Pan-Seared Lamb Chops with Tzatziki and Lemon
Juicy lamb chops pan-seared to golden brown, served with a cooling cucumber-yogurt tzatziki sauce brightened with lemon. This Greek recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs lamb rib chops, extra virgin olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 (about 1.5 lbs) lamb rib chops
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 medium, finely grated cucumber
- 2, minced fresh garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh dill
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for tzatziki)
- 1/4 tsp salt (for tzatziki)
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 8 lamb rib chops dry with paper towels. Rub both sides with 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, about 3 minutes.
- Step 3: Add lamb chops in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until a rich golden crust forms and the internal temperature reaches 135°F for medium-rare.
- Step 4: Remove lamb chops from skillet and let rest on a warm plate for 5 minutes.
- Step 5: Meanwhile, prepare tzatziki by squeezing excess water from 1/2 grated cucumber using a clean kitchen towel.
- Step 6: In a bowl, combine the grated cucumber with 1 cup Greek yogurt, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1/4 tsp salt. Stir well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Step 7: Serve the rested lamb chops hot with a generous spoonful of chilled tzatziki sauce on the side.








