Black Folks Soul Food Lamb Chops
This post may contain affiliate partner links. View our privacy statement HERE.
Black folks’ soul food lamb chops is a rack of lamb so elegant! Seasoned with rosemary and slathered with olive oil. You can quickly cook a rack to soul food perfection in an air fryer for the most tender, juicy, and flavorful meat in only 20 minutes!
It’s the perfect recipe for a stunning presentation when entertaining for the holidays!
What are soul food lamb chops?
Soul food is all about taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. And that’s what Black folks have done with lamb chops!
I’ve seen Southern living and soul food lamb chop recipes for brown sugar lamb chops, lamb chops with sizzled garlic, grilled lamb loin chops with lemon juice marinade, butter sauce for lamb chops, and lamb chops baked so well that they still come out flavorful and juicy!
What sets this meat apart is its versatility. It cooks well with almost anything!
So spice up your dinner routine with this easy rosemary lamb chops recipe. In under thirty minutes from start to finish, these chops will have you feeling like a culinary genius!
How do you make soul food lamb chops?
Lamb is the perfect meat for an elegant soul food holiday feast with its delicate flavor and juicy texture. I’ve taken a rack of lamb, seasoned it with rosemary, and slathered it with olive oil to create a dish that is not only beautiful but also incredibly delicious. Then the whole rack is air fried for a time-saving 20 minutes!
What do lamb chops taste like?
Lamb chops are tender meat packed with flavor. So to honor the integrity of these rib chops, the soul food seasoning is light and precise!
You could add minced garlic, a few mint leaves, or fresh sprigs of thyme to garnish. But ultimately, the measurements of simple ingredients olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary for this soul food seasoning recipe make this a quick and easy supper sensation for any occasion!
Uncomplicated and delicious, served best with a glass of red wine (or red moscato).
Soul food air fryer lamb chops
So if you’re tired of the same old, same old, this quick and easy Black folks lamb chops recipe will have you wondering why you didn’t try cooking lamb chops sooner!
The best part is that it only takes 20 minutes to cook this fantastic soul food dish in an air fryer. Hence, lamb chops are perfect for when you’re entertaining guests while also spending quality time with them.
Kitchen equipment
Shop my kitchenware!
Instant Pot Omni Plus air fryer oven | The Pioneer Woman measuring bowls | Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons | Amazon cutting board | Instant Pot trivet rack | MacKenzie Childs similar dish towel |
Ingredients for soul food lamb chops
- 1 rack of lamb (usually has 8 lamb rib chops)
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- ½ a teaspoon of salt
- ½ a teaspoon of black pepper
- ½ a teaspoon of dried rosemary
- 2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary to garnish
Instructions for Black folks’ soul food lamb chops in the air fryer
- Mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried rosemary in a small mixing bowl.
- Rub the mixture on the rack of lamb to coat, using most of the rub on the top side of the rack (the meaty, fat side).
- Place the seasoned rack of lamb in the air fryer, bone side down (meaty fat side up).
- Air fry at 360 degrees F for 20 minutes for rare medium chops. (For chops more well-done, monitor the rack and air fry for additional 5-minute intervals after the first 20 minutes have finished.)
- To slice the rack into lamb chops, place a knife between the rib bone and gently carve until the backbone is removed. Do this for each cooked lamb chop on the rack.
- Garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary, and serve this soul food lamb chops recipe right away, and enjoy!
Pro tips:
- If using an air fryer with a basket, first spray the basket with cooking spray before placing the lamb chops inside.
- If using an air fryer with a tray and not a basket (like the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven), you can grease or spray the tray. Or line the tray with parchment paper.
- When lining an air fryer tray, I use 1 or 2 Instant Pot trivet racks (one comes with each Instant Pot) to hold the corners of the parchment paper down. This stops the parchment paper from blowing around or blowing up and touching the burner when air frying. (Check your air fryer user manual about using foil.)
- For a dash of heat, you can swap out black pepper with cayenne pepper or include a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
Want some great side dishes to go with this easy soul food lamb chops recipe?
Serve lamb chops alongside collard greens, creamy mashed potatoes or Black folks’ Southern green beans for a hearty and wholesome meal are among a few soul food sides you can pair with this dish.
Here are some of the best soul food side dishes and dessert recipes to pair with this lamb rib chop main dish!
- Rice and beans
- Brown sugar glazed carrots
- Tomato watermelon salad
- Candied yams
- Homemade cornbread
- Black folks Southern red velvet cake
Lamb chops are small but mighty! These tender and succulent morsels of meat pack a robust flavor!
And if you’re a fan of steak, imagine the juiciest, most tender steak you’ve ever had. That’s what you can expect from this delicious dish.
