Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning is a popular spice blend that many people use to add flavor to various dishes. The main ingredients in Lawry’s lemon pepper are salt, lemon peel, black pepper, onion, garlic, and natural flavors. While the exact proportions of each ingredient are proprietary, we can get a good idea of what goes into this zesty seasoning by looking at the ingredient list.
Salt
Salt is typically the first ingredient in most spice blends as it makes up the bulk of the product. Salt enhances flavor and also acts as a preservative. The salt in Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning amplifies the other ingredients while also allowing the blend to have a longer shelf life.
Lemon Peel
Lemon peel, also known as lemon zest, is the next major ingredient. Tiny shreds of bright yellow lemon rind provide a fresh, citrusy punch. Along with the lemon oil contained in the peel, this is likely where the seasoning gets its distinctive lemony flavor.
Black Pepper
Black pepper rounds out the blend with its characteristic heat and subtle spiciness. Lawry’s uses ground black peppercorns to give their seasoning a peppery bite. Along with the salt, black pepper serves as a flavor enhancer that brings out the other ingredients.
Onion
Dried minced onion contributes an savory, aromatic element. Onion powder has an umami taste that blends well with the lemon, garlic, and other seasonings. The onion flavor is subtle enough that it doesn’t overpower the other components.
Garlic
Like onion, garlic powder provides a rich background note. The mellow sweetness of garlic balances and amplifies the sharper lemon peel and black pepper. Garlic also has a natural affinity for many savory foods like meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
Natural Flavors
“Natural flavors” is a broad term used for proprietary flavorings derived from plant or animal sources. For Lawry’s lemon pepper, these additional natural flavors likely reinforce the dominant lemon and pepper notes. They help give the seasoning its robust, complex taste.
A Well-Balanced Blend
While simple in terms of ingredients, Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning is carefully formulated so that no one flavor overpowers the others. The combination of lemon, pepper, onion, garlic, and natural flavors results in a versatile blend that works well on all kinds of foods. A pinch adds the perfect pop of citrus-spice flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for 1 teaspoon (2g) of Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning:
| Calories | 5 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 190mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, Lawry’s lemon pepper is low in calories, fat, carbs, and protein. The main nutritional factor is the sodium content – 190mg per teaspoon. This comes mostly from the salt used in the blend.
Where to Buy Lawry’s Lemon Pepper
Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning is sold in the spice aisle of most major grocery stores in the U.S. It’s readily available at chains like Walmart, Target, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, etc. Lawry’s lemon pepper typically comes in a small cylindrical container holding about 3 ounces of the spice blend.
Online retailers like Amazon also carry Lawry’s lemon pepper if you prefer to buy it that way. A 3 ounce jar costs around $5 on Amazon as of writing this article.
How to Store and Use Lawry’s Lemon Pepper
To retain optimal freshness and flavor, store Lawry’s lemon pepper in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep the shaker jar tightly closed when not in use. Properly stored, the seasoning will stay fresh for about 2 years.
Give your favorite proteins, vegetables, pastas, and more a flavor boost with Lawry’s lemon pepper. Use it to season everything from chicken breasts, fish fillets, steak, and chops to roasted potatoes, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus. It also livens up popcorn, eggs, rice, pasta salads, dips, and dressings.
Try sprinkling on 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per serving of food. Adjust to taste – add a little at a time until you achieve your desired level of flavor. A small amount goes a long way since this blend packs a concentrated lemon-pepper punch.
Homemade Version
You can easily whip up a homemade version of Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning if desired. Here’s a simple 5-ingredient recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 cup salt
Instructions:
- Use a zester or microplane to remove the outermost yellow part of lemon peel. Try to avoid the bitter white pith underneath.
- Coarsely grind the peppercorns in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
- Thoroughly mix together the lemon zest, ground pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
- Store in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. Will keep for up to 1 year.
- Shake or sprinkle onto foods as desired.
This easy homemade version has the same great lemony peppery taste for a fraction of the cost. Adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your tastes.
Popular Brands
In addition to the original Lawry’s product, there are a few other readily available lemon pepper seasoning brands to consider:
McCormick Lemon Pepper
Like Lawry’s, McCormick’s lemon pepper is made with salt, lemon peel, black pepper, onion, and natural flavor. It has a very similar ingredient profile and flavor to Lawry’s. The main difference is that McCormick’s blend contains rice flour as an anti-caking agent.
365 Everyday Value Organic Lemon Pepper
This organic seasoning from Whole Foods contains fewer ingredients – lemon peel, black pepper, and silicon dioxide. It has a simpler flavor profile focused mainly on lemon and pepper notes. There are no onions, garlic, or “natural flavors.”
Spike Lemon Pepper
Spike’s version is another pared-down blend of lemon peel, black pepper, and salt. It’s non-GMO and contains no artificial colors or flavors. Spike lemon pepper has robust citrus and pepper flavors.
Badia Lemon Pepper
With salt, lemon peel, black pepper, granulated garlic, and granulated onion, Badia’s seasoning most closely resembles the Lawry’s original. It provides the same balance of lemon, pepper, onion, and garlic flavors. A budget-friendly option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lawry’s lemon pepper good on chicken?
Yes, Lawry’s lemon pepper excels at adding flavor to chicken. It’s particularly good on grilled chicken breasts, chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, and tenders. Both the lemon and black pepper notes pair extremely well with poultry.
What foods should you use lemon pepper on?
In addition to chicken, Lawry’s lemon pepper is great on seafood like fish, shrimp, and scallops. It’s also tasty on pork, steak, lamb, vegetables, eggs, popcorn, rice, pasta, and potato dishes. Use it to add bright flavor to salads, dips, dressings, and more.
Is Lawry’s lemon pepper all natural?
Lawry’s lemon pepper contains natural ingredients like lemon peel, black pepper, onion, and garlic. However, it also includes “natural flavors” which are not identified specifically. So while it contains natural components, it cannot be considered 100% all natural due to the proprietary flavorings.
Does Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning go bad?
Properly stored in a cool, dry place, Lawry’s lemon pepper will stay fresh for about 2 years from the production date. Over time it may lose some potency of flavor but it will still be safe to consume. If the seasoning smells “off” or tastes bland, it’s best to discard and replace it.
Can you use lemon pepper as a rub?
Yes, lemon pepper seasoning like Lawry’s makes an excellent rub for meat, poultry, and fish. Combine it with a little olive oil or vegetable oil to help it stick. Rub onto proteins before grilling, broiling, baking, or pan-searing. The lemon pepper flavor will infuse the outer surface.
Conclusion
With its punchy blend of lemon, black pepper, onion, garlic, and natural flavors, it’s easy to see why Lawry’s lemon pepper seasoning is a pantry staple for many home cooks. This versatile spice blend can be used to add an extra pop of flavor to all kinds of savory dishes. A little bit goes a long way in livening up weeknight dinners. Make sure to store your jar properly to preserve the robust flavors. A shake of Lawry’s lemon pepper is an easy way to give your food a tasty upgrade.