How to grill lamb loin chops

Learn how to grill lamb loin chops with a few helpful tips. Following these simple guidelines will give you perfect grilled lamb loin chops every single time. A flavorful marinade turns these lamb T-bones into a delicious and easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in my grilled chicken and peaches and my Middle Eastern grilled lamb loin chops recipe. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my grilling recipes in one place.

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Why you should make this recipe

• Quick & Easy – The grilling time for this recipe is only 12 minutes.
• Great for gatherings – Need to feed a crowd? No problem! Scale up as needed.
• Make ahead – Marinate the lamb the night before and grill when you are ready.

How to grill lamb loin chops

Grilling lamb loin chops is a snap. Once you understand a few basics, you’ll make perfect chops every time. I will walk you through every step to ensure you have a successful result.

The first step in grilling any meat is to remove it from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. You do not want to put ice cold meat onto a hot grill (more on that later).

Next, pat the lamb dry with paper towels to remove most of the marinade. That’s another helpful tip – you don’t want the chops (or anything you are grilling) to be really wet when it goes on the grill.

Ingredients

Before you put the lamb loin chops on the grill, let them marinate in a simple mixture of lemon zest, garlic, rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper. Nothing fancy, but it gives the lamb amazing flavor.

• Lamb loin chops – Also called lamb T-bones, it is the lamb version of a T-bone steak. The bone divides the loin and the tenderloin.
• Neutral oil – I like grapeseed oil, as it has a high smoke smoke and a very light flavor.
• Kosher salt – I use Diamond Crystal salt, if you use Morton’s kosher salt, cut the amount by almost half.
• Black pepper – Regular ground black pepper, or a few turns of the grinder.
• Garlic – The sharpness of the garlic will mellow as it mixes and sits in the marinade overnight.
• Lemon rind – The skin of the lemon. Take care not to get too much of the bitter pith (the white part) underneath.
• Rosemary – I’ve used dried rosemary, but you can also use fresh. You need about 3 times as much for the fresh version.

How to cook lamb loin chops

I have a meat thermometer, which takes away any guesswork. I linked to the same one that I own. It’s not the least expensive option, but it’s also not the priciest. This is especially important if you are new to grilling, but even grilling experts use thermometers.

Temping your lamb is the best method to making sure it will be cooked to your preference. 135° is my perfect temperature, after it has rested.

Every meat thermometer, even the old-school ones with the dial on top, have a line or a dimple on the side. That line or dimple tells you where the sensor area is on your thermometer. Find that line to make sure you’re getting an accurate reading.

Lamb T Bone FAQ’s

Carryover cooking and resting meat

One thing that many home cooks don’t realize is that meat continues to cook after you take it off of the heat. This is true for any cooking method, whether it is the oven, stovetop or grill.

This is called “carryover cooking“. When meat is removed from a heat source, it will continue to cook. The outside surface of the meat is hotter than the center.

The heat from the surface will move to the center, raising it’s temperature by up to 10 – 15 degrees. Eventually, by letting the lamb chops rest, the temperature will be the same all the way through.

You want to remove the lamb from the grill when it is just below your perfect temperature (this is why a good meat thermometer is so helpful).

So, for me, that would be 125° – 130°F. When the meat hits that temp, remove it from the grill and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. The nice thing about this particular thermometer, it alerts you when when it’s time to take it off the heat.

Lamb can be tough if it is overcooked, so keep an eye on the timer and your thermometer.

Variations and substitutions

• You can swap out rosemary for other dried herbs, like thyme or marjoram.
• This marinade (and cooking time) also works for chicken breasts. You can swap out lamb for chicken for another tasty option.

Serving suggestions

The perfect side for this lamb is Mediterranean orzo salad, quinoa or couscous salad. These options are light and fresh, and they complement the lamb nicely.

Helpful tools and equipment to grill lamb loin chops

• Tongs – You’ll need a pair of tongs to flip the lamb. Please do not stick a fork in it to turn it over.
• Stainless steel mixing bowls – This is a great set. Perfect for going from the kitchen to the grill.
• Gas grill – This is a great size grill for a smaller household, plus it has a side burner for cooking sauces, sides, etc.

This lamb loin chops recipe is quick and easy, making it perfect for weeknight dinner or a low-effort weekend meal.

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