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Perfect tender, juicy lamb every time! These sous vide lamb chops are ultra tender and juicy (never dry or tough) and served with the most incredible homemade mint chimichurri that you won't be able to stop eating!
Never overcooked, never undercooked, cooking lamb chops sous vide gives you perfect results EVERY TIME.
You haven't had good lamb chops until you've had them cooked sous vide. They come out just so perfectly tender - I have never had lamb this good (well...maybe these Instant Pot lamb chops rival these...).
Because lamb chops are pretty lean, it can be difficult to cook them without them getting tough and dry. Don't get me wrong, we're still fans of these teriyaki grilled lamb chops, but sous vide is a whole different ball game.
Using the sous vide method allows the chops to cook fully all the way through (without overcooking - you'd have to try so hard to overcook using sous vide!!) perfectly evenly. A quick sear gives them a nice crust on the outside and you're golden!
And the mint chimichurri sauce is something you're going to want to start using on everything from this grilled flank steak, to these Instant Pot short ribs or even on this slow cooker beef pot roast. It's good on so many things!
Jump to:
- Why this recipe works
- More favorite sous vide recipes
- Ingredients for sous vide lamb chops
- Sous vide lamb temperatures
- Step by step instructions
- How to cook lamb chops from frozen
- How to make mint chimichurri
- What to serve with sous vide lamb chops
- Expert tips
- Frequently asked questions
- More sous vide lamb recipes
- Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why this recipe works
- Cooking lamb chops sous vide allows them to stay ultra tender and juicy as you eliminate the risk of overcooking.
- Instead of traditional mint jelly served with lamb, we made a tangy mint chimichurri that goes perfect with the richness of the lamb.
- You can easily make this recipe in advance, which makes it perfect for meal prep.
- Most of the cook time is hands off so you can focus on getting other tasks done - this makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
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More favorite sous vide recipes
There has been a sous vide obsession in our house lately. These have been some of our favorite sous vide recipes so far:
Ingredients for sous vide lamb chops
The full list of ingredients and amounts is included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
I do recommend buying good quality lamb chops for the best results. What's great about sous vide is you don't have to worry about ruining expensive meat!
Thick lamb chops will also give you better results - shoot for at least 1 inch, but preferable 1 ½ to 2 inches.
**note - we recommend using either roasted garlic cloves, sous vide garlic confit or substituting ½ teaspoon garlic powder as cooking fresh garlic sous vide at low temperatures can cause food safety issues.
Also, a good quality olive will give you the best flavor for your chimichurri.
When making a sauce like chimichurri, fresh herbs are a MUST. Don't use dried herbs.
Ingredients for mint chimichurri:
Sous vide lamb temperatures
The recipe calls for cooking these lamb chops to 131°F degrees. I find that yield the most perfect results for lamb. Lamb is best served medium rare, but use the table below if you prefer it to be cooked another way.
I'm usually a fan of very rare red meat, but lamb can be a little chewy if it's underdone, so I prefer medium-rare.
Sous Vide Lamb Temperature | Doneness |
120°F to 127°F | Rare (not recommended) |
128°F to 132°F | Medium-rare |
133°F to 140°F | Medium |
140°F to 145°F | Medium-well (not recommended) |
146°F and above | Well-done (not recommended) |
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Heat a water bath to 131°F degrees with your sous vide for rare to medium rare.
Step 2: Rub the lamb chops with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Add the lamb chops, roasted garlic (or garlic powder) and lemon juice to a vacuum seal bag or a high quality freezer bag.
Step 4: Use a vacuum sealer or the water displacement method (explained above) to remove all the air from the bag.
Step 5: Place in the preheated water bath and cook for 2 hours. Remove and set aside if cooking right away.
If you're making the lamb in advance, plunge bag into an ice bath for 30 minutes, then store it in the fridge or freezer. **the ice bath cools the meat so it doesn't overcook when searing it.
Step 6: Remove the lamb from the bag and pat it dry on all sides. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 7: Heat a skillet over high heat until it starts to smoke. **you can also grill the lamb over high heat. Place the lamb in the pan and cook for 1 minute per side, until a crust forms.
Remove from skillet and serve with mint chimichurri. You can also serve it with this delicious cilantro chimichurri!
How to cook lamb chops from frozen
Another benefit of sous vide cooking - you can cook meat right from frozen! Just add an additional 45 minutes to ensure it cooks properly.
How to make mint chimichurri
- Combine all ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor and pulse until everything is chopped. You want it to be slightly chunky, so it doesn't need to be totally blended.
- Stir into the olive oil and serve with the lamb chops.
What to serve with sous vide lamb chops
Most side dishes go great with lamb chops. Here are some of my favorite serving ideas:
- Keep the meal healthier by serving with these Instant Pot Beets or roasted frozen broccoli.
- These Baked Sweet Potato Slices with a harissa glaze are absolutely incredible.
- This Instant Pot Couscous is amazing with these lamb chops!
- Get your comfort food on with these Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes or my favorite Truffle Mashed Potatoes.
Expert tips
- Lamb chops should be at least 1" thick, preferably 1 ½ to 2" thick.
- Placing the bag in an ice bath after removing it from the water bath cools it quickly if you are making these in advance and searing them later. Ice bath for 30 minutes then store in the fridge/freezer.
