This lemon pepper seasoning is easy to make with 3 ingredients and adds the perfect zesty citrus and peppery flavor to chicken wings, fish or vegetables!
It’s easy to make your seasonings at home! Other favorites we love include Italian seasoning and taco seasoning.
Table of Contents
A Dash of Flavor
It’s so quick and easy to make your homemade seasoning blends and you will love how much better they taste! My homemade lemon pepper seasoning recipe has just 3 ingredients – dried lemon peel, cracked black pepper, and salt.
Homemade chili seasoning and Greek seasoning are two of my other regular go-to’s. Jars of homemade seasonings also make great housewarming or Christmas food gift ideas for the foodies in your life
I use this homemade lemon pepper blend on chicken and fish all the time! It goes really well with lemon pepper chicken wings, lemon-baked fish or baked lemon chicken, and my favorite, lemon chicken fettuccine!
Recipe Ingredients
You only need 3 ingredients to make this delicious citrus seasoning and then use it to add bright and zesty flavor to dinnertime!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Lemons: You’ll need 2 large lemons and give them a good wash before peeling. Use unwaxed lemons if you can find them. Zest the lemons for this recipe and keep the juice to use for something else. You’ll be using the zest to make dried lemon peel.
- Cracked black pepper: We’ll be grinding the pepper down into smaller pieces.
- Kosher salt – These large flakes of salt have less of a salty flavor than table salt. If you are going to substitute with table salt, you’ll want to use less. Generally, ¾ teaspoon of table salt replaces 1 tablespoon of kosher salt.
Ideas for Customizing
I keep it simple with just lemon peel, pepper, and salt, but you can add other dried herbs and spices to make your own unique blend. Check out some suggestions for additions:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Dried parsley
- Dried dill
- Dried thyme
- Dried basil
Homemade Dried Lemon Peel
It can be difficult to find dried citrus peel in stores, and even when you do, it can be expensive! It’s so easy and much more cost effective to make your own at home.
If you choose the quicker oven method to dry out your peel, you can do it on the same day as you’re planning to make your seasoning. The non-cooking method works just as well, but it does take a longer time.
- Remove peel: Use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to remove the yellow peel from the lemon. Make sure you are only taking the yellow part and not the white pith. The pith has a bitter taste so you’ll want to scrape away as much as you can from your pieces of peel.
- Oven method: Preheat your oven to 170F (or the lowest temperature) and lay the lemon strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour until dry.
- Non-cook method: Place the strips of lemon peel on a plate and leave in a warm sunny spot for 2 – 3 days until the peel is crisp and completely dry.
- Store: Once your peel is dried, store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
How to Make Homemade Lemon Pepper
You need about an hour to make this seasoning using the oven method, but the majority of the time is hands-off so it’s really a very easy recipe.
- Preheat. Set your oven at its lowest temperature and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Peel the lemon. Use a vegetable peeler or sharp paring knife to remove the outer yellow layer of the lemon. You only want the yellow part here and not the white pith. Place the strips in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake. The strips will be completely dry in about 1 hour.
- Grind. Add the dried lemon peel and peppercorns to a spice grinder and grind until fine but pieces of the peppercorn are still visible. Stir in the salt and pour it into an airtight container to store.
Expert Tips
- Make sure the lemon peel is completely dry before you store it. If it’s still moist, your seasoning can develop mold.
- Store the seasoning in glass jars with tight lids or zip-top bags to keep it fresh.
- You can easily double or triple the recipe if you’re making it for gifts.
- Use the same method to make other citrus seasonings! Dry lime or orange zest to make your own seasoning blends.
Recipe FAQs
You’ll find that using ½ teaspoon of homemade lemon pepper seasoning per 1 pound of chicken, fish, or veggies is a good ratio.
You can use it either before or after cooking!
If you’re in a hurry and have run out of your homemade blend, you can use straight lemon zest or lemon juice with a sprinkling of pepper and salt. Lemon thyme also makes a good substitute if you can get your hands on some.
Both give your meats and veggies a delicious lemony flavor. Lemon seasoning isn’t as tart as lemon juice and the juice will add additional liquid to whatever it is you’re cooking, so keep that in mind if you’re switching one for the other.
How to Use Lemon Pepper Seasoning
There are so many ways to use this seasoning. Here are some more ideas you might like:
- Sprinkle over steamed vegetables.
- Add it to butter for a flavored buttery rub.
- Stir some into sour cream or mayonnaise for a zesty dip.
- Add a dash to salads for a bright peppery flavor.
- Use it on any meat including this baked tilapia recipe, grilled salmon or shrimp for a citrus kick.
How Long Does It Last?
The best way to store this homemade spice blend is in an airtight container, or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, in a cool dry place. The seasoning will lose its vibrant flavor over time, so try to use it within 6 months.
For longer storage, you can keep it in a zip-top bag in the freezer for up to 1 year.
Want more homemade seasoning recipes? Homemade popcorn seasoning and fajita seasonings are great to have on hand!
More Homemade Spices
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Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Equipment
- Spice grinder
Ingredients
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- 2 large lemons , washed
- 2 Tablespoons cracked black peppercorn
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°F, or the lowest setting. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, remove the outer yellow layer from the lemon, being careful not to remove too much white pith. Place the strips in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake 1 hour, or until the strips are completely dry.
- Transfer lemon and peppercorns to a spice grinder. Grind until fine, but pieces of peppercorn are still visible. Stir in salt.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Spices, Vegan
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I love this seasoning!! It can go on everything and was so simple to make! We loved it on the chicken wings we made for the super bowl. It was the perfect combination and everyone loved it!