30 Best Lemon Recipes From Sweet to Savory

Pucker up, and get ready to fall in love with these bright and totally tantalizing lemon recipes.

Lemon puts a little zest in everything it touches, and this list of citrusy dishes is the proof!

Lip-Smacking Lemon Bars and More!

Surprisingly versatile, you can add the juice, flesh, and peel to everything from cakes to pasta.

So, if you like sweet and sour, lemon desserts are for you.

And if you don’t like super-rich food, savory lemon recipes are where it’s at.

I’ve got lemon recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, AND dessert right here. And each is better than the last!

Enjoy!

1. Lemon Drop Cookies

Forget chocolate chips and put down those peanut butter blossoms. This summer, the only cookie recipe you need is this lemon drop dough.

They’re super easy to make and absolutely bursting with citrusy goodness. Plus, they’re so incredibly soft that they practically dissolve on your tongue. 

Each cookie is buttery and lemony, with an extra citrusy zip from lemon icing. They’re perfect for adding some brightness to your day.     

2. Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

What’s a list of lemon recipes without lemon bars? I mean, there’s no way I couldn’t include these zesty treats.

Although I have a soft spot for Krusteaz lemon bars, this is my new go-to recipe.

The shortbread is buttery and soft, which perfectly pairs with the lip-puckering lemon curd.

They’re amazing, and they look terrific on any dessert table.

3. Lemon Chicken Recipe (with Lemon Butter Sauce)

Get fresh and fancy with this quick and easy lemon chicken recipe.

Seriously, it’s insanely good, and nobody will believe it took fewer than 30 minutes to make. 

It’s got juicy chicken and bright lemon with garlic, butter, and Parmesan. What more do you need?

It’s taste-tastic!

4. Warm Lemon Pudding Cakes

Here’s another recipe that feels fancy but is extremely simple to whip up.

At first, these mini cakes look like pudding in the British sense of the word. So, they look a bit solid and stodgy, though still totally scrumptious.

Once you dig in, though, you’ll find pudding à la America. 

In a weird combination of science and baking magic, you get two desserts in one.

The top is a delightfully light lemon sponge, thanks to the whipped egg whites. Meanwhile, the bottom is a deliciously creamy lemon pudding. 

Who could say no to that?

5. French Grandmother’s Lemon Yogurt Cake

On the hunt for a light dessert with a big wallop of flavor? Try this effortless lemon and yogurt cake.

This cake is a cinch to make and uses simple ingredients that don’t need much to make a statement. 

Plus, it’s ready in about an hour from prep to table!

Each bite is light as air and full of luscious lemony goodness. One bite, and you’ll be hooked.

6. Lemon Sour Cream Cake

There’s nothing bundt flavor and goodness in this lemon and sour cream cake. 

Sour cream cakes are simply amazing… like, literally always. They’re rich, soft, incredibly moist, and decadent.

And this lemon version is *chef’s kiss.* 

Every bite tastes like lemonade, and I just can’t get enough!

7. Lemon Crinkle Cookies

You only need 25 minutes and eleven ingredients (that you probably already have at home) to make this fantastic dessert.

So, really, they’re kind of dangerous… because you can make them ALL THE TIME.

They are lemon-licious and extremely tasty! 

8. Lemon-Garlic Lamb Chops

Lamb is one of my favorite kinds of meat because it’s just so soft and flavorful.

But often, you’ll see it served with a big, bold sauce that overwhelms the meat (I’m looking at you, Mint Sauce).

Luckily, this lemon and garlic lamb recipe is the bomb! It’s bright, spicy, citrusy, and garlicky. 

And it’s one I’ve added to my weekly menu. Give it a try, and I think you’ll do the same.

9. Lemon Curd

You can’t have a lemon list without lemon curd, right?

Lemon curd is a silky smooth, cooked lemon custard that’s a key element in many desserts.

Scones, cakes, muffins, tarts, lemon bars – you name it!

Luscious, tart, citrusy, sweet, and just plain yummy, it’s also a cinch to make. Just be sure to keep whisking as it cooks and strain it before it cools.

10. Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

These lemon cake mix cookies are simply the zest!

And they’re ridiculously easy to make, too. All you need is a cake mix, plus a few other ingredients. 

The result is a super lemony, soft, and chewy cookie that your family will love!  

11. Lemon Meringue Slice

This fabulous treat tastes just like lemon meringue pie, but it takes a fraction of the time to make.

Still, every slice features a buttery crust, tart lemon curd, and a pillowy meringue topping. 

If you don’t feel comfortable making meringue or you’re in a rush… try marshmallows!

It’s not exactly the same, but it’s close enough. And it still tastes pretty scrummy.

12. Lemon Rice

Transport yourself to India with this delicious lemon rice.

Every bite bursts with tons of flavors, from curry and green chilis to lemon and mustard.

So, you really don’t need to serve it with anything. Of course, if you want a little more substance, this rice tastes great with chicken. 

13. Lemon Pepper Chicken

Speaking of chicken: this lemon chicken is absolutely mouthwateringly delicious.

It’s lightly coated with seasoned flour, so each piece gets really crispy. Then, it’s covered in a lemon butter sauce that I could lick straight from the spoon. 

And although it’s rich, it’s not heavy. That’s because the lemon in the seasoning and the lemon in the sauce lighten everything up. 

14. Lemon Blueberry Muffins (Easy Recipe)

Lemon + blueberry = baked good heaven.

No matter how you enjoy it – from cakes and cookies to lemon blueberry bread and muffins – it’s a tart and sweet flavor combo that tastes as good as it looks.

And these muffins highlight that combo beautifully. They’re soft, fruity, and utterly divine. 

Breakfast has never been so fresh and delicious!

