36 Recipes With Lemon That Take You From Breakfast to Dessert

The delicious citrus adds a burst of flavor to any meal.

lemon cheese pizza on cutting board — Credit:
Mike Krautter

A fruit that elevates the flavor of so many dishes to new heights, lemons are a versatile fruit packed with nutrition, in addition to their zesty flavor and scent. Lemons add a tart, floral brightness to pasta, baked goods, fish, poultry, and more.

With countless ways to use this versatile fruit in the kitchen, we've created a collection of our favorite lemon-centric dishes to inspire you with fresh flavors all year. From delectable breakfast ideas to flavorful main dishes that are sure to impress, there is something for every meal.

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One-Pot Pasta With Broccoli and Lemon

One Pan Pasta with Broccoli and Lemon — Bryan Gardner

Quick, satisfying, and full of flavor—what more could you want for a weeknight meal? Our one-pot meals never disappoint; this broccoli and lemon pasta is no exception. The lemon and Parmesan flavors make it impossible to resist seconds.

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Grilled Tuscan Chicken With Rosemary and Lemon

Grilled Tuscan Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon

Tuscan-style grilled chicken is a versatile spring dish that can be paired with many sides. A rosemary and lemon flavor combination will never let you down. The key to success with this dish is giving the chicken enough time to marinate and soak up all the flavor.

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Roasted Asparagus With Lemony Breadcrumbs

roasted asparagus with lemon breadcrumbs

A side dish that carries the flavor. Asparagus spears are baked with lemony bread crumbs and topped with freshly grated lemon zest before serving.

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Linguine Pasta With Lemon-Cream Sauce

linguine with lemon cream sauce on a plate — Andrea Araiza

This creamy lemon pasta is one of our favorite weeknight meals. Its fresh flavors simply can't be beat after a long day, and it comes together fast.

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Roasted Branzino With Lemon and Thyme

Whole-Roasted Branzino with Lemon and Thyme on plate with lemon wedges and silverware — Ryan Liebe

Branzino is a flavorful seafood entree. This whole fish recipe is simply seasoned with olive oil, fresh thyme, and lemon wedges. It's a versatile recipe—you can swap out the fish for snapper, perch, cod, Arctic char, bass, sea bream, or haddock.

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Marbled Lemon Tart With Sage-Cornmeal Crust

Marbled Lemon Tart — decorvow

If you're looking for a spring-forward dessert that's guaranteed to make an impression, look no further than this crème fraîche-marbled lemon tart.

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Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Lemon Blueberry Muffins — Rachel Marek

A sweet start to the day, these lemon and blueberry muffins make for the perfect breakfast on the go. They come together in under an hour and are freezer-friendly.

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Lemon-and-Italian-Cheese Pizza

lemon cheese pizza on cutting board — Mike Krautter

This unlikely pizza pairing will surprise your tastebuds. Thinly sliced red onion and lemon complement the cheese for a mix of creamy and tart that you'll crave on the regular.

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Lemon Risotto With Asparagus and Peas

Pack this lemon flavored risotto with vegetables like asparagus and peas, or enjoy it on its own.

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Roasted Potatoes With Preserved Lemon, Garlic, and Chiles

potatoes preserved lemons garlic chiles — Johnny Miller

Preserved lemons are used to flavor these roasted potatoes for the ultimate side dish. In addition to the burst of lemony flavor, garlic, jalapeños, red onion, parsley, and mint are added.

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Chicken Paillards With Lemon-Butter Sauce

chicken paillard

This is a go-to poultry dish packed with comforting flavors. Serve the chicken and sauce over fresh spinach, rice, or pasta for a complete meal.

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Crisp Lemon Cookies

Crisp lemon cookies that are sure to delight. The poppy seeds add an extra crunch with each zesty, lemony bite.

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Pasta With Preserved Lemon and Anchovies

Anchovy and Preserved-Lemon Pasta — Marcus Nilsson

A salty, satisfying weeknight dinner that comes together with preserved lemons and anchovies. Top the pasta with Parmesan cheese and parsley for full umami flavor.

