This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Pan-seared garlic butter lamb chops are a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner. The combination of tender lamb chops with a rich and savory garlic butter sauce is simply irresistible.
![seared lamb chop on a white plate with a sprig of rosemary and sea salt flakes on top](https://sweetcsdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/garlic-butter-lamb-chops-recipe-picture15.jpg)
Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.
At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!
Table of contents
Pan Seared Garlic Lamb Chops
Pan-seared garlic butter lamb chops are a classic dish that is popular all around the world. This recipe is simple, yet elegant, and can be prepared in just a few minutes, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. The lamb chops are seasoned with salt and pepper and then seared in a hot skillet until browned and cooked to your desired doneness. The garlic butter sauce adds a rich and savory flavor to the dish, making it truly irresistible.
To make pan-seared garlic butter lamb chops, start by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the unsalted butter to the skillet and allow it to melt. Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and cook for a minute or two until it becomes fragrant. Next, add the lamb chops to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they are browned and cooked to your desired doneness.
Once the lamb chops are cooked, remove them from the skillet and allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute and ensure that the meat is tender and juicy. You can sprinkle some fresh parsley over the lamb chops before serving for an extra touch of flavor.
Pan-seared garlic butter lamb chops are best served with your favorite side dishes such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad. The rich and savory flavor of the garlic butter sauce pairs perfectly with the tender and juicy lamb chops, making this a dish that is sure to impress your guests. So next time you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe that is packed with flavor, give pan-seared garlic butter lamb chops a try!
How to Make Garlic Lamb Chops
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- Lamb chops: The star ingredient in this dish, the lamb chops provide a rich, meaty flavor and a tender texture.
- Italian herbs, fresh thyme and rosemary: The chopped fresh thyme, rosemary, and Italian herbs leave an earthy and herbaceous flavor to the dish that pairs well with the lamb.
- Kosher salt: The kosher salt is used to season the lamb chops and enhance their flavor.
- Black pepper: The freshly ground black pepper is used to add a subtle spiciness to the dish and balance the other flavors.
- Unsalted butter: The unsalted butter is used to cook the lamb chops and create a rich and flavorful sauce.
- Shallot: The finely chopped shallot adds a subtle onion flavor to the dish and helps to build the base of the sauce.
- Garlic: The smashed garlic clove adds a strong and pungent garlic flavor to the dish that pairs well with the lamb.
- Dry white wine or low-sodium chicken broth: The dry white wine or chicken broth is used to deglaze the pan and create a flavorful sauce.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, you will use the following process:
- Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
- Add the lamb chops to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked to your desired doneness.
- Remove the lamb chops from the skillet and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Add the minced garlic and shallot to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Add white wine or chicken stock to the skillet and scrape the pan to deglaze.
- Add Italian Seasonings and stir to combine, reduce until it becomes a thick sauce, pour it over your lamb chops.
- Optional: Sprinkle fresh parsley and herbs over the lamb chops before serving.
- Serve the garlic butter pan seared lamb chops with your favorite side dishes such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad.
Tips and Tricks For Perfect Lamb Chops & FAQs
Use high-quality lamb chops: Choose lamb chops that are fresh and of good quality. Look for chops that are pinkish-red in color with a small amount of white marbling.
Use unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter will allow you to control the amount of salt in the dish.
Let the lamb chops rest: Allowing the lamb chops to rest for a few minutes before serving will allow the juices to redistribute and ensure that the meat is tender and juicy.
Experiment with different herbs: You can add different herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or oregano to the skillet for extra flavor.
Adjust the seasoning to your taste: Taste the garlic butter mixture before adding the lamb chops and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
Pan-seared lamb chops: Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat until it’s hot. Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper and place them in the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or 5-6 minutes on each side for medium. The internal temperature should be around 145ยฐF (63ยฐC) for medium-rare, or 160ยฐF (71ยฐC) for medium.
Grilled lamb chops: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper and place them on the grill. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or 5-6 minutes on each side for medium. The internal temperature should be around 145ยฐF (63ยฐC) for medium-rare, or 160ยฐF (71ยฐC) for medium.
Roasted lamb chops: Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF (200ยฐC). Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper and place them on a roasting pan. Roast for 10-12 minutes for medium-rare, or 12-15 minutes for medium. The internal temperature should be around 145ยฐF (63ยฐC) for medium-rare, or 160ยฐF (71ยฐC) for medium.
