Air fryer crumbed lamb cutlets (also known as rib chops) are wonderfully crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. In this recipe, I'll show you the best way to crumb and air fry lamb cutlets, including my three-step breading technique and exactly how long to cook them for deliciously crunchy results.
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Crumbing meat is one of my favourite ways to breathe new life into the dinner menu, and these crumbed lamb cutlets are always a winner. The crispy, golden coating transforms simple lamb into something that feels a little more special without adding much extra effort.
Crumbing (or breading) is also one of those clever mum tricks for encouraging kids to try new foods. Better yet, it's a fun, hands-on kitchen job that little helpers can get involved with and I'll share with you my three-step breading technique that ensures those crumbs stay put and turn out really crunchy!
These air fryer lamb cutlets are ready in under 30 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights. Served with a fresh salad, mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables, you can have a healthy balanced meal on the table in no time.
Look for more lamb recipes to make? Try my air fryer lamb cutlets, air fryer lamb chops and Irish lamb pie made with leftover roast lamb.
Why you'll love this recipe
Quick and easy - Cooking crumbed lamb cutlets in the air fryer is a simple way to get dinner on the table in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Golden and crispy with less oil - Air frying delivers the same delicious crunchy coating as traditional frying, but with only a light spray of extra virgin olive oil.
Less mess to clean up - Skip the oil splatters and lingering smells. The air fryer keeps the cooking mess contained, making cleanup quick and easy.
Tools you may need
Air fryer - I have recently upgraded to the Philips 5000 Series XXL Connected Air Fryer and I absolutely love it. The extra-large cooking basket fits family-sized meals and has a non-toxic, ceramic coating.
Oil sprayer - A refillable oil sprayer is a handy tool for the from-scratch cook. Lightly spraying the air fryer basket with olive oil helps to stop the cutlets from sticking. It's also great for spraying meat and vegetables with a thin and even coating of oil while keeping your hands clean.
Ingredients
- Plain (all-purpose) flour
- Fine natural salt
- Cracked black pepper
- Eggs - an essential ingredient that when combined with the milk helps the breadcrumbs stick to the lamb.
- Milk
- Lamb cutlets (also known as rib chops) - either regular or frenched lamb cutlets will work. Frenched lamb cutlets have some of the fat trimmed and residual meat removed from the bone so they look fancier, but cost more. Regular lamb cutlets work fine in this recipe. Look for fresh cuts with a good amount of marbling.
- Breadcrumbs - dried fine breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs are best.
- Extra virgin olive oil - in a spray bottle.
How to cook air fryer crumbed lamb cutlets
Step 1: Gently dry the lamb cutlets with paper towel.
Step 2: Add the eggs and milk to a bowl and whisk with a fork to combine.
Step 3: Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
Step 4: Place the breadcrumbs into another bowl. Place the bowls side by side to create a crumbing station.
Step 5: Take a lamb cutlet and coat it on all sides with the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
Step 6: Dip the cutlet into the egg and milk mixture.
Step 7: Press the cutlet firmly into the breadcrumbs, coating all sides. Set aside.
Step 8: Repeat this process until all of the cutlets are crumbed.
Step 9: Lightly spray the basket of the air fryer with olive oil.
Step 10: Lay the lamb cutlets in the basket in a single layer.
Step 11: Spray the cutlets with olive oil.
Step 12: For well-done lamb cutlets, set the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) and cook for 15 minutes*. If you prefer your lamb less cooked, reduce the cooking time by a few minutes for medium or medium-rare.
*Air fryers vary in power and performance, so cooking times may differ between models. Use the times provided as a guide only, and adjust as needed based on your air fryer, the thickness of your lamb cutlets, and your preferred level of doneness.
Step 13: Flip the cutlets halfway through cooking and spray the other side with olive oil.
Step 14: At the end of the cooking time, check the cutlets are cooked to your liking. If not, continue to cook the lamb in 2-minute increments until they are done.
