Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Homemade lemon pepper seasoning is so easy to make, and has the most lovely flavor! It's wonderfully tasty on chicken, seafood, veggies and so much more. You'll never want store-bought again!
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe
You — yes, you! — have got to stop buying seasonings at the store. Jarred spices can lose their color and flavor over time, even if they aren't yet expired. Did you know that contents of your spice rack can go bad? They have expiration dates galore!
Plus, homemade seasonings and marinades are so much more flavorful. Fresh ingredients go a long way in making the flavor the best it can be. And you can easily adjust ratios of certain seasonings to make it fit your personal preferences.
My homemade all purpose seasoning and taco seasoning are both staples in our house. They're just so much tastier than anything you can find in stores. This homemade lemon pepper seasoning is a shining star too!
If you don't believe me that homemade seasoning blends are better, then try this lemon pepper seasoning — I know I will convert you! It's a versatile blend that is loaded with zesty lemon flavor. The best way to quickly add flavor to any meal.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe is so tasty and easy! I think you'll fall in love with it, just like we have:
- Homemade lemon pepper seasoning only has three simple ingredients. No additives, no preservatives, no food colors — just real food goodness and taste you trust.
- You can keep this seasoning blend on hand for future recipes. It store great, so make it ahead of time and you'll always have it ready to use.
- This flavor combination tastes great on seafood, chicken and veggies. I love having versatile seasoning in my spice cabinet.
Ingredients
You only need three ingredients to make an impeccable lemon pepper seasoning. Here's what to grab at the store:
- fresh lemons, for zesting
- kosher salt or sea salt
- black pepper (ideally ground from fresh peppercorns)
Salt and pepper
I like to use these salt and pepper grinders to get the most fresh tasting salt and pepper. Freshly cracked black pepper from a spice grinder is my favorite — so flavorful!
Use either sea salt or kosher salt for this recipe, not table salt. You can use store-bought black pepper if you need to!
How to Zest Lemons
There are many different types of lemons and you can use any of them in this recipe. Meyer lemons are a little sweeter, but they will work really well. I am lucky enough to have a lemon tree in my yard, but when I don't have any fresh ones I buy medium lemons at the grocery store.
For lemon zest, you will need a lemon zester or microplane. If you don't have a zester, I recommend getting one! They are great for zesting citrus, grating garlic and shaving cubes of parmesan cheese.
If you don't have a quality zester, you can carefully peel the lemons and very finely dice the lemon peel. Be careful not to get any of the white pith underneath the lemon rind — that will give your lemon zest a bitter taste.
When you're done zesting, be sure to use the juice to make something yummy like Strawberry Lemonade or Mini Lemon Cheesecakes!
Substitution and Variations
No lemons? You can use other types of citrus like limes, grapefruits or oranges.
If using lemons just isn't an option, you might consider a marinade for seasoning your chicken instead.
We love this Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade and this Grilled Shrimp Marinade, which you can use on other types of seafood too.
Want to add some kick or extra flavor to this seasoning? Mix in different spices like garlic powder, red pepper, cayenne pepper, or onion powder. That's the beauty of making your own spice blends You can use loads of versatile seasonings to make it your own!
How to Make Lemon Pepper Seasoning
You can make this easy recipe in just a few short steps. Here's what to do to make your own lemon pepper seasoning:
- First, zest your lemons. You will need about 3 lemons' worth of zest to make ½ cup of seasoning, but if you don't need as much you can just use one or two.
- The recipe calls for equal parts of lemon zest, salt and pepper, so for every lemon you use, add 1 tablespoon each of salt and pepper.
- Then, in a small bowl or jar, combine lemon zest, salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined. You can store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months to use as a rub on chicken or seafood.
Uses for Lemon Pepper Seasoning
I absolutely love these lemon pepper chicken thighs — we easily make them about once a month! You can grill chicken thighs or pan sear them. Eat it on its own, put it on a salad or throw it into a lemon chicken soup.
And of course, lemon pepper is also a very popular seasoning for chicken wings! (If you make those, you're going to need some amazing homemade ranch dressing to go with it!)
Lemon pepper is also fantastic on seafood. Try it on grilled shrimp skewers, tilapia or salmon.
It doesn't stop at chicken and fish. You could also use it on pork chops, or even to make beef jerky!
Also, there's nothing wrong with sprinkling it over veggies like zucchini, cauliflower or green beans. The fresh lemon zest really helps to brighten all of the flavors.
And just for fun, you could add it to the rim of a margarita for a zesty-salty-spicy situation! Follow these instructions for rimming a glass.
Tips for Success
With these few basic tips, you can make sure that your zesty little seasoning is a party for your taste buds:
- When zesting a lemon, make sure you only get the yellow parts of the peel. The white pith is super bitter and can effect the taste of your seasoning.
- Store leftover seasoning in an airtight container, away from moisture. If your spice cabinet tends to get steam from your stove-top, consider storing homemade seasonings in the pantry instead.
- Use a clean spice jar to avoid cross-contact of ingredients. I'm all for reusable spice jars, but sometimes those plastic tops can hold on to flavors. Just make sure the jar is clean and dry so that your seasoning doesn't take on any old or funky flavors.
FAQ
The combination of acidity with a warming spice is what makes this seasoning so tasty. It adds a depth of flavor that many other spice combinations can't get — that's why it's such a popular flavor profile. This simple combo truly makes for a delicious, zesty, and spicy experience.
It is important to store your seasoning away from moisture to avoid clumping. However, you can also try adding some grains of rice to your spice jar! The rice will soak up any moisture and help keep the seasoning from clumping together.
More Marinades and Seasonings
- Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs
- Grilled Shrimp Marinade
- Italian Marinade for Pork Chops
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
More Homemade Basics
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon zest about 3 lemons' worth
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl or jar, combine lemon zest, salt and pepper.
- Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Use as a rub on chicken or seafood.
