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Lamb loin chops are the filet mignon of lamb. Really. The loin chop looks like a miniature T-bone steak, containing a portion of the loin and tenderloin. The loin chop is the leanest and most tender cut of lamb, ideal for cooking quickly at high temperatures (in a cast iron skillet or grill) for a caramelized outside and juicy pink inside. It’s easily the best way to cook lamb loin chops.
Lamb loin chops with cognac butter is a delicious and immensely flavorful dish with notes of butter, garlic, herbs, and cognac. This recipe comes together rather quickly and is really simple to master with just a few easy steps.
How to Cook Lamb Loin Chops
My loin chops are pan-fried medium-rare using a cast-iron skillet with cognac butter sauce. It’s a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth method for preparing lamb. I think I’d take it over your average grilled NY strip steak. It’s much more flavorful and very tender.
Sear lamb chops for about 4 minutes per side on high heat for medium-rare. Add an additional minute per side for medium, and 2 minutes for medium+. Once the lamb is nearly done, I add cognac, butter, herbs, and garlic and sear for an additional minute so the lamb can soak up the delicious glaze. Watching the frothy butter and cognac sizzle in the pan is a work of art.
Temperature for Lamb
Perfect medium-rare lamb is served at around 130°F. Use a digital thermometer if you’re unsure. I personally like my lamb served around medium-rare/medium. Always take the meat off the cooking surface 5-10 degrees ahead of the desired final temperature as it will continue to heat as it rests.
Doneness | Temperature Range |
---|---|
Rare | 125°F |
Medium rare | 130-135°F |
Medium | 135-140°F |
Medium well | 145°F |
Well done | 150°F and above |
Note: Searing lamb at high temps in a skillet tends to get smokey. Be prepared to use a vent fan or open a window.
Tips for Cooking Lamb Loin Chops
- Look for loin chops that are at least 1 inch thick. This allows you to generously sear the exterior without overcooking the inside and drying out the meat. Loin chops are phenomenal in the medium-rare range.
- Always take the meat off the cooking surface 5-10 degrees ahead of the desired final temperature as it will continue to heat as it rests.
- Remove lamb from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes prior to cooking so it can come to room temp. This ensures more accurate cooking times.
- Let lamb rest for 10 minutes after cooking and before cutting/serving. Just like steak, this allows the juices to settle and redistribute throughout the meat.
- Cognac butter can be made with cognac or brandy. Don’t waste expensive cognac! You can also omit it entirely and just use butter.
- American lamb tends to be less gamey than Australian lamb due to its diet. Always buy fresh quality cuts that are brownish red with white fat. Avoid dull or grey-looking meat with yellowing fat.
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Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Description
Lamb loin chops seasoned with fresh rosemary and oregano and seared in a cognac butter sauce in a cast iron skillet.
Ingredients
- 4–6 lamb loin chops
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2–3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup cognac or brandy
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove loin chops from the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on high until the skillet is hot. Place the loin chops in the skillet and cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes. It’s important not to touch or adjust the lamb so the exterior can sear up and form a crust. Flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Note, this step can be smokey, use a range vent or open a window.
- Add the butter, cognac, garlic, and fresh herbs (sprigs and all) to the skillet. Swirl the pan to mix once the butter has melted. Simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes, occasionally turning the loin chops in order to soak up cognac butter sauce. For medium rare, the lamb is done. Sear for an additional minute for each level of doneness; about 3-4 minutes total minutes for medium.
- Spoon cognac butter over each loin chop before transferring them to a plate. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Cognac butter can be made with cognac or brandy. Don’t waste expensive cognac! You can also omit it entirely and just use butter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 356
- Sugar: 0.1g
- Sodium: 129mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9.5g
- Carbohydrates: 1.4g
- Fiber: 0.6g
- Protein: 14.6g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Lamb loin chops, lamb chops recipe, how to cook lamb
Super tasty–my girlfriend said it was the best lamb dish I’ve ever made! I cooked the chops on medium-high, not high, heat for 3 minutes per side plus about 1 minute in the pan sauce (using white wine as I didn’t have cognac on hand) and they came out a perfect medium-rare with a nice crust. So, especially if you have smaller/thinner chops, aim for the low end of the recommended heat and cook times to avoid overcooking.
★★★★★
I discovered your blog via Pinterest. This is the first recipe I tried. IT IS AMAZING! I’ve made it twice now! Thanks for giving me confidence to make a restaurant quality meal. 🙂
★★★★★
Thanks Rachael – keep going with those recipes ????
Hi. I didn’t see where the temperature is listed.
High heat on the skillet!
You want high heat
Great recipe, not hard to execute. I slightly overcooked mine (medium) but it was still really good. Carefully monitor the doneness by feel during the initial sear. I only went 3 minutes plus 2 minutes.
★★★★★
Oh, and be careful when adding the cognac!!! It will likely catch fire (not a problem unless you aren’t ready for it).
I’m confused about the timing for medium vs medium rare. Could you please clarify? I did use this recipe a while back and it was amazing but I overcooked it. So I want to clarify timing before making it again.
This recipe came out great! Whole family is loving it as I type.
I made this tonight paired it with a bottle of CS we picked up in Golan last year, pine nut couscous, and grilled asparagus. A perfect meal
Thanks!!!
I made this, but did not have cognac. I used crown royal black. It turned out great. Lamb usually seems a little strong furvme, but this was great!!
Wow! Just finished eating this. I have always grilled or broiled loin lamb chops, this is a first to fry. Turned out perfectly. I served this with roasted garlic couscous infused with roasted almonds and a homemade orange cranberry compote mixed in. Mint jelly on the side and a nice red wine. Cannot wait to make this again.
Wow!!! How yummy this was. I added a little ground powder garlic to the salt and pepper then mixed in ground garlic with the brandy and herbs(I added thyme as well). Nothing burned and dish was delicious. My eldest daughter sulked the entire time I made this dish. She had a friend that made lamb several times a week even though she hated it. She thought I was mean for making this our meal tonight. I gave her a tiny pinch to try and she came to the table to eat. She thanked me for restoring her faith in lamb..lol. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.