Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Tangy, zesty, and with just a hint of spice, this homemade lemon pepper seasoning will make you forget the store-bought version.
With just 5 simple ingredients, you’ll be able to put this insanely flavorful and delicious seasoning mix together- one that you’ll find yourself using over and over again. If love making homemade spice blends, also try my Thai seasoning mix recipe- it's an absolute riot of flavors!
I’m somewhat obsessed with trying out different spices and seasoning mixes. Quite recently, I tried making jalapeno salt and a delicious dry ranch seasoning mix from scratch, and they were both big hits.
Inspired by their success, I decided to try this versatile dry rub that I could use for my proteins and grills.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
The marriage of lemon and pepper shines so beautifully in this simple spice mix, and that’s honestly my favorite part about the recipe.
Another big plus is the fact that it takes me just minutes of hands-on kitchen time to make it, and I have a big batch ready to be used for months.
Recipe Ingredients
To make this tangy and spicy spice blend, here’s all you’ll need.
Lemon: Dried lemon (or lime) forms the base for this seasoning mix. I used limes because that’s what I had at hand. You can use fresh lemon too.
Black peppercorns: Whole black peppercorns are another must. You can use ground black pepper instead if that’s what you prefer.
Garlic powder: I also added a dash of garlic powder to add to the deliciousness of this seasoning mix.
Cumin seeds: Cumin seeds are another wonderful addition to this mix. They’re optional though- feel free to skip adding them if you don’t have them at hand.
Sea salt: I used coarse sea salt for this recipe, but you can also just use your plain table salt if you want to.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- I used only garlic powder, but if you want an extra layer of flavor and deliciousness, you can also add some onion powder to the mix.
- Dried herbs can be another great addition to the seasoning mix. Choose from dried dill, dried parsley, or even dried cilantro.
How to Make Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Got everything ready? Here’s what you’ll need to do to make the homemade lemon pepper seasoning.
Step 1: Using a fine grater, grate the lemon peel from some fresh lemon. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for around 1 hour.
Step 2: In a blender jar, combine the black peppercorns, and sea salt and blend.
Step 3: Next, add the cumin seeds, garlic powder, and dried lemon zest and blitz again until coarse.
Step 4: Transfer to a clean airtight container or a glass jar and store away from direct sunlight.
💭Top Tip
To make the seasoning mix more flavorful, dry roast the whole peppercorns and the cumin seeds on a pan, allow them to cool down, and then transfer them to the high-powered blender.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Make sure the lemon peel is completely dry before you combine it with the rest of the ingredients. The key to making this seasoning mix stay fresh for a longer time is to remove all moisture.
- The best way to dry lemon peel (or any other herbs or foods for that matter) is to use a dehydrator. However, if you don’t have one, just use your oven at its lowest setting and it should work just as well.
- When doing this, remember to use a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Doing this will keep the lemon zest from burning and sticking to the surface.
- Also, make sure you zest the lemons correctly. Use only the yellow portion, which has a zesty flavor, and avoid accidentally zesting the white pith, which can be bitter.
- Once you start zesting the lemons, preheat the oven to its lowest setting.
- You can also use a paring knife to peel strips off the lemon and then dehydrate them, instead of zesting them. Remember that if you’re doing this, you’ll need to keep them in the oven for 2-3 hours to make sure the zest is completely dried.
How to Use the Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
This delicious seasoning blend is so versatile that it can be used for lots of different recipes. I love using this homemade seasoning as a dry rub for my chicken along with a bit of melted butter to make lemon pepper chicken wings.
And it is so much more than just a marinade. You can also sprinkle a bit of it into some olive oil and a dash of vinegar to make a simple salad dressing. I also love sprinkling some of this spice mix into my pasta sauce or over my homemade pizza to dial the flavors up a notch.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
When stored correctly, this homemade pepper lemon seasoning can stay fresh for up to 6 months. Remember to use a clean glass container that’s completely dry, and store the mix away from direct sunlight, ideally in your pantry or your spice drawer.
More Seasonings to Try
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this homemade lemon pepper seasoning or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2-3 limes
- 2 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
Instructions
- Using a fine grater, grate the lemon peel from some fresh lemon. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for around 1 hour.
- In a blender jar, combine the black peppercorns, and sea salt and blend.
- Next, add the cumin seeds, garlic powder, and dried lemon zest and blitz again until coarse.
- Transfer to a clean airtight container or a glass jar and store away from direct sunlight.
Notes
- Make sure you zest the lemons correctly. Use only the yellow portion, which has a zesty flavor, and avoid accidentally zesting the white pith, which can be bitter.
- You can also use a paring knife to peel strips off the lemon and then dehydrate them, instead of zesting them. Remember that if you’re doing this, you’ll need to keep them in the oven for 2-3 hours to make sure the zest is completely dried.
- I used only garlic powder, but if you want an extra layer of flavor and deliciousness, you can also add some onion powder to the mix.