- Make sure the meat is patted dry before searing - it will get a better crust if it has limited moisture on the outside.
- Lamb can also be grilled over high heat instead of pan seared. Grill for about 1 minute per side to get the crust.
- Cook the lamb chops straight from frozen by adding an additional 45 minutes to the cook time.
- If your lamb chops are 2" or thicker, add 30-60 minutes to the cook time depending on how thick they are.
- It's important to use fresh herbs when making the chimichurri.
- Don't over-process the herbs for the chimichurri as you want it to be a little chunky.
Fans of lamb will also love these Instant Pot lamb shanks or these lamb tacos!
Frequently asked questions
Sous vide lamb chops should be cooked at a temperature between 128°F and 133°F (medium rare) for the best results. I cook at 131°F to get a rare/medium rare. To get medium, cook it between 133F° and 140°F.
You can cook lamb shoulder for 24 hours (see sous vide lamb shoulder) and lamb shanks for up to 48 hours (see sous vide lamb shanks). I don't recommend cooking lamb chops for 24 hours as they will start to get mushy.
When cooking lamb sous vide, it is safe to cook it at lower temperatures. Lamb is pasteurized (after heating through which takes about 45 minutes) at 130°F for 2 hours. If you're concerned about the temperature, I recommend cooking the lamb for 3 hours at 130°F to pasteurize.
However, note that lamb should not be cooked at temperatures below 130°F for longer than 2 ½ hours for food safety purposes.
It is very difficult to overcook lamb in the sous vide. However, you can overcook it if you leave it in the water bath for too long. Your meat will become mushy and have an unpleasant texture for eating. Lamb chops kept in a water bath for longer than 4 hours will become mushy. Tougher cuts of lamb can be cooked for longer periods (lamb shoulder 24-36 hours and lamb shanks for 48+ hours).
Leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a freezer bag in a 130°F water bath or quickly in a skillet over medium high heat to avoid overcooking.
These lamb chops can be made in advance. Cook them in the water bath according to the above instructions, then plunge them in a water bath for 30 minutes. Store in the fridge for up to 7 days, or directly in the freezer for up t 3 months.
Reheat in a 130° water bath for 30-60 minutes (depending on whether they are frozen) and sear according to the recipe instructions.
More sous vide lamb recipes
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Recipe
Easy Sous Vide Lamb Chops
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lamb chops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Mint Chimichurri:
- 1 cup fresh mint packed
- 1 cup fresh parsley packed
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 shallot
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a water bath to 131°F degrees with your sous vide.
- Rub the lamb chops with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the lamb chops, roasted garlic (or ½ teaspoon of garlic powder) and lemon juice to a vacuum seal bag or a high quality freezer bag.
- Use a vacuum sealer or the water displacement method (see above in post for instructions) to remove all the air from the bag.
- Place in the preheated water bath and cook for 2 hours.
- If making in advance, plunge in an ice bath for 30 minutes then store in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.
- Remove the lamb from the bag and pat it dry on all sides. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat a skillet over high heat until it starts to smoke.
- Place the lamb in the pan and cook for 1 minute per side, until a crust forms.
- Remove from skillet and serve with mint chimichurri.
Mint Chimichurri
- Combine all ingredients except the olive oil in a food processor and pulse until everything is chopped. You want it to be slightly chunky, so it doesn't need to be totally blended.
- Stir into the olive oil and serve with the lamb chops.
Expert Tips:
-
- Lamb chops should be at least 1" thick, preferably 1 ½ to 2" thick.
-
- Placing the bag in an ice bath after removing it from the water bath cools it quickly if you are making these in advance and searing them later. Ice bath for 30 minutes then store in the fridge/freezer.
-
- Make sure the meat is patted dry before searing - it will get a better crust if it has limited moisture on the outside.
-
- Lamb can also be grilled over high heat instead of pan seared. Grill for about 1 minutes per side to get the crust.
-
- Cook the lamb chops straight from frozen by adding an additional 45 minutes to the cook time.
-
- If your lamb chops are 2" or thicker, add 30-60 minutes to the cook time depending on how thick they are.
-
- It's important to use fresh herbs when making the chimichurri.
-
- Don't over-process the herbs for the chimichurri as you want it to be a little chunky.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
These chops look perfect! I love mint sauce so I can't wait to make the chimichurri!
Danielle
The chimichurri is SOOO good!
Cris
First time in 30 years I've made lamb and liked it. These were spectacular.
Danielle
I'm so happy to hear that!
Dannii
This lamb looks perfectly cooked. I love chimichurri too.
Danielle
Thanks Danni!
Kristin
I have never tried sous vide cooking, but these look so good I am going to give it a go. Thanks for the great tips in the recipe, I feel fully armed with information to be able to try this new technique. Can't wait to see how it turns out!
Danielle
It's definitely worth giving it a try!
Gina
We absolutely love lamb chops and sous vide might be the only way I haven't tried cooking them yet. Can't wait to try this out and that chimichurri looks like the perfect accompaniment!
Danielle
Hope you love it!
Natalie
I already love lamb chops, but that mint chimichurri sounds like the perfect addition. I can't wait to make this. It looks really delicious!
Danielle
Thanks Natalie!