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Home » Recipe Index » Spice, Seasoning, and Condiments

Published: Feb 15, 2022 by Tanya · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe

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Zingy and spicy, this homemade lemon pepper seasoning is the perfect way to add flavor to chicken and seafood dishes. Made with fresh lemon zest, this mix is perfect for adding to your homemade spice blend!

Lamon pepper seasoning in a shite bowl with a spoon.


 

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

Whenever I can, I love to make my own seasonings. You know exactly what goes into them, they have a great shelf life and they are easy to make, plus it's way cheaper too!

This lemon pepper seasoning is made with just 3 ingredients, fresh lemon zest, salt, and pepper - that's it! It has a great shelf life, and the recipe is easily doubled so you can make up a big batch and have it on hand ready to use.

If you want to add some zesty flavor to your plate, this seasoning is the way to go!

Be sure to try my Caribbean Green Seasoning and Homemade Cajun Seasoning too!

How to make lemon pepper seasoning

  • Gather your ingredients. You will need some lemons and black pepper. That's it!
  • Fresh lemons, salt and pepper.
  • Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper.
  • Zest your lemons and place the zest on a sheet pan and place in the oven.
  • A lemon that has been zested.
  • Lemon zest on a baking sheet.
  • Bake until dried, about 20-25 minutes, stirring the zest occasionally.
  • Remove and place dried zest in a grinder with black pepper and kosher salt. Grind until finely ground.
  • Use in your favorite recipes and enjoy.
  • Dried lemon zest, salt and pepper in a spice grinder.
  • The lemon pepper seasoning after grinding.

How do you store it?

This lemon pepper seasoning will keep well for up to 3 months. Keep it in a sealed air-tight container or glass jar and keep it in a cupboard out of direct sunlight and away from damp. It's ready to use straight out of the jar.

What's the best way to zest lemons?

A Microplane grater is the easiest and quickest way of zesting lemons, and it creates a more even zest than a box grater. If you don't have a Microplane or box grater, you can use a vegetable peeler to remove the top layer of skin and slice it into thin strips with a knife. Then grind up as instructed.

How do you use it?

I love to use this zesty and spicy seasoning on chicken and fish dishes. It's wonderful rubbed onto wings, thighs or chicken breasts before cooking, or rub some into salmon or cod fillet. It's also great sprinkled into salads or dressings for an extra boost of flavor.

Lemon pepper seasoning in a bowl next to fresh lemons.

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Some lemons can be coated with wax to help preserve them. Remove this by pouring boiling water over the lemons and giving them a good scrub before zesting.
  • Be careful not to grate the lemon down too much. The white lemon pith tends to be quite bitter, so you just want the top yellow skin.
  • This homemade lemon pepper seasoning works best if lemon juice is added as well. I like to add at least 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to each teaspoon of seasoning.
  • This can be stored for up to 3 months.

More Homemade Seasonings

  • Homemade Fish Seasoning
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
  • Chicken Seasoning
Lamon pepper seasoning in a shite bowl with a spoon.
Tanya

Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Zingy and spicy, this homemade lemon pepper seasoning is the perfect way to add flavor to chicken and seafood dishes. Made with fresh lemon zest, this mix is so much more flavorful than store bought!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Seasoning
Cuisine: American
Calories: 5

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup lemon zest from about 4-5 lemons
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste

Equipment

  • Microplane Zester
  • Sheet Pan
  • Spice Grinder

Instructions
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper.
  2. Place lemon zest on a sheet pan and place in the oven.
  3. Bake until dried, about 20-25 minutes, stirring the zest occasionally.
  4. Remove and place dried zest in a grinder with black pepper and kosher salt. Grind until finely ground.
  5. Use in your favorite recipes and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 5kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 146mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

Notes

  • Some lemons can be coated with wax to help preserve them. Remove this by pouring boiling water over the lemons and giving them a good scrub before zesting.
  • Be careful not to grate the lemon down too much. The white lemon pith tends to be quite bitter, so you just want the top yellow skin.
  • This homemade lemon pepper seasoning works best if lemon juice is added as well. I like to add at least 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to each teaspoon of seasoning.
  • This can be stored for up to 3 months.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

More Spice, Seasoning, and Condiments

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    Homemade Seasoned Salt Recipe
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Spread the Flavor and Share

Comments

    5 from 1 vote

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Judith Fiorentino says

    March 02, 2025 at 9:41 am

    I’m confused, when do I add the lemon juice? After the lemon zest is baked and ground with pepper and salt then put into storage jars? Is so wouldn’t that make the spice wet and hard to use. I sprinkle the McCormick on my chicken thighs and legs!

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 03, 2025 at 10:04 am

      Hi Judith, I don't add lemon juice to this recipe as is. I'll add lemon juice to the recipe I'm making, using both dry lemon pepper seasoning and lemon juice. You can see it in action in my lemon pepper chicken thighs recipe. https://www.myforkinglife.com/lemon-pepper-air-fryer-chicken-thighs/

      Reply

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Welcome to My Forking Life! Hi, I'm Tanya, attorney, busy wife and mom, and lover of quick, easy, and delicious meals.

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