Lamb cooking temperature:
- Rare: 125ยฐF (52ยฐC) – The lamb chops will have a red center and be very tender.
- Medium-rare: 135ยฐF (57ยฐC) – The lamb chops will have a pink center and be tender and juicy.
- Medium: 145ยฐF (63ยฐC) – The lamb chops will have a slightly pink center and be juicy and flavorful.
- Medium-well: 155ยฐF (68ยฐC) – The lamb chops will have a slight pink center and be less juicy and more firm.
- Well-done: 165ยฐF (74ยฐC) – The lamb chops will be completely cooked through with no pink and be less tender and juicy.
It’s important to note that the USDA recommends cooking lamb to a minimum internal temperature of 145ยฐF (63ยฐC) for safety reasons. However, some people may prefer their lamb cooked to a different level of doneness, so it’s important to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the lamb is cooked to your preference.
FAQs
Lamb loin or rib chops are the best cuts for pan searing because they are tender and cook quickly.
Marinating the lamb chops is optional but can add extra flavor to the dish. If you choose to marinate, do so for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge.
Cook lamb chops for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare or until the internal temperature reaches 145ยฐF (63ยฐC).
Yes, you can use other types of oil such as olive oil or vegetable oil for pan searing.
Lamb chops should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145ยฐF (63ยฐC) for medium-rare, 160ยฐF (71ยฐC) for medium, and 170ยฐF (77ยฐC) for well done.
Yes, you can season lamb chops with other spices such as garlic powder, cumin, or paprika to add extra flavor.
Pan-seared lamb chops can be served with a variety of side dishes such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad.
It’s best to cook lamb chops fresh for the best flavor and texture. However, you can sear the lamb chops in advance and finish cooking them in the oven before serving.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Lamb Chops
Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables, such as carrots, asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, are a great side dish for lamb chops. The sweetness and nuttiness of the roasted vegetables complement the rich and savory flavor of the lamb. We also love this dish with Tahini Roasted Cauliflower!
Salad: A fresh salad with a light dressing can balance out the richness of the lamb chops. Try a simple green Greek salad with mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes or our Salade de Chรจvre Chaud for an easy but elegant salad everyone wants seconds of!
Potatoes: Potatoes are a classic side dish that go well with lamb chops. You can serve them mashed, roasted, or fried. Garlic mashed potatoes or crispy roasted potatoes are especially delicious with garlic butter lamb chops.
Rice or Couscous: A light and fluffy rice pilaf or couscous dish can also complement the flavors of the lamb chops. You can add herbs, spices, or vegetables to the rice or couscous for extra flavor.
Bread: A warm, crusty bread like no knead bread is always a good side dish for lamb chops. You can serve it with a side of garlic butter, bread dip, or olive oil for dipping.
We also love topping lamb with zhoug sauce – a spicy Israeli cilantro sauce that is crazy addictive – or topping with cool and creamy tzatziki, or even Tahini Sauce!
Garlic Butter Seared Lamb Chops Recipe
If you love this easy recipe please click the stars below to give it a five star rating and leave a comment! Pease also help me share on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Follow on Instagram
Click here to see the web story for this recipe!
Only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table? Sign up for my 30 minute dinner plans direct to your inbox!
Find and shop my favorite products in my Amazon storefront here!
Garlic Butter Lamb Chops
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 6 lamb chops
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 shallot, finely minced
- 4-6 cloves garlic
- 1 cup dry white wine or low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons Italian herbs
- 1-2 sprigs each, fresh thyme and rosemary
Instructions
- Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt half the butter.
- Add the lamb chops to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked to your desired doneness.
- Remove chops from pan and let rest on a wire rack.
- As chops rest, add other half butter to pan and melt.
- Add shallot and garlic and heat until fragrant, about 45 seconds.
- Stir in wine to deglaze pan, stirring up browned bits of lamb. Add Italian herbs.
- Bring sauce to boil and let reduce and thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Drizzle sauce over lamb.
- Optional: Sprinkle fresh parsley or sprigs of rosemary over the lamb chops before serving.
- Serve the garlic butter pan seared lamb chops with your favorite side dishes such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Awesome post