Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

4.72 from 28 votes

Dec 13, 2022, Updated Feb 27, 2024

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Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe (2)

Lamb loin chops arethe filet mignon of lamb. Really.The loin chop looks like a miniatureT-bone steak, containing a portion of the loin and tenderloin. The loin chop isthe leanest and most tender cut of lamb, ideal for cooking quickly at high temperatures (in a cast iron skilletor grill) for a caramelized outside and juicy pinkinside. 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.

You can also cook lamb chops, which are a slightly different cut. Feeling less adventurous? Go ahead and wrap bacon around a pork tenderloin.

Table of Contents

  • How to Cook Lamb Loin Chops
  • Temperature for Lamb
  • Tips for Cooking Lamb Loin Chops
  • More Recipes You’ll Love
  • Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe

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 stripsteak. 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.

Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe (3)

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.

DonenessTemperature Range
Rare125°F
Medium rare130-135°F
Medium135-140°F
Medium well145°F
Well done150°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 (8)
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4.72 from 28 votes

Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe

Servings: 4

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

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Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe (9)

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: 1gCalories: 356kcalCarbohydrates: 1.4gProtein: 14.6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9.5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 129mgFiber: 0.6gSugar: 0.1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Lamb Loin Chops with Cognac Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I cook lamb in butter or oil? ›

Both work well for sautéing. Butter may be used for the rich flavor it provides, but it should not be used alone because it will burn easily. Use butter in combination with oil.

Do you have to sear lamb chops before baking? ›

Lamb Chops are always best served to a target doneness of Medium Rare to Medium. We recommend first searing lamb chops on a hot cast iron for 1 minute per side then finish in a pre-heated oven set to 350 °F.

Which cooking method is best for loin chops? ›

Common methods for cooking a pork chop include grilling and baking, both of which can work well, but we believe they are best pan-roasted over high heat or barbecued. Choose a bone-in chop wherever possible – the bone toils to prevent the chop from drying out and infuses the meat with a greater depth of flavour.

Is it better to grill or pan fry lamb chops? ›

Lamb chops are very tender, so it's best to season with salt and pepper and cook (either pan fry or grill on a barbecue or chargrill pan), over high heat for a few minutes each side.

What seasonings go well with lamb? ›

When thinking about pairing herbs with lamb, these flavours are at the top of the list:
  • Rosemary and lamb. With its woody flavour, rosemary is the perfect companion for your favourite lamb dish. ...
  • Mint and lamb. ...
  • Oregano and lamb. ...
  • Thyme and lamb.

How to make a butter lamb? ›

Using a stick of cold butter, Zelazo shapes the lamb with her hands. To create the fur, use a ricer and scrape the butter with a skewer. Place the butter strands on the lamb with the skewer, pressing into the form. Finish the lamb with cloves for eyes and kale for garnish.

What makes lamb taste better? ›

It's such a distinctive flavor that it pairs well with nice, strong spices, as well as herbs. Coriander, fennel, garlic, shallot, ginger, lemon peel --I think those work really nicely with lamb. There are other herbs that are traditionally paired with lamb, like mint.

Should I wash lamb loin chops before cooking? ›

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Should lamb chops be cooked fast or slow? ›

What's the best way to cook lamb chops? Lamb chops and steaks, as with beef steaks, should be cooked over a high heat, quickly, and can be quick-roasted, too, depending on how thick they are.

Why are my lamb chops tough? ›

Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Rib chops should be cooked to about 130°F, while loin chops are better at 135°F or even 140°F.

Are lamb chops healthier than beef? ›

Nutrition: Lamb is a nutrient-dense meat that is rich in protein, iron, and vitamin B12. It is also lower in fat than beef and has fewer calories. Versatility: Lamb is a versatile meat that works well in a variety of dishes, from meatballs and burgers to shepherd's pie and curry.

How many lamb loin chops per person? ›

Lamb chops are smaller than similar cuts of beef or pork, so plan on two loin chops or two or three rib chops per person.

Are lamb chops healthier than steak? ›

It is fair to say that these are two of the most nutritionally complete foods on earth. If we were pressed to differentiate them, we'd point to the fact that lamb has more CLA and Omega 3s than beef–this makes it marginally healthier. But beef has more vitamin B12, zinc, and selenium.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook his lamb? ›

And when you have a gorgeous cut, like a rack of lamb, you can cook it the good ol' Gordon Ramsay way—which is to say, lightly pan-sear it first, then baste it with an herby, garlicky butter, and finally finish it off in the oven until it's still pink and juicy in the middle.

How do you cook lamb loin chops Jamie Oliver? ›

Preheat a griddle pan to high, then cook the lamb for 3 minutes on each side, or until cooked to medium. Serve the chops in a pile on one end of a chopping board and arrange the bowl of houmous, coleslaw and spicy nuts nicely around them, then sprinkle with the coriander leaves.

Why are my lamb loin chops tough? ›

Temperature is by far the most critical aspect of cooking lamb chops. Undercooking even tender lamb chops can render them unpleasantly chewy, while overcooking will lead to tough, dried-out meat. Rib chops should be cooked to about 130°F, while loin chops are better at 135°F or even 140°F.

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