• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Living Lou

Simple, fresh and flavorful recipes.

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press & Media
    • Send me a Message
  • About

Home » Dinner Recipes » Greek Lamb Chops

Greek Lamb Chops

Published: Apr 4, 2022 by Louisa Clements · This post may contain affiliate links

This post may contain affiliate links

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Jump to Recipe
47 minutes 0 Comment

Authentic Greek lamb chops are pan-fried in a cast iron skillet (or grilled) after being marinated in a traditional Greek marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano and salt. Bring the flavours of Greece home with this easy recipe.

Cooked lamb chops in a cast iron pan with lemon and parsley

If you’re looking to cook lamb chops, it’s tough to beat the traditional Greek cooking method. Delicious lamb chops hang out in the best, simple marinade (it’s similar to the marinade I use for souvlaki) and are seared in a pan or on a grill.

Lamb chops are expensive, so if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly lamb dish, I would recommend my braised lamb ragu (using lamb shoulder chops).

Why this recipe works

It’s all about the marinade and the cut of lamb that we’re using. I like to use a small rib chops, known as ‘padakia’. I find the best lamb chops can be found at a Greek butcher. You’ll get meaty chops, often for less than you’ll pay in the grocery store.

And I’ll share a Greek cooking secret with you; always add more lemon and garlic than you typically would. That’s what gives a lot of Greek grilled meats their flavour.

Ingredients for lamb chops including olive oil, garlic, salt, oregano and lemon

Ingredient notes

  • Lamb rib chops are tender and come from the ribs (of course), you can have the white fat removed from the handles (also known as frenched) but I like to leave it on for extra flavour.
  • Olive oil is a must in most marinades, but especially in Greek recipes.
  • Garlic is another key ingredient. I’m using four cloves for these eight chops.
  • Oregano is a common dried herb used in Greek cooking, you could also sub in thyme or rosemary.
  • Lemon juice is part of the marinade and also gets sprinkled on at the end to finish and brighten the dish.
Closeup of finished lamb with lemon and parsley garnish

Expert tips

  1. You may be worried about the garlic burning when the lamb hits the pan, but this cut of meat cook very quickly and the cooked garlic adds a lot of flavour to the finished dish.
  2. This marinade is quite versatile, you can swap in rosemary or thyme for the oregano.
  3. For medium-rare, cook your lamb chops to an internal temperature of 130-135F. Learn more about what internal temperatures to aim for when cooking lamb.
Step by step instructions for making the lamb, marinating and searing.

Step by step instructions

  1. Start by whisking all of the marinade ingredients together. Then add your lamb chops, cover and marinate them for at least 30 minutes or up to six hours.
  2. When you’re ready to cook, preheat a cast iron pan over medium high. You shouldn’t need to add any extra oil to the pan beyond the oil from the marinade, plus the fat that will come off of the chops as they cook. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until nicely browned on each side and they reach an internal temperature for 135F. You’ll need to cook the lamb chops in batches, wiping the pan in between.

What to serve them with

It’s a no brainer to serve these with a Horiatiki (traditional Greek salad), and you could also serve with homemade tzatziki on the side.

Closeup of finished lamb in a cast iron with parsley and lemon for garnishes

Greek Lamb Chops

Author: Louisa Clements
4.12 from 9 votes
Authentic Greek lamb chops are pan-fried in a cast iron (or grilled) after being marinated in a traditional Greek marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano and salt. Bring the flavours of Greece home with this easy recipe.
Pin Print
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Marinate30 minutes
Total: 47 minutes
servings icon
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 lamb rib chops
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup lemon juice, plus extra for serving
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  • In a large glass bowl, whisk olive oil with lemon juice, garlic, oregano and salt. Add lamb chops and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to 6 hours.
  • Pre-heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add lamb chops, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and lamb reaches an internal temperature of 135F. Repeat with remaining lamb chops.

Notes

  1. To grill, preheat grill over medium-high heat. Grill, for 3-4 minutes per side until the lamb reaches an internal temperature of 135F. 
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + rating and let me know what you think!
Filed Under: Dinner Recipes, easy, Spring
Nutrition Facts
Greek Lamb Chops
Amount Per Serving
Calories 510 Calories from Fat 306
% Daily Value*
Fat 34g52%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 18g
Cholesterol 149mg50%
Sodium 745mg32%
Potassium 630mg18%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 45g90%
Vitamin A 5IU0%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 38mg4%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any specific dietary concerns, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Lou!

Hi, I'm Louisa Clements & welcome to Living Lou. I've been creating simple, fresh & flavorful recipes for the modern kitchen for 12 years.
Learn More

Let’s connect

Living Lou

Copyright © 2023 Living Lou | Privacy

  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • Contact
  • About

Footer