Hint: If you have a meat thermometer you can use the following chart to check how well cooked the lamb is. Remember it will carry on cooking after you remove it from the air fryer, so remove it from heat around 3-6°C before your goal temperature.
| Rare | 60°C | 140°F |
| Medium rare | 60–65°C | 140–149°F |
| Medium | 65–70°C | 149–158°F |
| Medium well | 70–75°C | 158–167°F |
| Well done | 75°C | 167°F |
Source: Australianlamb.com
Step 15: Rest the lamb cutlets on paper towel for a couple of minutes prior to serving.
Storage
Store leftover lamb cutlets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat the cutlets in the air fryer or oven to retain crispness.
Tips
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you have a smaller air fryer, cook the cutlets in batches.
- Use separate hands to coat the lamb in the wet and dry ingredients to stop the ingredients sticking to your fingers.
- For added flavour and variation to the standard recipe, you can add finely grated parmesan and chopped herbs or other flavourings to the breadcrumbs.
- These cutlets pair perfectly with my mint and yogurt sauce for lamb.
FAQ
While you can fry, bake or grill crumbed lamb cutlets, I recommend air frying. Air frying gives a really crispy result without a lot of oil, it's quick and once you have the prep work done, you can simply set the timer and the air fryer cooks the lamb cutlets to perfection. Plus air frying contains all the mess to one unit, making cleaning up quick and easy.
Yes, lamb cutlets are well suited to air fryer cooking. They cook quickly, develop a beautifully crisp exterior, and stay tender and juicy on the inside.
600 grams/1.3 pounds of lamb cutlets take about 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 200°C (400°F).
A fresh salad, creamy mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables pair well with crumbed lamb cutlets, or try my mint and yogurt sauce for lamb.
Because lamb cutlets are a naturally tender cut, they don't need long cooking times. The secret to tender lamb cutlets is to cook them quickly over high heat and avoid overcooking, which make them a perfect candidate for air frying.
Overcooking can make them dry and chewy, so keep cooking times short and check for doneness intermittently. Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you have a smaller air fryer, cook the cutlets in batches.
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Recipe
Air fryer crumbed lamb cutlets
Ingredients
- 600 g lamb cutlets (rib chops) approximately 6-8 pieces
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup flour plain/all-purpose
- pinch salt to taste
- pinch pepper to taste
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Gently dry the lamb cutlets with paper towel.
- Add the eggs and milk to a bowl and whisk with a fork to combine.
- Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
- Place the breadcrumbs into a bowl. Place the bowls side by side to create a crumbing station.
- Take a lamb cutlet and coat it on all sides with the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Dip the cutlet into the egg and milk mixture.
- Press the cutlet firmly into the breadcrumbs, coating all sides. Set aside.
- Repeat this process until all of the cutlets are crumbed.
- Lightly spray the basket of the air fryer with olive oil.
- Lay the lamb cutlets in the basket in a single layer.
- Spray the cutlets with olive oil.
- For well-done lamb cutlets, set the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) and cook for 15 minutes*. If you prefer your lamb less cooked, reduce the cooking time by a few minutes for medium or medium-rare.
- Flip the cutlets halfway through cooking and spray the other side with olive oil.
- At the end of the cooking time, check the cutlets are cooked to your liking. If not, continue to cook the lamb in 2-minute increments until they are done.
- Rest the lamb cutlets on paper towel for a couple of minutes prior to serving.
Notes
| Rare | 60°C | 140°F |
| Medium rare | 60–65°C | 140–149°F |
| Medium | 65–70°C | 149–158°F |
| Medium well | 70–75°C | 158–167°F |
| Well done | 75°C | 167°F |
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you have a smaller air fryer, cook the cutlets in batches.
- Before serving, allow the cutlets to rest for 3-5 minutes to allow the juices to absorb back into meat.
- Use separate hands to coat the lamb in the wet and dry ingredients to stop the ingredients sticking to your fingers.
- For added flavour and variation to the standard recipe, you can add finely grated parmesan and chopped herbs or other flavourings to the breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
If you're looking for more quick and easy air fryer recipes try my chicken drumsticks or whole roast chicken recipes.
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Hi, I'm Emily!
I'm a mum of 2 who is passionate about making real food from scratch, homesteading and creating a cozy handmade home. Here on my blog you'll find recipes, DIY projects and inspiration for simple living.
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