between lamb loin chops and lamb rib chops. They are both suitable for this oven-baked lamb chops recipe.

The question you should be asking yourself is whether you mind having your meat with some bone. Lamb rib chops have bones while loin chops do not.

I much prefer having a bit of bone on my meat so you will find that most of the time I go for lamb rib chops.

Other recipes may call for boneless meat cuts but this is not one of them so feel free to choose whichever option you like.

How Should You Cook Lamb Chops?

Cooking lamb chops is an art that has been around for millennia and because of the many different cultures that enjoy this dish, it is no surprise that there are quite several ways to enjoy it.

Lamb chops can be cooked in the oven, grilled, slow-cooked, or thrown in an air fryer. There is no wrong way of cooking a lamb chop.

It depends on what you plan to serve the chops with, the occasion, and the particular flavor you are going for.

You can play around with the marinade, oven temperatures, and cooking times if you opt for this recipe, and you will be able to produce different results each time.

Best Temperature for Cooking Lamb Chops

I can’t tell you for sure which temperature you should be using for oven-baked lamb chops without knowing how you like your lamb chops cooked.

In this case, I am talking about the three main options; rare, medium, or well done.

Lamb chops do not take a long time to cook, even if you are going for well-done chops.

This is why you need to be careful when setting your oven temperature because it takes only a couple of minutes to overcook the lamb chops and miss your mark.

After the lamb chops have been seared, they will bake for a short time to determine the “doneness” of the meat.

Consider the following temperatures:

• Rare lamb chops can be baked at a pull temperature of 135˚F and a final temperature of 145˚F
• If you want a medium-done lamb chop, it is best to use a pull temperature of 150˚F and a final temperature of 160˚F
• A pull temperature of 160˚F and a final temperature of 170˚F will give you some well-done and succulent lamb chops

Tips for Cooking Times for Baked Lamb Chops

Just like how the cooking temperature is important, so too is the cooking time.

However, one thing to also keep in mind when determining both the cooking temperature and times is that the thickness of the lamb chops is very important.

With that in mind, consider the following cooking times after searing your lamb chops:

• If you want a medium-rare to medium lamb chop, leave it in the oven for about 2-8 minutes
• Leaving your chops in the oven for 8-16 minutes will give you medium to well-done lamb chops depending on the thickness

While time is a good way to judge whether the baked lamb chops are done or not, especially after you have gained a little more experience, I would highly recommend that you use a thermometer instead.

The different thicknesses of the lamb chops can easily throw you off your game in terms of cooking times, but with a thermometer, you can never go wrong.

It’s All About the Marinade When You Bake Lamb Chops in the Oven

Now, one thing I always urge everyone to do is to pay a lot of attention to how they marinate lamb chops before popping them in the oven.

I do not usually like nailing you down to a particular marinade because there are just so many different options that you can try.

Usually, I prefer mixing it up and trying a new marinade recipe each time to keep my baked lamb chops dishes interesting.

Lamb chops easily absorb the flavor of the marinade, so whichever option you go for, you can be sure that it will have a significant impact on the final taste of your dish.

As always, I urge you to make sure you leave your meat soaking in the marinade for as long as possible to get the best results.

I am a big fan of the “overnight marinade” option but since lamb chops are so tender, even half an hour will produce a great marinade flavor.

Why I Love Serving Oven-Baked Lamb Chops

Time and time again, I always find myself turning back to my tried and tested oven-baked lamb chops method of cooking. It works well for me, and here is why:

Quick and Easy

Nothing can be easier than popping a few lamb chops in the oven for a few minutes and enjoying a delicious meal.

On the days when I am running behind time, this is one of my go-to recipes.

The Lamb Chop Cooks Evenly

With this recipe, you can pretty much guarantee that your chops will cook perfectly each time as long as you control the temperature well.

Lamb Loin Chops have Lots of Protein

What better way to get the protein that you need while also preparing a fancy dish than to serve oven-baked lamb chops?

Delicious and Tender!

After the marinade has infused all that flavor into your lamb chops and they have been baked to perfection, the results are so delicious you will not be able to resist cooking this recipe over and over again.

Notes on Your Main Ingredients

Baked lamb chops do not require a long list of ingredients, so you can pretty much be certain that all that you need can be found around the kitchen on any given day.

Having said that, the following are some of the ingredients that you need to pay particular attention to:

Lamb Chops

Buying meat is an art that you will learn over time.

Try to make sure you go to a trusted butcher that can supply your choice meat cuts that have been sliced as uniformly as possible.

Fresh Rosemary

While dried rosemary can still get the job done, I find that fresh rosemary goes better with this lamb chop recipe.

Lemon Juice

This, of course, is an optional addition, but I always end up adding a bit of lemon juice to give my baked lamb chops a bit of zest!

Garlic Cloves

Again, there is nothing wrong with using garlic powder if that is what you have on hand, but fresh garlic cloves will do the trick.

Olive Oil

Make sure you have enough olive oil to make the marinade and coat the lamb chops.

When used right, the olive oil is responsible for that golden brown color that makes the lamb chops so appetizing.

Tips for Cooking Lamb Chops in the Oven

Here are some worthwhile tips to make your baked lamb chops a lot more interesting:

• As you can see from the recipe above, you will need a lot of time to marinate the lamb chops if they are to come out perfectly, so marinate ahead of time
• Use a broiler if the half an hour prep plus cooking time is too long for you. Make sure you use a foil-lined pan for this option and broil for 5 minutes
• While resting the lamb chops after baking is essential, do not do so in the same skillet that was in the oven otherwise you might end up overcooking them
• Baked lamb chops can be cooked entirely in the oven, so feel free to skip the skillet-searing stage if you do not have an oven-proof skillet

What To Serve With Baked Lamb Chops

A warm side dish of potatoes or rice will go well with baked lamb chops.

Alternatively, try a fresh salad if you are looking for a healthier option.

Try the following dishes:

• Crispy Persian Rice
• Kale Farro Salad
• Ultra-creamy Risotto
• Rosemary Garlic Smashed Potatoes
• Tomato Rice Pilaf
• Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

How To Store Leftover Lamb Chops

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Freezing is not recommended for baked lamb chops because after reheating they will become tough and dry.

Only raw lamb chops should be frozen and thawed right before they are marinated and cooked.

To eat your leftovers, reheat at 350˚F until they are hot enough to eat.

Try This Great Recipe Next Time You Are Craving Roast Lamb Chops!

A simple yet scrumptious baked lamb chops recipe is a must-have in your arsenal of great dishes.

Whip it out whenever you have a few special guests coming over for dinner or you just want to treat your family to something special!

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