Description
These Lamb Chops with Mustard Thyme Sauce are tender, juicy, and pan-seared to perfection, then finished with a luxurious creamy Dijon-thyme sauce. The combination of seared lamb, aromatic thyme, garlic, and tangy mustard creates an elegant dish perfect for holidays, date nights, or gourmet weeknight dinners. Rich, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Lamb Chops
- 8 lamb rib or loin chops (about 2.5–4 cm thick)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for basting)
- 2–3 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
- 1–2 sprigs fresh thyme
- Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Mustard Thyme Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 1 small shallot, finely minced (or ¼ small onion)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 120 ml (½ cup) dry white wine or dry vermouth (or stock)
- 180 ml (¾ cup) chicken or vegetable stock
- 2–3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1–2 teaspoons wholegrain mustard (optional, for texture)
- 2–3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, stripped from stems
- 60 ml (¼ cup) heavy cream (optional, for a richer sauce)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of salt, to taste
- Optional: squeeze of lemon juice to balance at the end
Instructions
1. Season & Sear the Lamb Chops
- Pat lamb chops dry.
- Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chops 3–4 minutes per side (for medium), until browned.
- Remove chops from the pan and set aside.
2. Make the Mustard Thyme Sauce
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium.
- Add butter and minced garlic; sauté for 1 minute.
- Stir in thyme and cook until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth and scrape brown bits from the pan.
- Whisk in Dijon mustard and whole-grain mustard.
- Pour in heavy cream and simmer for 2–3 minutes until thickened.
- Taste and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice if desired.
3. Finish the Dish
- Return lamb chops to the skillet.
- Spoon sauce over them and simmer 1–2 minutes to warm through.
- Remove from heat.
4. Serve
- Serve lamb chops drizzled generously with mustard thyme sauce.
- Pair with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, couscous, or rice.
Notes
- For medium-rare: sear ~3 minutes per side.
- For well-done: sear 5 minutes per side, then simmer longer in the sauce.
- Use fresh thyme for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT15M
- Category: Meat Dishes
- Method: Pan-Seared, Stovetop
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 lamb chops + sauce
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 150mg