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I keep a bag of lemons on hand at all times. Not for anything specific, I just end up reaching for one multiple times a week, so it’s become an ingredient staple in my house. A squeeze over roasted vegetables, into a soup, into the pasta water before I drain it. Lemon is one of those things that quietly makes everything else taste better. I have a lot of lemon dishes on this site, so I wanted to pull them all into one place. If you’re staring at a bag on your counter and not sure what to make, or just looking for easy lemon recipes to add to your regular rotation, this is a good place to start.

38 of My Best Lemon Recipes

The recipe collection opens with tutorials on how to zest, juice, and cut lemons, as well as a homemade lemon pepper seasoning. After that, it breaks into breakfast recipes (pancakes, scones, muffins, crepes), chicken recipes, seafood recipes, and vegetarian recipes. Most of the savory lemon recipes are in those sections: soups, pastas, salmon, shrimp, grain dishes, and so on. The sweet section has breads, bars, and a few other things. Lemon drinks are at the end.

Every recipe here is made with fresh lemon juice, zest, or both, so it’s worth having a couple on hand before you start. If lemon dinner recipes are what you’re after, the chicken and seafood sections are probably the most useful. I hope this helps you figure out what to make.

Tips for Making Recipes with Lemons

1. Cut properly. Cut the lemon crosswise for juicing to get maximum juice and lengthwise for garnishes for drinks, seafood, or salads. Lemon rounds and half moons can beautifully garnish lemon dessert recipes.
2. Start with room temperature lemons. In order to get maximum juice, never start with cold lemons as that makes the membranes tighter. Bring them to room temperature or run them under warm running water before juicing.
3. Zest first then juice. If a recipe calls for both lemon zest and juice, grate the outer peel first using a zester or microplane. Then, cut it in half and extract the juice.
4. Keep fruits and veggies fresh. Brushing fresh-cut fruits with lemon juice prevents browning and keeps their colors bright and vibrant.
5. Know the general yield. Of course, this depends on the variety and size of the lemon, but generally, a large lemon will produce about 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice.

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out:

• Grilling Recipes
• Picnic Food Ideas
• Beach Food Recipes
• Recipes To Make this Summer
• Summer Salad Recipes
• 30-Minute Meals