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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Lamb Chops

    Published: July 21, 2021 · Updated: June 13, 2022 · By: Krissy · 5 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This recipe for outstanding Lamb Chops, also known as Lamb Lollipops, starts with a rosemary marinated rack of lamb that is roasted until it is only partially cooked. Then, the chops are separated and finished on the grill or seared in a saute pan. The result is the most flavorful, moist, and delicious lamb chops that can be enjoyed for a holiday dinner like Easter or Christmas, passed around as a party appetizer, or enjoyed year round as a delicious dinner.

    grilled lamb chops on plate with rosemary

    Why this recipe is so great:

    There's no better recipe than one passed down from your parents, and I was lucky enough to have my dad walk me through his step-by-step process. The end result was so amazingly delicious!

    • Incredible flavor. The simple rosemary marinade is the perfect compliment to the flavor of the lamb and the cooking method perfectly renders the fat so every morsel can be enjoyed.
    • Easy to make. Just because a rack of lamb or lamb chops are traditionally thought of as a holiday feast, this recipe is simple enough to enjoy any day of the week.
    • Great alternative to other meats. If you're like me, you stick to beef, pork, chicken, and seafood. Lamb is a fabulous choice for dinner and is wonderfully different than other kinds of meat.
    • Indoor or outdoor cooking options. You can either fully make these lamb chops on the grill, or you can roast the rack of lamb in the oven and finish off the lamb chops on the stove.

    Ingredients needed:

    Exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    • Rack of lamb - Two racks are used for this recipe. An average lamb rack weighs about 2 pounds. There are 8 chops per rack, with 1 rib bone per chop. You will most often find a “Frenched Rack” which has had a few inches of meat removed from the end of the bones, which makes for a great presentation and ultimately serves as the handle on your Lamb Lollipops!
    • Fresh rosemary - the more, the better!
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Garlic powder, onion powder, and salt
    two raw racks of lamb with oil, herbs, and seasonings

    How to prepare the rack of lamb:

    Detailed step by step instructions are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    1. Slice - Run a sharp knife in between each bone to separate the lamb chops, but do not let the knife go all the way through. You will be cooking the rack of lamb whole, but the goal is to allow the marinade to absorb into each lamb chop.
    2. Marinade - Using a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish, combine all marinade ingredients until evenly distributed and add the rack of lamb. Move everything around to ensure all surface areas of the lamb are coated in the olive oil mixture.
    3. Refrigerate - Keep the marinating rack of lamb in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Prior to cooking, allow lamb to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
    slicing rack of lamb into individual lamb chops
    partially slice in between the bones
    cutting rack of lamb in between bones
    do not cut all the way through
    showing how to cut rack of lamb
    leave chops connected
    marinating rack of lamb with oil and herbs
    marinate in air tight container or bag

    How to perfectly cook the lamb chops:

    Detailed step by step instructions are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    1. Arrange in baking dish. Place both racks, along with all of the marinade, in the dish with the fat side up. Place all of the rosemary on top of the lamb.
    2. Roast. Preheat oven or grill to 400°F and roast the lamb for about 15-20 minutes. You will see the bones start to turn golden brown.
    3. Carve. Remove each rack from the baking dish and transfer to a cutting board. Using a clean sharp knife, carve each lamb chop away from the rack. They should still be extremely rare.
    4. Coat. Prior to adding back to grill or searing hot saute pan, dip each lamb chop in the hot oil, enough to coat each side.
    5. Sear. Finish the lamb chops, aka the "lamb lollipops", by searing on both sides. The amount of time depends on your preferred doneness.
    rack of lamb with rosemary in dish
    place rack of lamb and marinate in dish
    grilling rack of lamb in dish on grill
    roast in oven or on grill
    showing browned bones on rack of lamb
    roast until bones start to brown
    slicing rack of lamb into chops
    carve the rack into chops
    dipping lamb chops into fat
    dip each chop into the fat
    grilling lamb chops over fire
    grill or sear

    Recipe tips for best results:

    • Internal temperature of lamb: Most people prefer rack of lamb or lamb chops to be served medium-rare. To achieve this, they must be cooked to an internal temperature between 125°F and 135°F. Be sure to use an accurate cooking thermometer to verify doneness.
    • Substitutions: I highly recommend only using fresh rosemary in this recipe. You can, however, use minced fresh garlic in place of the garlic powder.
    • Where to buy lamb: Most major grocery stores sell rack of lamb and have it packaged as a “Frenched Rack”. I prefer to buy lamb at my local butcher since the lamb comes from local ranchers. The majority of lamb sold at the grocery store comes from Australia or New Zealand.
    plate with grilled lamb chops

    Serve this recipe with:

    • Roasted Red Potatoes
    • Garlic Parmesan Oven Roasted Asparagus
    • And although these lamb chops are delicious on their own, you could always make a mint jelly to serve alongside
    close up of grilled lamb chops with potato and rosemary

    If you’ve made this or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. I love hearing from my readers!

