Parmesan Garlic Lamb Chops

A quick and easy dinner recipe perfect for Easter, a special event… or just a weeknight meal, these Parmesan Garlic Lamb Chops are incredible.

 

Lamb Chop Dinner

Lamb seems to intimidating, but is one of the easiest things you can make, especially lamb chops, also known as lamb lollipops.

Mediterranean flavors follow this dish using seasoned bread crumbs, lemon zest, garlic and olive oil. Pecorino romano cheese, with its nutty flavor, is my first pick for this dish, but you can also use Parmesan or even asiago. 

This recipe, start to finish including prep, only takes 15 minutes.

Easter Lamb

Why do we eat lamb for Easter? Lamb is the most symbolic of Easter through the whole world for several reasons. 

First, Jewish individuals ate lamb for passover. Those who converted to Christianity continued the tradition at Easter.

Secondly, Jesus is sometimes referred to as the “Lamb of God”. Lastly, Easter is known for rebirth and thus, baby animals, like lamb. 

Lamb Chop Dinner

Lamb can be a fairly expensive cut of meat, similar to prime rib or some seafood. It varies from $12.00 per pound to $30.00 per pound depending on the cut.

A French cut, with the fancy lollipop handle, will be more per pound and more of those pounds will be bone instead of actual meat. But the presentation is remarkable and makes a statement, so I splurge. 

Ingredients

You can easily find all of the ingredients to make these parmesan garlic lamb chops at your local grocery store.

• Lamb chops – Most will come French cut, but really any cut will work with this lamb recipe, see options below. If you have a whole rack of lamb, cut them into individual chops.
• Seasoned bread crumbs
• Pecorino romano cheese – This brings the parmesan to these pan-seared lamb chops. It adds excellent flavor.
• Lemon zest – Lemon zest, opposed to lemon juice adds a clean, lemony flavor without the tartness that comes from lemon juice.
• Salt and pepper – I like to use a combination of freshly ground black pepper and fine sea salt. You can also use kosher salt.
• Garlic cloves – Make sure these are pressed or finely minced. I prefer to mince my own garlic for a fresher taste.
• Extra virgin olive oil – Make sure to use a good quality olive oil here. There aren’t many ingredients, so we want the ones we have to shine.

How To Cook Lamb Chops

While you can grill or bake lamb chops, I find that pan searing is the best (and quickest) option. The Maillard reaction, high heat sear, creates a flavor profile not achieved any other way.

1. Make breading. Combine seasoned bread crumbs, grated cheese, lemon zest, black pepper, fine sea salt and freshly minced garlic in shallow bowl.
2. Prepare lamb. Rinse lamb chops with cold water and pat dry.
3. Coat lamb in breading. Crust both sides of lamb chops in bread crumb mixture.
4. Sear in a large skillet with a little bit of olive oil on each side until browned and it becomes a lovely lamb chop.

The best temperature to eat lamb is debatable. Many will tell you rare, but the CCD recommends an internal temperature of 145°F, which is a medium. Rare is closer to 125°F- most people prefer medium rare at 135°F.

If you don’t want to pan sear, you can reach a similar result by broiling. Heat broiler on high and place chops 3-4 inches from the heating mechanism, cooking on both sides for 2-3 minutes.

What to Serve with Lamb

Lamb is commonly served with mint jelly, a sweet and fresh flavor in comparison to the sometimes gamey taste of lamb. Instead of plopping down a dish of green jelly, I served my Parmesan Garlic Lamb Chops with a quick and easy Lemon Couscous recipe. 

Rice, homemade mashed potatoes or even risotto are all good choices too. Kale gratin is also a favorite. A nice green side salad or green beans would also be a great choice of side dishes.

Variations

There are plenty of ways you can make these parmesan garlic lamb chops your own. Here are a few ideas.

• Different cut of lamb – You can use the same parmesan garlic lamb chop recipe rub on any cut of lamb, or even chicken or fish, that you like. They do work well on lamb loin chops, which are a different cut.
• Other meats – You can easily double or triple the recipe to crust a whole leg of lamb, lamb roast, chicken, salmon or even halibut. 
• Fresh herbs – Feel free to throw some fresh herbs into the breading. Fresh rosemary sprigs or fresh thyme would be perfect.

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Leftover Lamb Rib Chops

You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for up to three days.

Can I Freeze Garlic Lamb Chops?

This cooked dish is not recommended for freezing, although raw lamb is usually vacuum sealed and can be frozen for long lengths of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Delicious Lamb Recipes

Lamb is one of those things that is made for special occasions, but we eat it more often! Here are a few of our favorite lamb recipes.