Copycat McCormick Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Description
This copycat McCormick lemon pepper seasoning takes 5 minutes and pantry spices. Bright, zesty, and peppery — with no dyes or fillers, and you control the salt.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons dried lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon citric acid, optional, for the tangy bottled finish
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground celery seed
Instructions
- Dry the lemon zest. Zest 4–5 lemons with a microplane, avoiding the bitter white pith. Spread on a parchment-lined sheet and dry at 200°F for 30–45 minutes until brittle, or air-dry overnight. (Shortcut: use store-bought dried lemon peel.)
- Combine. Add the black pepper, dried lemon zest, salt, citric acid, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and ground celery seed to a small bowl.
- Stir. Whisk until evenly blended. For a finer, bottle-like texture, pulse in a spice grinder 2–3 times.
- Store. Transfer to an airtight jar and keep in a cool, dark cabinet.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
Notes
- The 5-minute time assumes store-bought dried lemon peel. Drying fresh zest adds 30–45 minutes.
- Citric acid is the secret to the bright, tangy bottled finish — skip it if needed, but use it if you can.
- Keeps about 6 months at peak flavor in an airtight jar away from heat and light.
- For a salt-free version, omit the salt entirely.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 6kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 349mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 9IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.2mg