Air Fryer Lamb Chops are tender, juicy and delicious! This is the best way to cook lamb cutlets as they are quick and easy. Get dinner on the table plating air fried lamb cutlets in less than 15 mins!
Recipes like my Air Fryer Sausages (Sausages in Air Fryer) and Air Fryer Roast Chicken take modern cooking to the future.
Whip up my Duck Fat Roast Potatoes, Air Fryer Potato Cubes and or Herb Salad to make it a complete feast!
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Recipe Highlights
- Quick cook time: almost every recipe takes less time in the Air Fryer than other methods.
- Modern cooking method: cooking lamb chops in air fryer cuts out the stove, oven, BBQ and grill. It allows you to take a bench top appliance, press a few buttons and have dinner done!
- Family friendly: everyone from big kids to little kids enjoys chowing down on a juicy lamb chop (no knife and fork necessary!)
- Freezer-friendly: grab some lamb chops (also known as lamb cutlets) from the supermarket, freeze, then pull out on a weekend when you want quick and easy cooking.
- Fuss free: I recommend cooking the lamb with no marinade only a touch of salt and pepper to season.
- Perfectly pair with a homemade sauce, a roasted potato side dish and serve alongside salad for an effortless combination that works!
- Use the leftovers for lamb sandwiches, a pizza topping, protein for salad or the next day's lunch!
Ingredients
The ingredients needed are shown in the photo below. I recommend taking a very simple approach and letting the lamb shine through (don't over do it with additional extras!)
As you can see, the recipe calls for:
- Lamb chops/Lamb cutlets: these are a reasonably expensive cut of meat. They are high in protein and you will find varieties with less or more fat still on the bone. Frenched lamb cutlets are the most expensive as they have been prepared to reduce the most fat from the meat.
- Salt and pepper: we only need a tiny amount of each of these to season the raw meat. Simply sprinkle over the top, flip and repeat for the other side.
- Olive oil: this is an optional ingredient. It can be handy when cooking meat in the air fryer to spray the basket to avoid tender meat from sticking. Lamb is reasonably hardy, so is unlikely to stick (especially without a thick sweet marinade). However, I think it helps the clean up, so a quick spray, never goes astray!
- Rosemary: this herb is a wonderful compliment to the flavour of the meat. A handy way to economize this recipe is to use home grown rosemary for garnish!
Top tip 1: If using frozen lamb chops, remove from the freezer in the morning to allow the meat to defrost before cooking.
Instructions
Here are the simple instructions to cook the lamb cutlets.
- Spray Air Fryer basket with olive oil - optional (Photo 1)
- Place lamb chops in one flat layer (Photo 2)
- Season with salt and pepper (Photo 3)
- Cook for 3 mins, then flip (Photo 4)
Top tip 2: I am cooking these chops to medium rare. For medium chops, cook for 4 mins each side and for well done 5 mins each side (same temperature).
- Cook further 3 mins (Photo 5)
- Remove when cooked and rest 2 mins (Photo 6)
Top tip 3: Once the chops are cooked, use kitchen tongs to remove them and rest on paper towel for 2 mins to absorb excess juice (moisture).
Best Way to Cook Lamb Chops
The best way to cook lamb chops is in the air fryer with varied cook time relevant to the doneness of the meat. Be it medium rare, medium or well done, each option takes less than 15 mins.
Above are my before and after photos for cooking the chops. I love BBQ'ed meat as much as the next person, but if cooking for 1 or 2 or not wanting to go outside, the Air Fryer really makes the job easy!
Expert tips
- If your Air Fryer requires pre heating, start with this step.
- Remove frozen lamb chops and defrost prior to cooking.
- If using an Air Fryer with a tray, use parchment/baking paper.
- Garnish with fresh rosemary for an easy flavour boost.
- Use kitchen tongs when placing in the basket and flipping/removing as the bone will be hot to the touch!
- Use paper towel once the chops are cooked to soak up extra moisture.
Frequently asked Questions
What is the best way to cook lamb cutlets?
The best way to cook lamb cutlets is using a method that is quick and convenient for you.
The simplest of options are in the Air Fryer, on the BBQ, in a skillet or vertical grill. Most of these options also allow any fat to drip away from the meat as it cooks.
The tenderest cooked chops have the shortest cook time.
How long do lamb chops take to cook in the Air Fryer?
Lamb Chops will take 6 mins at a temperature of 180°C/350F.
I recommend flipping the cutlets after 3 mins so that the perforated holes of the basket don't leave a lasting indent on the meat.
How to tell when lamb chops are cooked?
You can use a meat thermometer to accurately reach the right cook time for the meat.
The temperatures below are a handy guide to follow:
- Rare 60°C (140°F)
- Medium rare 60–65°C (145°F)
- Medium 65–70°C (150°F)
- Well done 75°C (170°F)
What part of lamb are chops?
Lamb chops or cutlets are from the ribs of the animal.
You can purchase them as a pack containing individual chops or as a whole rack that has not been cut and separated.
How many lamb chops do I need for 4 people?
2-3 chops per person are a good size portion.
