Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe: Ways to Use Lemon Pepper

Lemon pepper seasoning is a spice blend made with dried lemon zest, black pepper, and salt. Optional add-ins include garlic powder, onion powder, or red chile flakes. Making lemon pepper and other spice blends at home ensures that your ingredients are fresh, making them exponentially more flavorful than store-bought spice mixes.

Lemon peel and black pepper contain essential oils and aromatic compounds that lose their potency over time once exposed to the air. Black peppercorns are especially susceptible to flavor dissipation, so always grind them fresh.

Store-bought spices often contain anticaking agents such as silicon dioxide or substitutes like citric acid in place of dried lemon peel to mimic a lemon flavor. It’s not always clear when manufacturers ground store-bought spices, and their expiration dates are relatively generous, meaning they may have been sitting on shelves for a year or more.

Starting with fresh lemons and whole peppercorns ensures your spice blend will stay potent, so you can use less of it while getting the most flavor.

Try these fresh ideas for using homemade lemon pepper seasoning.

1. 1. Marinade: Use the lemon juice from the zested lemons, plus grated garlic, fresh parsley, olive oil, and lemon pepper seasoning to make an all-purpose marinade or salad dressing.
2. 2. Pasta: Lemon pepper is an easy way to amp up the flavor of simple pasta dishes. Instead of just plain pepper for a cacio e pepe, try adding lemon pepper for an extra layer of flavor.
3. 3. Popcorn: Zesty, peppery flavors pair well with this classic anytime snack. Add the seasoning to warm clarified butter and let the spices bloom for a minute or two before pouring over a bowl of freshly popped corn. Learn how to make clarified butter.
4. 4. Poultry: Lemon pepper is a popular flavoring for turkey and chicken wings. Try this easy lemon pepper chicken recipe.
5. 5. Seafood: Almost any type of fish or shellfish works with citrus and pepper flavors. Try adding lemon pepper to your favorite shrimp scampi recipe or baked salmon.
6. 6. Vegetables: Toss green veggies like roasted zucchini or smoked asparagus with lemon pepper, and serve alongside lemon wedges for a refreshing vegetarian side dish.

You can store lemon pepper seasoning for up to one year in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Seasoning blends from the grocery store tend to lose potency over time, especially when kept in containers that expose them to light and varying temperatures.

Storing spices near the stove or other places where the temperature varies can affect their flavor, too. A dark cabinet that stays relatively cool is ideal for spice storage.