This homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning adds a pop of citrus and pepper to kick up the flavor to chicken, seafood, veggies and more. It’s budget-friendly and so easy to make yourself!
This lemon pepper seasoning is light, bright, and refreshing, bringing a pop of flavor to anything you add it to. It’s perfect for summer grilling or an easy sheet pan dinner. You can use it as a dry rub for meat, but it also works for sprinkling onto veggies or stirring into butter for a fab lemon pepper sauce to drizzle over Crispy Salmon Bites or Roasted Cauliflower Steaks. You will find so many ways to use it!
Why You Need a Jar of Lemon Pepper Seasoning in Your Pantry
Having a jar of this seasoning in your pantry opens up endless possibilities for quick, flavorful meals!
- Budget-friendly. Store-bought seasoning mixes can be SO expensive, especially if you buy them from fancy cooking stores. When you make your own lemon pepper seasoning, you can save money and the end results taste even better than store-bought.
- Versatile. Lemon pepper seasoning is not just for chicken! It pairs well with seafood, veggies, potatoes, and even popcorn. Get creative!
- Quick and easy. Once the lemon zest is dried, it’s just a matter of stirring everything together. And you probably have all the other ingredients in your pantry already!
What You’ll Need
Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make your own lemon pepper seasoning at home. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Lemon zest – Adds bright flavor and aroma.
- Black pepper – The other key ingredient in lemon pepper seasoning.
- Garlic powder and onion powder – These add savory depth to the blend.
- Dry thyme – Brings earthy, herbal notes to the seasoning.
- Sea salt – Or kosher salt, if you don’t have sea salt on hand.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Making this seasoning at home is simple! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Combine. Add all the ingredients to a small bowl.
- Stir. Stir it all together.
- Store. Pour the seasoning into a jar or other storage container. A funnel can help if you’re using a small jar!
Tips for Success
Follow these tips to ensure your homemade lemon pepper seasoning turns out perfect.
- Dry the lemon zest. Lay the lemon zest out on parchment paper to dry for 3 or 4 hours. You want to ensure the zest is dry before adding to other spices or your seasoning will go moldy.
- Use freshly ground black pepper. Freshly ground black pepper will add more flavor to your seasoning than store-bought, which isn’t as potent.
- Make sure the zest is fine. Use a zester that makes fine zest, as it will dry out faster and it will be more evenly distributed in the seasoning than bigger pieces.
Ways to Use Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Here are some of my favorite ways to use this seasoning:
- Season baked salmon by rubbing it on the flesh before baking. Finish with freshly squeezed lemon right before serving.
- Use it for seasoning veggies like Easy Skillet Green Beans, grilled zucchini, and Air Fryer Asparagus.
- Make Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon Garlic Butter.
- Sprinkle it on buttered popcorn for fun snack.
- Jazz up Crispy Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes or even French fries.
- Add it to pasta dishes like Skinny Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli.
How to Store
The best way to store your homemade lemon pepper seasoning is in an airtight container, sealed jar, or in a ziplock bag. The seasoning will last for up to 6 months before staring to lose its potency.
More Seasoning and Rub Recipes
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 1/3 cup 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Mix
Description
Add a pop of citrus to chicken, seafood, and more with this easy homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning. It’s so much tastier than store-bought!
Ingredients
- zest from 3–4 lemons (about 2 tablespoons), be sure it is dry
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- To a small bowl add lemon zest, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dry thyme and sea salt. Stir to combine. Pour spice blend into a sealable glass jar or ziplock bag. Use as needed.
Notes
Tip: Lay lemon zest out on parchment paper to dry for 3-4 hours. You want to ensure the zest is dry before adding to other spices or it won’t last as long.
