Description
Succulent garlic butter lamb chops deliver Mediterranean flavors with rich herbal complexity. Juicy meat paired with golden-brown edges promises a restaurant-quality meal you can easily master at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) lamb chops, 1-1.25 inches thick
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2–3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- Coarse salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Remove lamb chops from refrigerator 40 minutes before cooking to equalize temperature, ensuring even cooking and optimal texture.
- Surface Preparation: Pat lamb chops completely dry using paper towels, creating an ideal surface for achieving a perfect caramelized exterior with deep golden-brown searing.
- Seasoning: Coat lamb chops comprehensively with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, massaging seasonings into meat for maximum flavor penetration.
- Searing Technique: Heat cast iron skillet to medium-high temperature, adding olive oil to create an ideal cooking environment for developing rich, complex flavor profiles.
- Cooking Process: Place seasoned lamb chops into hot skillet, allowing 3-4 minutes per side to develop a luxurious caramelized crust, then introduce unsalted butter, minced garlic, and fresh thyme sprigs.
- Flavor Infusion: Tilt skillet periodically, continuously basting lamb chops with garlic-herb butter, ensuring complete flavor saturation and maintaining moisture throughout cooking.
- Temperature Monitoring: Use meat thermometer to track internal temperature – 125°F for rare, 130°F for medium-rare, 135-140°F for medium, 145°F for medium-well, selecting preferred doneness level.
- Resting and Serving: Transfer lamb chops to serving platter, loosely cover with aluminum foil, and allow 8-10 minutes resting time for juice redistribution, then drizzle accumulated pan juices and herbed butter over meat for final flavor enhancement.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Allow lamb chops to reach room temperature for 40 minutes, ensuring even cooking and tender results.
- Dry for Perfect Sear: Blot lamb chops completely with paper towels to remove moisture, creating a beautiful golden-brown crust.
- Temperature Matters: Use a meat thermometer to nail the perfect doneness, with 130-135°F being the sweet spot for juicy, medium-rare lamb.
- Rest and Relax: Let cooked lamb chops rest for 8-10 minutes under foil, allowing juices to redistribute and guaranteeing maximum flavor and tenderness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg