When life gives you lots of lemons, showcase them and their bright, bold citrus tang! Get inspired by these 30 zesty and bright savory lemon recipes.
It always seems to me like savory lemon dishes don’t get the same amount of love as their sweet lemon counterparts and that is a culinary shame!
If there is one ingredient you need to have in your fridge at all times, it’s a lemon—or 3 or 4! When you have lemons, you can turn almost anything in your fridge or pantry into a zesty, aromatic, flavorful meal.
Lemon pairs beautifully with so many ingredients, from pasta and vegetables to seafood and meats. Can you imagine a world without lemon garlic butter drizzled generously over a skewer of shrimp, a dish of asparagus, or a bed of noodles? It’s not a world I want to contemplate!
Instantly brighten up a salad or veggies with a squeeze of lemon. Highlight the delicate flavors of your favorite fish with lemon butter. Add depth to your soups and pasta with a sprinkle of lemon zest. Adding a touch of acidic lemon to a rich dish has the power to perfectly balance flavors and textures, making it a delight for your tastebuds!.
And don’t forget condiments! Having a bottle of lemon vinaigrette or a jar of preserved lemons in the fridge is a quick way to add a hit of bright lemon flavor to your cooking.
When you have lemons, you have options! And these 30 savory lemon dishes will give you lots of cooking inspiration.
Pssst… If you love adding a splash of citrus to your savory dishes as much as I do, be sure to check out my Citrus Savory Delights ebook, which is filled with 16 well-loved and meticulously tested savory citrus recipes!
Table of Contents: Jump to Recipe! show
Lemon Pasta and Risotto Recipes
1. Spaghetti al Limone (Creamy Lemon Spaghetti)
by Food Nouveau
Spaghetti al Limone will please all fans of mac’n’cheese and Cacio e Pepe! This easy, 5-ingredient recipe is rich, zesty, and utterly satisfying to eat. Dig in as is, or fold in veggies and/or proteins for a heartier dish!
2. Lemon Water Spaghetti
by The Pasta Project
This divine lemon water spaghetti is based on a recipe by Neapolitan Michelin star chef, Peppe Guida. With just 3 ingredients and some good olive oil, you can create a plate of pasta your guests will never forget.
3. Garlic Lemon Pasta with Roasted Shrimp
by Frugal Mom Eh!
This quick and easy lemon pasta recipe is super fresh and delicious. It’s an utterly family-friendly recipe!
4. Lemony Broiled Cauliflower Pasta
by Food Nouveau
This easy broiled cauliflower pasta dish combines enticing flavors and textures to create a simple, satisfying, vegetarian weeknight meal.
5. Lemon Asparagus Risotto
by Food Nouveau
This creamy lemon asparagus risotto combines zesty lemon with the iconic, bright green spring stalks. A delightful dish for special nights, but quick enough for weeknights, too!
Meat-Centric Lemon Recipes
6. Roasted Lemon Chicken (Pollo Al Limone)
by What a Girl Eats
Roasted lemon chicken is one of the easiest savory lemon recipes ever. Everyone should know how to make a basic roasted chicken! This is the Italian version, Pollo Al Limone. Three simple ingredients produce the moistest and most flavorful chicken ever!
7. Chicken Tenders (Lemon Garlic Butter)
by Recipes from a Pantry by Bintu
This lemony chicken tenders recipe is one of the best ways to make chicken strips at home. Flavorful and versatile chicken tenders cook fast and are ready to serve in just 15 minutes!
8. Lemon Chicken Skewers
by The Petite Cook
Looking for a quick, healthy meal ready in less than 30 minutes with 5 ingredients only? Look no further, these tasty lemon chicken skewers are awesomely gluten-free, dairy-free, and loaded with flavor!
9. Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Chicken
by Thrifty Jinxy
This zesty lemon chicken sheet pan dinner combines with French green beans and potatoes to make a delicious sheet pan dinner seasoned with lemon pepper that’s perfect for any night of the week.
10. Za’atar Grilled Chicken Drumsticks + Lemon Yogurt Sauce
by Killing Thyme
These super garlicky, crowd-pleasing za’atar grilled chicken drumsticks slathered in tangy lemon yogurt sauce will leave your loved ones begging for the recipe!
11. Caramelized Lemon Meatballs
by Food Nouveau
The recipe for these zesty caramelized lemon meatballs is adapted from a Tuscan family recipe. Best enjoyed with a side of pasta and roasted broccoli rabe!
12. Lemon Cardamom Meatballs with Garlic Tahini Sauce
by Heartbeet Kitchen
These delicious lemon cardamom meatballs are made with fresh lemon and aromatic cardamom, which makes them bright and flavorful. The creamy tahini sauce is worth making this dish alone!
13. Veal Escalopes in Lemon Sauce
by Where Is My Spoon
These incredibly tender veal escalopes are served with a bright lemon sauce. A classic Italian dish–Scallopine al Limone, it’s simple and delicious, and it’s made with only four ingredients.
Lemon Fish and Seafood Recipes
14. Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp with Chilies
by Killing Thyme
These lemon garlic butter shrimp are the perfect complement for grilled meats and pasta. Its flavors are bright and garlicky and the prep is uncomplicated.
15. Lemon Salmon
by The Clean Eating Couple
This easy lemon salmon recipe is perfect for a quick dinner. Learn how to make lemon salmon in one pan that is healthy and delicious!
16. Sole in Lemon Butter Sauce (Sole Meunière)
by Vikalinka
Sole Meuniere recipe is an absolute classic but did you know you don’t have to be a classically trained chef to master it? It’s incredibly simple and quick. Learn how to make this savory lemon recipe and impress your guests with its elegant flavors!
Lemon Appetizer and Soup Recipes
17. Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Kotopoulo Soupa Avgolemono)
by The Greek Foodie
This Greek lemon chicken soup is delicious and can be used for healing purposes—or quite simply for pure comfort and delight. Avgolemono is a much-loved traditional Greek soup!
18. Zucchini Lemon Ricotta Crostini
by Three Olives Branch
These easy lemon ricotta crostini bring light and fresh flavors to an elegant appetizer recipe. Serve these to your guests and watch them disappear from the plate in record time!
19. Honey Butter Baked Lemon Pepper Wings
by Dish’n the Kitchen
These baked lemon pepper wings are crispy zesty chicken wing perfection! Simply bake them in your oven, then glaze with a melted butter honey sauce.
Lemon Salad and Side Dish Recipes
20. Greek Lemon Potatoes with Garlic & Oregano
by The Greek Foodie
These delicious Greek lemon potatoes with garlic and oregano will be the star at your next dinner party. Easy to make with few ingredients, they are the perfect side to a chicken or lamb roast or anything grilled.
21. Lemon Herb Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
by My Kitchen Love
Lemony roasted potatoes are a deliciously wholesome side dish. The addition of bright green asparagus makes the dish truly elegant!
22. Meyer Lemon Roasted Carrot Strings with Lemon Garlic Sauce
by Running to the Kitchen
These roasted carrot strings are bright, fresh, and zesty with a little bit of crunch. This bright salad is a really fun, delicious way to eat your carrots!
23. Sauteed Green Beans with Lemon and Garlic
by The Food Blog
Sautéed green beans are a simple, delicious side dish. When you add lemon and garlic, green beans shine so bright! These lemony green beans are equally perfect as a side for a family dinner or served as part of a fancy feast.
24. Lemon Broccoli with Beans and Bacon
by A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
This recipe for lemon broccoli with beans and bacon is an easy great northern dish that combines roasted broccoli, chewy-crisp bites of bacon, and a squeeze of fresh lemon. It’s humble, yet truly stunning!
25. Lemon Kale Salad
by Feasting Not Fasting
This is the best kale salad you’ll ever have! This quick and easy savory lemon recipe has kale. pistachios, cranberries, and parmesan all tossed in a zippy lemon vinaigrette.
Lemon Condiment and Dressing Recipes
26. Lemon Olive Oil
by Champagne Tastes
This easy lemon olive oil is a quickly infused oil made with lemon zest and fresh herbs, and it’s perfect in salad dressings or to add flavor to meats, fish, and seafood. Make a big batch and freeze it in portions to use year round!
27. Preserved Lemons
by Craving Something Healthy
When life gives you lemons, preserve them—and enjoy them in savory dishes all year long! This unfussy savory lemon recipe will show you how to create an incredibly aromatic condiment you can use countless ways.
28. Zesty Preserved Lemon Tahini Salad Dressing
by Dish’n the Kitchen
This bright and zesty tahini salad dressing features aromatic preserved lemons. Drizzle it over a simple green chopped salad or a grain- or legume-based salad.
29. Anchovy Lemon Vinaigrette
by The Devil Wears Salad
Salty, tart, and strong in flavor, this Anchovy Lemon Vinaigrette is not for the faint-hearted! A real flavor bomb, this salad dressing packs a punch.
30. Herby Lemon Vinaigrette
by A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
This homemade lemon vinaigrette recipe is loaded with bright flavors. Incredibly versatile, it promises to brighten any and all salads, year-round!
Savory Citrus Delights Cookbook
Love savory citrus recipes? Then you’ll love my Savory Citrus Delights Cookbook! Discover zesty variations on timeless classics, create colorful, nutritious lunches, and expand your weeknight dinner repertoire with aromatic, creative dishes the whole family will love. Savory Citrus Delights is a 16-recipe downloadable eBook that comes in a handy, “save it everywhere” PDF format! LEARN MORE
