Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
On September 14, 2022 (Updated May 10, 2024)
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This lemon pepper seasoning only requires 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time to make. There’s no need to buy lemon pepper seasoning at the store when you can make it in a flash at home!
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Lemon pepper seasoning is a must-have in our household due to its versatility and awesome flavor. It’s tangy, sour, and a bit spicy, making it a fantastic seasoning for chicken, pork, seafood, veggies, and more.
While you can purchase lemon pepper seasoning in any grocery store, making your own homemade seasonings and rubs at home is easy and cost-effective.
Ingredients for Lemon Pepper Seasoning
You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this seasoning, and most should already be in your spice rack. Here’s what you need to make this seasoning.
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons coarse ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
If you plan on using this recipe immediately, you can mix the ingredients and go. If you plan on making this recipe and storing it in your pantry, you’ll need to dry your lemon zest according to the instructions in the next section.
How to Dry Lemon Zest
To make your seasoning shelf stable, you’ll need to dry your lemon zest. Here’s how to dry it:
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees F. Prep the lemon zest while the oven preheats.
- Prep the zest. Spread the lemon zest out on a piece of parchment paper set on a baking sheet.
- Dry. Place the baking sheet in a 180 degrees F oven. Crack the door of your oven and bake the lemon zest for 30 minutes, or until nice and dry.
- Use. Remove the zest from the oven and allow to cool before using.
Quick note: For the same amount of flavor from dried lemon zest, you’ll want to use twice as much in your spice blend as it calls for with fresh zest.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Once you have all your ingredients assembled, and your lemon zest is dried and cooled (if you plan on storing this), you’re ready to make some awesome rub! Here’s how to make lemon pepper seasoning.
- Combine. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl, and use a fork to mix evenly and break up any clumps.
- Use or store. Season your food immediately (if using fresh lemon zest) or store the seasoning in a sealed container for a few months for the best flavor.
More Homemade Seasoning Recipes
If you’re a fan of making your own homemade seasoning blends, I highly recommend trying out these other popular ones from Hey Grill Hey. And if you’re looking to save time, you can order some fresh and delicious rubs from the Hey Grill Hey Store.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe
This recipe was created for you, backyard griller! Here at Hey Grill Hey, we’re in the business of helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes here on my website (browse the Homepage for inspiration) on Instagram, YouTube, or our Facebook Page.
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons coarse ground black peppers
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Dry the lemon zest. (If you plan to store this rub, you'll need to dry the lemon zest first. You'll also need 2 Tablespoons of lemon zest if you are drying it, as opposed to only 1 Tablespoon if you plan on using this seasoning right away.) Spread the zest on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Place it in an oven preheated to 180 degrees F. Crack the oven door and cook for 30 minutes.
- Combine. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Use a fork to crush any clumps of seasonings.
- Use or store. If using fresh lemon zest, use this seasoning immediately. Any leftovers (with dried lemon zest), can be stored for a couple months in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
