Lamb Chops Dijon Recipe

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Updated on 01/9/22
Dijon mustard lamb chops on a bed of lettuce

Juanmonino / Getty Images

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
540 Calories
36g Fat
8g Carbs
48g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 540
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g 46%
Saturated Fat 17g 87%
Cholesterol 147mg 49%
Sodium 1744mg 76%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 48g
Vitamin C 6mg 28%
Calcium 59mg 5%
Iron 5mg 25%
Potassium 561mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Lamb chops are a great protein to make for dinner and they come together quickly. These lamb chops with mustard are extra special thanks to the combination of fresh thyme and orange zest; it gives them a zesty, earthy, and slightly spicy flavor. Lamb has a strong flavor and can take assertive ingredients such as Dijon mustard and orange zest. It's a surprising combo that works really well.

Place the mustard lamb chops on a hot grill until just cooked through (or more, as desired). Allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving. These lamb chops would be great alongside vegetable sides such as scalloped potatoes, grilled asparagus, or roasted vegetables such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, or broccoli.

Ingredients

  • 12 small loin lamb chops

  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) minced orange zest

  • 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh thyme leaves

  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2/3 cup Dijon mustard

  • 4 teaspoons packed light brown sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Trim excess fat from lamb chops.

  2. In a small bowl, mix orange zest, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper into a paste. Add Dijon mustard and brown sugar. Mix together.

  3. Preheat grill for high heat. Brush about half of the mixture onto each side of the chops and place on a very hot grill for about 2 minutes per side. Turn and brush the other half of the mixture onto the chops. Continue cooking until done. Lamb is cooked at 145 F, but for a rarer level of doneness, take them off the grill at 135 F.

  4. Cover and allow the chops to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Tip

An instant read digital thermometer is a great way to quickly determine how well your meat is cooked.

Variation

If you don't have a grill, you can cook these lamb chops in a skillet set to medium-high heat. Before cooking, add a teaspoon or two of neutral cooking oil such as vegetable oil or even olive oil. Cook the lamb on either side for a total of about 10 minutes or so, until the internal temperature reaches no more than 145 F.


If you'd like to vary the recipe a bit, you can use lemon zest and rosemary instead of orange zest and thyme, or a combination of both citrus zest and rosemary and thyme. It all works well with lamb.

How to Store and Freeze Lamb Chops Dijon

Leftover lamb chops will keep in the fridge for 3 or 4 days if they are wrapped well or in an airtight container. Use the meat cold in a salad, or warm them up in a low oven, covered in foil, until heated all the way through.

You can also freeze cooked lamb chops, wrapped in well in foil and transferred to a zip-close plastic bag. Reheat in the foil in a 350 F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or thaw in the refrigerator.

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