    You can also follow along on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes to satisfy any foodie craving!

    lamb lollipops

    Lamb Chops

    This recipe for outstanding lamb chops starts with a rosemary marinated rack of lamb that gets partially cooked. Then the chops are separated and finished on the grill. The result is the most flavorful, moist, and delicious lamb chops that can be enjoyed for a holiday dinner like Easter or Christmas, however the recipe is easy enough to be enjoyed year round.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Marinade time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
    Scale: 8 people
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 2 rack of lamb (look for the “Frenched Rack” that has had a few inches of meat removed from the end of the bones)
    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil (more if needed)
    • 10 sprigs fresh rosemary (This amount is approximate and you can't have too much fresh rosemary)
    • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder (can substitute with 4 cloves of minced fresh garlic if you want a stronger taste, however the fresh garlic may burn when roasting)
    • 1 Tablespoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Prepare the rack of lamb by separating each lamb chop but leave the roast in tact. To do this, use a sharp knife to slice in between each bone but do not cut all the way through.
      slicing rack of lamb
    • Add all of the remaining ingredients to a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Add both racks of lamb and distribute oil mixture to evenly coat lamb and get in between each slice. Add additional oil, if needed, to fully coat each rack. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour, however you can marinate for longer, up to overnight.
      marinating lamb racks
    • Prior to cooking, set lamb in marinade on the counter for at least 30 minutes to an hour to raise its temperature. Preheat grill or oven to 400°F. Place racks in a baking dish, fat side up, along with all of the contents from the marinade. Arrange any of the rosemare on top of the lamb.
      marinated lamb racks with rosemary
    • Roast in preheated grill or oven for 15-20 minutes. You do not want to cook them all the way through.
      lamb rack with herbs cooking on grill
    • Transfer each roast to a cutting board and carve with a clean sharp knife to separate the lamb chops. Dip both sides in the oil in the baking dish to coat and then finish off the lamb chops by searing on the grill or a very hot saute pan. The length of time you sear will depend on your preferred doneness and lamb is typically enjoyed medium rare with an internal temperature ranging from 125°F and 135°F.
      par cooked lamb lollipops coating in fat
    • Enjoy for dinner or arrange on platter if serving as a Lamb Lollipop party appetizer.

    Notes

    • Internal temperature of lamb: Most people prefer rack of lamb or lamb chops to be served medium-rare. To achieve this, they must be cooked to an internal temperature between 125°F and 135°F. Be sure to use an accurate cooking thermometer to verify doneness.
    • Substitutions: I highly recommend only using fresh rosemary in this recipe. You can, however, use minced fresh garlic in place of the garlic powder.
    • Where to buy lamb: Most major grocery stores sell rack of lamb and have it packaged as a “Frenched Rack”. I prefer to buy lamb at my local butcher since the lamb comes from local ranchers. The majority of lamb sold at the grocery store comes from Australia or New Zealand.
    • Nutritional information: Based on a serving size of two lamb chops and is approximate due to the estimated size of each rack, and also the olive oil that is used in the marinade (but mostly discarded after cooking).

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 362mg | Potassium: 257mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michele

      September 26, 2021 at 10:23 am

      5 stars
      These lamb chops were wonderful! We will definitely be making them again.

      Reply
    2. Julie

      September 26, 2021 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      These definitely look like the very best lamb chops I've ever seen. Can't wait to taste them.

      Reply
    3. Jenn

      September 26, 2021 at 8:21 am

      5 stars
      This recipe turned out really well! I think the fresh herbs put it over the top! I'll be making it again!

      Reply
    4. Amanda Dixon

      September 26, 2021 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      These lamb chops are perfect! The marinade gave them the best flavor. I'll definitely make them again with the holidays coming up.

      Reply
    5. Gina

      September 26, 2021 at 7:19 am

      5 stars
      Rack of lamb chops are one of my favorite easy dishes to make when entertaining. I think people get thrown off with the "fancy" look of them but they couldn't be simpler as this recipe proves!

      Reply

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