Lemon Pepper Marinade {Brilliant, Zesty & Prepared in 5 Minutes}


This simple Lemon Pepper Marinade comes collectively in about 5 minutes with easy pantry components and recent lemon juice. It’s daring, zesty, and versatile sufficient to make use of on rooster, shrimp, veggies, and even tofu for easy, flavorful meals.

0 CAL 0g CARBS 0g FAT 0g PROTEIN

This Lemon Pepper Marinade is brilliant from numerous recent lemon juice, savory from garlic and Worcestershire, and just a bit herby from dried oregano. I like mixing up a jar on Sunday and preserving it within the fridge for simple weeknight meals.

A fast pour over rooster thighs or shrimp earlier than they hit the grill, and out of the blue you’ve bought one thing that tastes restaurant-worthy with nearly no prep. It’s additionally superb on roasted veggies or tossed with potatoes earlier than roasting for a brilliant flavorful aspect!

Because it’s constructed from on a regular basis components (olive oil, lemon juice, lemon pepper, garlic), you don’t want a particular grocery run. Simply shake, marinate, and cook dinner your favourite protein or veggies nonetheless you want. When you’ve made it as soon as, you’ll in all probability end up preserving a jar within the fridge “simply in case,” like I do!

Top view of a white plate with small glass bowls containing various ingredients, including herbs, mustard, and oil. A hand pours lemon juice into a bowl.

Earlier than You Get Began

Listed below are just a few fast issues to know earlier than you make this marinade so it seems completely balanced and able to use.

  • Use recent lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides you the brightest taste. Bottled works in a pinch, however recent actually makes this marinade pop.
  • Test your lemon pepper: Some lemon pepper blends are very salty, others are principally citrus and pepper. Style yours and add additional salt provided that it’s wanted, so the marinade doesn’t find yourself too salty.
  • Regulate the Dijon: The Dijon mustard is non-compulsory, however it provides a pleasant tang and helps the marinade cling to your protein or veggies. In order for you a cleaner lemon taste, you’ll be able to go away it out.
  • Re-whisk earlier than utilizing: The olive oil and lemon juice will separate because the marinade sits, particularly within the fridge. Let it come to room temperature and provides it a great shake or whisk earlier than utilizing.

Learn how to Make Lemon Pepper Marinade

Right here’s a easy overview of how one can pull this marinade collectively in just some minutes.

1. Mix the Components

Add the recent lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard (if utilizing), dried oregano, and a pinch of salt (if wanted) to a glass jar or small bowl.

2. Combine Till Emulsified

Shake the jar vigorously or whisk the combination till the oil and lemon juice look nicely mixed and barely thickened. Style and alter the seasoning by including extra lemon pepper, a bit of additional lemon juice, or a pinch of salt should you’d like.

Recipe Suggestions and Tips

Listed below are the very best professional tricks to make this marinade work for all types of simple meals.

  • Steadiness the flavour: If the marinade tastes too sharp, add a small splash of additional olive oil. If it tastes just a little flat, a tiny pinch of salt or additional lemon juice normally brings it to life.
  • Select your warmth degree: In the event you like just a little kick, stir in a pinch of purple pepper flakes or a tiny little bit of cayenne. It provides heat with out overpowering the lemon and pepper.
  • Know your marinating instances: For rooster breasts or thighs, half-hour to 4 hours is a lot. Shrimp and delicate fish solely want about 15–half-hour, so the acid doesn’t begin to “cook dinner” them. Veggies can deal with an extended soak, as much as a number of hours.
  • Marinate in baggage or shallow dishes: For even protection, add your protein or veggies and marinade to a shallow dish or zip-top bag, press out the additional air, and flip a couple of times whereas it rests.
  • Customise the flavour: You’ll be able to add recent herbs like parsley or basil, a spoonful of honey for a contact of sweetness, or just a little additional garlic should you find it irresistible tremendous garlicky. This marinade may be very forgiving, so be happy to tweak it to match no matter you’re serving!

A glass jar of golden oil with herbs, accompanied by a small ceramic bowl with a spoon, sits on a round tray, creating a rustic, inviting scene.

Serving Concepts

This brilliant, zesty marinade works with so many proteins and greens. Listed below are some scrumptious methods to make use of it.

  • Grilled rooster: Apply it to Easy Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Chicken Thighs, or drumsticks, then grill or bake till juicy and golden.
  • Shrimp and fish: Marinate shrimp, cod, tilapia, or salmon for a fast, citrusy seafood dinner.
  • Roasted greens: Toss with broccoli, asparagus, inexperienced beans, or potatoes earlier than roasting.
  • Tofu or tempeh: Use with Grilled Tofu or sliced tempeh for a flavorful plant-based essential.

Storage & Reheating

Right here’s how one can retailer and use your Lemon Pepper Marinade so it stays recent and flavorful.

  • Retailer within the fridge: Maintain the marinade in a sealed glass jar or hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5–7 days. The oil will separate and should agency up barely; simply let it sit at room temperature and shake or whisk earlier than utilizing.
  • Retailer within the freezer: For longer storage, freeze the marinade (by itself or poured over uncooked rooster) for as much as 2–3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then shake or whisk to recombine earlier than utilizing.

Often Requested Questions

Listed below are a number of the mostly requested questions on this recipe:

That relies on your lemon pepper seasoning and soy/Worcestershire preferences, however this model is constructed round lemon and herbs, not simply salt. In case your lemon pepper mix may be very salty, begin with much less and add further salt solely after tasting.

 

No. Any marinade that has been in touch with uncooked meat, poultry, or seafood needs to be discarded or boiled for a number of minutes earlier than utilizing as a sauce. For security, I prefer to put aside a small portion of recent marinade only for drizzling earlier than I pour the remainder over uncooked protein.

 

Sure. This works very well as a zesty salad dressing, particularly for grain bowls, pasta salads, or leafy greens. In the event you’re utilizing it as a dressing, you might need to whisk in an additional teaspoon or two of olive oil and a small drizzle of honey to melt the acidity and steadiness the flavors.

 

Any neutral-tasting oil works. Avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil are all good choices. Simply remember the fact that extra-virgin olive oil provides its personal peppery taste, so should you use a impartial oil, the lemon and seasoning will stand out much more.