Grilled Lamb Loin Chops With Rosemary Garlic Salt

Make this grilled lamb loin chops recipe this weekend for a dinner that is quick, easy, and impressive for company! Lamb chops are extremely tender and packed full of flavor.

Grilling lamb chops isn’t the first thing most people think of when they are asking friends over for a cookout, but it should be! These rich little tender pieces of meat have so much flavor all on their own, you really don’t need to go overboard with dressing them up. We decided to stick to a basic herb rub to enhance the flavor. We didn’t want to overpower the delicate lamb flavor.

These chops are perfect for the grill as they are tender and aren’t tough like a shoulder cut would be. That is a tougher piece of the lamb and won’t showcase well on a hot and direct heat on the grill.

⏲️ Equipment and Tools

Grill. I use a Big Green Egg, which is a nice charcoal grill, but any gas grill will work wonderfully as well. Just make sure to turn on all the burners to bring it up to temperature. This is a simple, direct heat recipe.

Cast Iron Grill Grate. These are optional. I prefer to use the cast iron grates as they heat up nicely and leave distinctive sear marks. The traditional wire grates work just fine, but the cast iron takes it over the top. It is well worth the investment.

🐑 Ingredients

Rosemary Garlic Salt | For the rub, you’ll need some rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. That’s it!

Lamb Chops | You’ll need four lamb chops for this recipe. You can double or triple it depending on how many people you are feeding. This cut of meat is from the lumber region on the sheep, and when it is cut into steaks, you’ll notice a t-bone shape.

Olive Oil | Just a small amount to rub the chops before applying the rub.

🔥 Instructions

These delicate pieces of meat are almost as simple as grilling a hamburger, so get ready to be shocked as you read this!

Step One: Set up your grill to 350° F. Use direct heat.  It will sear the meat and add a phenomenal flavor.

Step Two: Take the lamb chops out of the fridge and let the come up to room temperature.

Step Three: While the grill is heating up, make the herb rub. Rub olive oil on both sides of the lamb chops and then sprinkle both sides with the herb rub. The rub is light and adds just a hint of flavor.

Step Four: Add the lamb chops to the grate and close the lid. Grill for 5-7 minutes each side, depending on how well you want it done. For a chop that is 1 – 1½ inches thick, the maximum time will be about 11 minutes to reach the USDA recommended 145°F.

These come up to temperature extremely fast, so don’t go too far away from the grill when they are cooking. If your grill has hot spots, these may cook even faster than you realize. Make sure to monitor them to avoid overcooking. Use a wireless thermometer to test them as you go so they don’t overcook. 

❗ Recipe Tips and Tricks

Lamb shouldn’t have too much of a gamey taste, but if it does it tends to come from the fat. Sheep older than one year may also taste more like game. If you buy a rack of lamb, loin chops or rib chops, they will taste sweeter as they have less fat.

Bring the grill up to the full temperature before adding the lamb chops. They work best when they go on a hot grill.

You do not need to make a marinade for these. They cook so quickly, and the meat is already tender, so this just adds an unnecessary step to the process.

🧑‍🍳 Storage and Reheating

These will store and reheat just like a steak. Add them to a resealable bag or cover with Saran before placing leftovers in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for about three days if kept in an airtight container.

To reheat, remove it from the fridge and place it on a microwave safe plate. Reheat it in 30 second increments until the internal temperature reaches 145F°.

Alternatively, I will chop the leftovers up and then add the protein to a salad the next day.

Additions and Substitutions

The wonderful thing about this recipe is the simple rub. It is easy to customize. I recommend using fresh rosemary, thyme, oregano, or other fresh herbs. Consider adding fresh lemon zest, mint, or even garlic cloves.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this recipe with some Grilled Baby Potatoes. Since the lamb is grilled so quickly, it is best to find a side dish that takes about the same amount of time. These tiny potatoes need just a few minutes to grill.

For a vegetable, Asparagus Bundles are one of my favorites. These are extremely easy to prepare and the bundles are easy to grab and serve.

Smoked Mac and Cheese goes with just about everything and gives this meal a creamy side dish that can be made ahead or side by side if you have a grill and a smoker.

⏲️ How Long to Grill Lamb Chops

The United States Department of Agriculture suggests that you cook lamb chops until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. I have seen folks cook their lamb chops to medium rare at 130°F, just recognize that the USDA suggests lamb chop temperature be 145°F. 

I do not recommend grilling it above this temperature or it may become too dry and won’t be as enjoyable. 

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