Soul food lamb chops FAQs
Whether you’re serving up lamb chops at a fancy dinner party or enjoying them at home on a quiet night, lamb chops are sure to impress.
Where can you buy lamb chops?
Most major supermarkets offer lamb chops, and a rack usually includes 8 chops. Most stores also sell individual lamb chops if you want to buy less than a pack. I mostly have luck finding this delicacy at the butcher’s counter in my favorite Whole Foods store.
Can you cook lamb chops in the oven?
Yes, in the oven, on the grill, or even over medium-high heat in a cast-iron skillet. But why? When air fryer lamb chops are the easiest to prepare.
The only oven I recommend for lamb chops these days is the Instant Pot Omni Plus air fryer oven!
How do you know when lamb chops are cooked?
Lamb chops are the perfect centerpiece for any meal. But how do you know when they’re cooked just right?
With an air fryer, you can cook them to perfection every time. This genius appliance takes the guesswork out of cooking your favorite cuts of meat so that you can achieve that perfect level of doneness every time.
How long do you cook lamb chops in olive oil?
This soul food lamb chops recipe calls for the chops to be slathered in olive oil. Then air fry at 360 degrees F for 20 minutes for medium-rare chops.
If you want a chop that’s well-done, just monitor the rack and air fry for additional 5-minute intervals after the first 20 minutes have finished.
Can you freeze lamb chops?
Lamb chops are one of the most versatile meats out there. They’re perfect for a quick, weeknight meal or something a little fancier on the weekends. But what do you do if you end up with leftovers?
No problem! You can freeze lamb chops for later. Just pop them in an airtight container, and they’ll be good to go for up to 3 months.
What is the internal temperature for this lamb chops recipe?
Impress your guests with lamb chops that are cooked to perfection every time! Whether you like them rare, medium-rare, or well done, this internal temperature guide will make sure they come out just the way you want them.
Use a meat thermometer to get the internal temperature.
- The internal temperature of the chops should be 120°F if you like them rare.
- If you like medium-rare chops, the internal temperature must range between 125°F and 130°F.
- For those who prefer their chops, well done; the temperature can reach 145°F and above.
Can lamb chops be pink in the middle?
Medium rare, please! For the daring, pink-in-the-middle lamb chops are a fun and delicious way to test your culinary boundaries! These juicy chops are seared to perfection on the outside, leaving the inside blissfully pink.
You can try a pink chop – make sure it’s been seared well on the outside. Minced or diced lamb, however, should never be served pink and always be cooked through, so it’s perfect for your next barbecue.
What did you think about this recipe?
Lamb chops are so effortless to cook in the air fryer – no matter how well you know your way around a kitchen. Chances are you can make a mean plateful of lamb chops in under an hour!
What’s your favorite way to make lamb chops?
Leave your answer in a comment below!
Then bookmark this page to come back for more!
Coming soon to The Soul Food Pot:
Want another easy lamb recipe?
- Stay tuned for my easy Instant Pot leg of lamb recipe!
And pair it with my easy recipe for:
- Black folks soul food homemade eggnog
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 rack of lamb usually has 8 lamb chops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2-3 sprigs rosemary fresh rosemary to garnish
Instructions
- Mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried rosemary in a small mixing bowl.
- Rub the mixture on the rack of lamb to coat, using most of the rub on the top side of the rack (the meaty, fat side).
- Place the seasoned rack of lamb in the air fryer, bone side down (meaty fat side up).
- Air fry at 360 degrees F for 20 minutes for rare medium chops. (For chops more well-done, monitor the rack and air fry for additional 5-minute intervals after the first 20 minutes have finished.)
- To slice the rack into lamb chops, place a knife between the rib bone and gently carve until the backbone is removed. Do this for each cooked lamb chop on the rack.
- Garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary, and serve this soul food lamb chops recipe right away, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If using an air fryer with a basket, first spray the basket with cooking spray before placing the lamb chops inside.
- If using an air fryer with a tray and not a basket (like the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven), you can grease or spray the tray. Or line the tray with parchment paper.
- When lining an air fryer tray, I use 1 or 2 Instant Pot trivet racks (one comes with each Instant Pot) to hold the corners of the parchment paper down. This stops the parchment paper from blowing around or blowing up and touching the burner when air frying. (Check your air fryer user manual about using foil.)
- For a dash of heat, you can swap out black pepper with cayenne pepper or include a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- The internal temperature of the chops should be 120°F if you like them rare.
- If you like medium-rare chops, the internal temperature must range between 125°F and 130°F.
- For those who prefer their chops, well done; the temperature can reach 145°F and above.
This is my favorite way to make them in the air fryer