This air fryer rack of lamb recipe is a quick and hassle-free way to enjoy a whole rack of lamb. The circulating hot air in the air fryer creates a crispy exterior while keeping the inside nice and juicy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Oil: Use high-quality cooking oil to coat the lamb so it develops a nice crust as it cooks. I recommend using an oil with a high smoking point, like avocado, canola, or vegetable oil, to withstand the high temperature.
- Garlic: You only need two fresh garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
- Spices: Season the lamb with a simple combination of dried thyme, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Lamb: Cook a trimmed or frenched rack of lamb with a nice layer of fat on top (or marbling) to help flavor the meat and keep it moist as it cooks. I love Costco’s lamb, especially when it goes on sale; the package usually comes with two racks. I cook them in batches to feed my family with plenty of leftovers.
- Mint Chutney: Combine fresh mint leaves, cilantro, ginger, garlic, green chilies (like a jalapeño or serrano pepper), salt, ground cumin, chaat masala, and plain yogurt in a food processor for a flavor-packed and easy mint chutney.
Additions and Substitutions
- Replace the dried thyme with dried rosemary or oregano.
- Coat the lamb in Dijon mustard instead of oil. Similar to my mustard rib rub, coating the lamb with Dijon mustard not only tenderizes the meat but also acts as a binder for the spices.
How to Make Air Fryer Rack of Lamb
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine olive oil, garlic, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the rack of lamb dry and coat it with the mixture. Set it aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Arrange the lamb rack in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for 8-10 minutes.
Cooking Tip
Use a meat thermometer to check the lamb’s temperature for a more accurate cooking time; the USDA recommends 145°F (63°C).
Step 3: Remove the lamb from the air fryer basket and let it rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes.
Step 4: Meanwhile, add the ingredients for the mint chutney to a food processor or small blender and process until smooth.
Step 5: Use a sharp knife to cut the lamb between the bones into individual lamb rib chops, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Remove the lamb rack from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Bringing the lamb to room temperature leads to more even cooking.
- Pat the lamb dry with paper towels before coating it with the marinade.
- If the whole rack doesn’t fit in your air fryer basket, split the rack in half and cook them in batches.
- Marinate the lamb for at least 30 minutes.
- Undercooked lamb is tough and chewy, whereas cooking the lamb rack too long causes it to dry out. The best way to know when the lamb finishes cooking is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the rack of lamb.
- Rest the meat after it cooks so the juices redistribute, resulting in tender, flavorful lamb.
Lamb Temperature Guide
The most reliable way to know when the lamb finishes cooking is to check the temperature by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. According to the USDA, the ideal temperature for a rack of lamb is 145°F (63°C).
| Doneness | Temperature and Description |
|---|---|
| Medium-Rare | 130-135°F (54-57°C) The lamb will have a pink center and be browned on the outside. |
| Medium | 135-140°F (57-60°C) The lamb will be slightly pink in the middle with a browned exterior. |
| Medium-Well | 140-145°F (60-62°C) The lamb will have a warm pink center and be browned on the outside. |
| Well Done | 150-155°F (65-68°C) The lamb will have a browned middle and exterior. |
If you enjoy air fryer rack of lamb, try one of these air fryer recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Replace the mint chutney with your favorite dipping sauces— try horseradish aioli, toum, dijon aioli, tahini yogurt sauce, and horseradish cream sauce. If you prefer something closer to chutney, chimichurri with cilantro, skhug, shatta sauce, or serrano crema are solid choices.
Making rack of lamb in the air fryer is an effortless way to prepare lamb for special occasions and holiday meals. It frees you up to prepare sides like air fryer fingerling potatoes, jalapeno mashed potatoes, or risotto allo zafferano to serve them with.
Or you can finish the meal with Mediterranean side dishes such as sumac cucumbers, coban salatasi, sumac onions, or malfouf salad.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftover in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Let the lamb chops cool completely and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag for storage. Air fryer rack of lamb freezes for 2-3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost the leftovers in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Warm leftover lamb in the air fryer at 400℉ (204℃) for 2-3 minutes until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a rack of lamb?
A 2-3 pound rack of lamb will fit in most air fryer baskets. Select a frenched rack of lamb that is trimmed of excess fat and cartilage.
How long to cook rack of lamb at 400 ℉ (204℃)?
Cooking time depends on how you prefer your lamb. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) for an air fryer rack of lamb.
I find that 16-20 minutes in my Instant Pot Vortex is the sweet spot and produces perfectly cooked lamb.
More Lamb Recipes:
Air Fryer Rack of Lamb
- 2 Small Bowls
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 pound rack of lamb, trimmed
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed
- ¼ -inch fresh ginger, minced
- 1 garlic cloves minced
- 1 green pepper, stemmed and roughly chopped, optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chaat masala, optional
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- Combine olive oil, garlic, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the rack of lamb dry and coat it with the mixture. Set it aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃). Arrange the lamb rack in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for 8-10 minutes.Tip: Use a meat thermometer to check the lamb's temperature for a more accurate cooking time.
- Remove the lamb from the air fryer basket and let it rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the ingredients for the mint chutney to a food processor or small blender and process until smooth.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the lamb between the bones into individual lamb rib chops, and enjoy!
- Remove the lamb rack from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Bringing the lamb to room temperature leads to more even cooking.
- Pat the lamb dry with paper towels before coating it with the marinade.
- If the whole rack doesn’t fit in your air fryer basket, split the rack in half and cook them in batches.
- Marinate the lamb for at least 30 minutes.
- Undercooked lamb is tough and chewy, whereas cooking the lamb rack too long causes it to dry out. The best way to know when the lamb finishes cooking is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the rack of lamb.
- Rest the meat after it cooks so the juices redistribute, resulting in tender, flavorful lamb.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.