15. Lemon Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

If you know someone who thinks broccoli is boring, give them a taste of this insanely flavorful lemon and Parmesan broccoli.

Each floret is loaded with lemon, garlic, and cheesy goodness, making it bright, salty, and seriously delicious. 

Honestly, these are kind of addictive, which is totally fine because they’re also healthy!

16. Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, Butter, and Parmesan

Roasted asparagus is one of my favorite veggies.

And the addition of fresh lemon, rich butter, and salty Parmesan makes this dish a star!

You can’t get better than nutritious and delicious, amirite? 

The only thing I change is the cooking times. I like to let it cook a little longer until the ends are slightly charred and crispy. 

It’s free, added flavor, and you don’t need to do a thing!

17. Lemon Mug Cake

If you’re anything like me, you get serious sweet cravings in the evenings. Luckily, this mug cake needs just a few ingredients and is ready in 90 seconds!

The result is a sweet, lemony, soft cake that will delight your taste buds and calm your sweet tooth. 

18. Lemon Cake with Yellow Cake Mix

With all these boxed mixes lining the shelves, baking has never been so easy.

I’m a pro, and I love baking mixes! They’re pre-measured, easy to use, come in a million different flavors, and come out perfect every time.

Why wouldn’t you use one?

That said, if you want to zhuzh up a cake mix, try this simple lemon recipe.

You’ll add lemon jello and lemon extract to the mix, making it ridiculously zesty and impossibly moist.

Top-tip: use any flavor of jello to create a new cake flavor. Pistachio is my fave!

19. Lemon Pasta

If you need any more proof that lemon, Parmesan, and garlic create magic together, try this pasta dish.

It’s easy to make and intensely flavorful. And the only thing that could improve it is some of the broccoli from earlier.

Or, if you’re not vegetarian, add some lemon chicken. Yum!

20. Lemon Pepper Wings

Who needs Buffalo Wild Wings when you can get amazing wings at home for a fraction of the price?

These lemon pepper wings are utterly delicious and a nice change from the usual sticky BBQ or spicy buffalo.

Plus, they’re lighter than your average wing, so you can eat more without guilt!

The meat is tender, the skin is crispy, and every bite bursts with fresh flavors. It’s about as good as it gets!

21. Greek Lemon Potatoes

Let me introduce you to your new favorite potato recipe.

They’re braised in a lemon and garlic broth before they’re roasted to crispy perfection.

Each bite is ah-mazing, and I guarantee everyone at the table will want seconds. 

22. Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

If I could only eat one kind of muffin forever, I think it would be these lemon poppy seed muffins. 

Sweet, textural, and popping with lemony goodness, they’re super light and tender.

Feel free to add a lemon glaze if you like. Or, a sweet, citrusy cream cheese filling would be fantastic.

But really, they’re incredible as is.

23. Lemon Parmesan Lettuce Salad

Have you ever had Olive Garden’s deliciously tangy salad? It’s super zippy and wonderfully fresh.

Well, if Olive Garden’s salad and a Caesar salad had a baby, it’d be this.

Lemon, shallots, olive oil, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes? Yes, please!

24. Salmon with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce

Salmon and lemon go together like peanut butter and jelly. Add a bit of garlic to the mix, and you’ll be in flavor heaven.

Colorful, flaky fish with a bright sauce is the kind of dish you serve when you want to impress. And this will do the trick!

Especially if you serve it alongside the Greek lemon potatoes and roasted asparagus from earlier. 

25. Avgolemono Soup

This delicious dish is the Greek version of chicken and rice soup. The biggest difference? It’s got TONS of lemon.

So, it’s insanely flavorful and utterly scrumptious. 

It’s also super healthy, loaded with protein, and creamier than the average chicken and rice soup because it’s thickened with eggs.

Every spoonful is totally slurpable, and I guarantee you’ll gobble up every last drop. 

26. Starbucks Lemon Loaf (Copycat Recipe)

The best thing at Starbucks is…the cold brew with sweet cream foam and a big slice of warm banana bread!

But my second favorite treat has to be their insanely scrumptious lemon loaf. It’s moist, citrusy, and perfectly lemony-sweet. 

This copycat recipe tastes like the original but saves you some change! And you’ll save some time waiting in line at the drive-thru. Win-win!

27. Lemon Pancakes

Add a little zing to your morning with these zesty lemon pancakes.

They’re absolutely the right way to start your day. One bite will wake up your tastebuds and put a little pep in your step.

They’re fresh and fluffy, and they taste like summer. Just don’t forget the berries and cream! 

28. Chicken Piccata (Easy Recipe)

You need this easy chicken piccata in your life! It’s similar to the lemon chicken from earlier in that it’s floured, buttery, and lemony. 

However, this recipe kicks it up a notch! Adding white wine and capers turns simple chicken into an umami party. 

Chicken piccata is easy enough for weeknights but fancy enough for a special occasion. It doesn’t get better than that!

29. Lemon Chicken Pasta

I think we can all agree that lemon pasta is delicious. And we know that lemon chicken is delectable.

So, if you put two and two together, you get one heck of a meal!

Creamy alfredo, bright lemon, succulent chicken… it’s pretty darn delectable.

Serve this, and you’ll have to roll me away from the table. 

30. Mary Berry’s Lemon Cupcakes (+ Lemon Icing Recipe)

Mary Berry is the Queen of England… er, the queen of English baking.

She’s brilliant, and the woman knows her way around an oven. Therefore, her recipes are GOLD.

And this lemon cupcake recipe tastes like pure sunshine and happiness.

They’re everything you want in a cake: sweet, moist, and fluffy with a slightly crisp edge.

Simple lemon buttercream adds a burst of tartness that’ll make your mouth water.

Fill them with lemon curd for an added kick!