If the chops are of a smaller size, 3-4 jobs would suit someone with a greater appetite or after a larger serving size.
If cooking for 4 people, aim for 12-16 lamb chops for an adequate serving.
What do you eat with lamb chops?
There is a good variety of dishes that will pair well with lamb chops.
Either cooked vegetables, potatoes, chips, or a simple salad are ideal serving suggestions.
What vegetables go well with lamb cutlets?
Here are a list of vegetables that pair well with lamb:
- potatoes
- pumpkin
- onion
- broccoli
- carrot
- beetroot
- peas
- spinach
- zucchini
- cucumber
What herbs go well with lamb?
Both dried and fresh herbs pair well with lamb. The following are good options:
- rosemary
- oregano
- cilantro (coriander)
- basil
- thyme
What citrus goes well with lamb?
Lemon, lime and oranges are all complimentary flavours for serving with lamb.
Be they wedges on the side or in salad served with the dish or zested, juiced and added to a marinade, the fresh lively pairing of lamb and citrus is not to be missed.
How to Guide
How to store the recipe
Store cooked lamb chops in a sealed air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to freeze the recipe
Freeze raw lamb chops and remove from freezer the morning you intend to cook them. Allow to defrost prior to cooking.
Note: It is not recommended to re freeze any meat that has already been frozen.
How to reheat the recipe
To reheat the chops, return them to the air fryer basket for 1-2 mins each side.
You can also reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove for roughly the same time.
Substitutions and Variations
As this recipe is also a guide to cooking lamb chops or cutlets in the air fryer, there is not a lot of variations to make.
You can however, cook lamb loin chops which tend to be larger and cheaper than cutlets, they will simply need a slightly longer cook time.
You can cook more than the recipe suggests. They will need to either be done in batches or in one flat layer, touching is ok, but stacked is not.
You could also try cooking a full rack of lamb instead of individual cutlets. Butterflied lamb and lamb ribs are also delicious options.
Pairing the lamb with a sauce is half the fun of this recipe and switching that up over a number of times in air frying the meat will ensure the recipe is not exactly the same each time.
Serving Suggestions
Depending on how hungry you are and how many mouths there are to feed, you make want to prepare a couple of simple sides to bring the lamb to the table.
You might enjoying serving with a side of Air Fryer Chips or Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings.
Whip up some Air Fryer Onions and have a bowl of Garlic Yogurt Sauce ready for dipping!
My Skin on Roast Potatoes can cook in the oven whilst the air fryer is on (start the potatoes ahead of time) or bring together my Quick Potato Bake for serving on the side.
Shown in the photos throughout the post is my Basil and Cashew Pesto.
Top tip 4: Rosemary and garlic are both flavours that pair well with lamb. They are both used in this recipe post ie rosemary for garnish and garlic in the pesto, but we can still keep the recipe very simple!
Related Recipes
The air fryer is a fantastic appliance to use to cook meat and a great alternative to the BBQ or deep fryer. (You can read more about the differences between the later in my Air Fryer versus Deep Fryer (Deep fryer vs Air Fryer) post.
Some other suggestions for cooking meat in the air fryer are as follows:
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Easy Air Fryer Beef Kabobs
- Air Fryer Chicken Skewers
- Dry Rub Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Or have a look at my Air Fryer Recipes collection for the full variety of ideas on the blog.
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Adrianne xx
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Lamb Chops (Air Fryer Lamb Cutlets)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Kitchen Tongs
- Paper towel
Ingredients
- 12 Lamb Chops (Lamb cutlets)
- ½ teaspoon Cracked black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
- olive oil spray optional
- rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Turn the Air Fryer on to 180°C/350 F (allow for preheating if your model requires it)
- Spray the Air Fryer Basket with olive oil (optional)
- Place lamb chops in one flat layer, season with salt and pepper, then push basket in to start cooking
- Set the timer for 3 mins (auto count down) and allow to cook. After 3 mins, pull the air fryer basket towards you, use kitchen tongs to flip chops to the other side and push the basket back in to cook for a further 3 mins
- Once cooked, remove from air fryer, use kitchen tongs to place cooked chops on paper towel and and rest for 2 mins prior to serving
- Garnish chops with fresh rosemary and serve with basil pesto.
Notes
- Note 1 Even if you purchase these in advance and freeze, I recommend removing from the freezer and allowing them to defrost prior to cooking. They take barely anytime at all and are best when juicy and only just cooked. Cooking from frozen is harder to gauge the right cook time as the meat is so tender.
- Note 2: I am cooking these chops to medium rare. For other doneness stages, a meat thermometer will read:
- Rare 60°C (140°F)
- Medium rare 60–65°C (145°F)
- Medium 65–70°C (150°F)
- Well done 75°C (170°F)
- (If you prefer not to use the thermometer, rare is 6 mins total, medium 8 mins and well done 10 mins, ie divide the cook time, flip, then repeat cook time).
Carol says
These came up on my FB feed can't wait to try, yum.
Adrianne says
Thanks Carol for your feedback, that is great to heat. Hope you enjoy them!