Crispy edges, juicy center, and barely any cleanup. These air fryer lamb chops might make you forget about your grill.
There’s something magical about the way the air fryer cooks lamb chops – the fat renders beautifully, creating crispy caramelised edges exterior while keeping the inside perfectly pink and juicy.
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer lamb chop recipe, or read on for detailed instructions.
What do you need?
Lamb chops
I have used shoulder chops for this recipe. I find they are flavorful and juicy without too much prep work.
You can also use lamb rack chops (aka lamb rib chop or lamb cutlets) or lamb loin chops. Rack chops are usually a lot thinner than a loin chop or shoulder chop, so reduce the cooking time by a couple of minutes if this is what you are using.
Seasoning
This recipe uses a simple garlic and herb marinade to add flavor to the chops.
The longer you marinate them for, the more flavor you are going to get in the lamb. Overnight is good, but actually they only really need about an hour to get a decent flavor into the meat.
The simple ingredients of this marinade include fresh garlic, salt and pepper and fresh rosemary and thyme. I like to use fresh herbs, but you can substitute dried herbs if that is what you have on hand.
How to cook lamb chops in the air fryer
1
Preheat.
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C/ 400°F. Preheating is important for this recipe because the air frying time is relatively short, and so you want it to be up to temperature when you put the chops in.
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
2
Prepare.
Pat the lamb chops dry and place on a plate. Drizzle with oil, then sprinkle with seasoning. Flip them over and repeat on the other side.
3
Air fry lamb chops.
Place the seasoned lamb chops in the air fryer basket. Try to make sure they have space between them. Air fry at 200°C/ 400°F for 7-12 minutes, until cooked to your liking. See section below for more on cooking times.
4
Rest.
Remove chops from the air fryer. When chops are golden brown and have reached 145°F (63°C) or higher in the thickest part remove from the air fryer (use a meat thermometer to check). Cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
How long to cook lamb chops in an air fryer
These lamb chops take approximately 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer, though the exact cooking time depends on many factors including exactly how thick the chops are, and how powerful your air fryer is.
The important thing with getting the cook times right with lamb is always to ensure that the internal temperature in the center of the thickest part is at least 63°C/ 145°F to ensure they are cooked safely.
Use an instant-read thermometer at the end of the cook time to check the temperature in the center of the thickest part, and add a couple of minutes cooking time if it is not quite done.
Serving ideas
I love to serve lamb chops with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables with mint sauce on the side. Here are some easy options to try:
Air Fryer Lamb Chops
Ingredients
- 2 lamb chops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasoning (or substitute 2 teaspoons seasoning rub)
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary and/or thyme or substitute dried
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 200°C/ 400°F.
- Pat the lamb chops dry, then drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with seasoning on both sides.
- Place lamb chops in air fryer, ensuring they are not touching.
- Air fry lamb chops at 200°C/ 400°F for 8-12 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Check the internal temperature in the center of the thickest part to ensure that it has reached at least 63°C/ 145°F.
- Remove from air fryer and cover with foil to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