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Creamy Lemon Squares

Creamy lemon bars with powdered sugar on a white plate served with drinks and utensils on the side — Jason Donnelly

A simple, delicious lemon dessert that everyone will love. These creamy lemon squares take just 15 minutes of prep work and are ready to serve in under an hour.

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Lemon-Tarragon Salmon Over Asparagus

Raymond Hom

A weeknight meal that is full of flavor and comes together in just 25 minutes. The red onion, lemon, and tarragon up the ante on this simple salmon and asparagus dish.

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Cacio e Pepe With Lemon

A classic Italian dish with a lemon twist. For a touch of brightness and flavor we top off this traditionally cheesy pasta with lemon juice and zest.

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Cod with Herbed White-Wine Lemon Sauce

Swap cod for sole, sea bass, or flounder—the real magic lies in the white wine and lemon sauce.

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Lemon Trifle

Lemon trifle dessert with whipped topping and lemon curd in a bowl — Jason Donnelly

Ladyfingers are soaked in dessert wine then layered between fresh lemon curd and whipped cream. It's served chilled, and is a delicious addition to any dessert spread.

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Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

With just a few ingredients, you can make a delicious side dish with a lemony kick. Our spiced lemon Brussels sprouts get their flavor from the curry powder and feature a combination of olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

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Lemony Shrimp Scampi

Lemony Shrimp Scampi — Jacob Fox

Lemon shrimp scampi reminds us of sunshine and tastes pretty close to it, too. This recipe couldn't be easier; with just a few core ingredients, you'll have a flavorful spring supper on the table in no time.

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Easy Lemon Cake

Simple Lemon Cake — Jake Sternquist

If you're a fan of lemon desserts, this easy lemon cake recipe is a must-try. It comes together in an hour and a half and can feed a crowd.

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Lemon-Blueberry Tart

Yossy Arefi

A deluxe dessert for any occasion. This lemon-blueberry tart is filled with a tangy lemon curd for a burst of flavor with each bite, and topped with whipped crème fraîche, blueberries, and candied lemon zest.

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Lemon Scones

Lemon scones on blue platter — Jason Donnelly

What's flakey and packed with a lemony punch? That's right—these lemon scones. Accompany your afternoon tea with our delicious and simple lemon scones, drizzled with a lemon glaze.

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Creamy Lemon Pasta With Pistachios

creamy lemon pasta with pistachio — Johnny Miller

This meatless, lemon pasta is a vegetarian spin on the beloved carbonara pasta. It features plenty of lemon zest, Parmesan cheese, and meaty pistachios.

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Chicken Roasted Over Lemons and Onions

Chicken Roasted Over Lemons and Onions — Bryan Gardner

The ultimate roast chicken, flavored with fragrant lemons and onions for a sophisticated feast centerpiece.

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Lemon-Meringue Sheet Cake

lemon merengue sheet cake — Kelsey Hansen

Everything we know and love about lemon meringue pie has been translated into this lemon-meringue sheet cake. It's the perfect lemon-centric dessert, destined to be devoured.

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Creamy Lemon-Barley Soup

creamy lemon barley soup in bowl — Louise Hagger

In our books, soup season is year-round. This creamy lemon-barley soup is just what you need after a long day—a cozy, nutritious bowl packed with goodness.

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Herb-Crusted Salmon With Roasted Lemons

Roasted salmon with herbs and lemon — Marcus Nilsson

This salmon is the perfect centerpiece and main dish for your next spring or summer feast. It's an impressive dish, baked all in one pan, making it ideal for minimal prep and cleanup while entertaining guests.

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Lemony Pesto Chicken Soup

lemony pesto chicken soup — Pernille Loof

A fragrant, healing lemon orzo chicken soup. It's a light dish packed with nutrition and flavor from the lemon, pesto, and Parmesan cheese.

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Martha's Lemon Bundt Cake

lemon bundt cake — Bryan Gardner

This lemon bundt cake looks and tastes incredible. Instead of frosting, you brush a lemon syrup made from lemon juice and sugar over the baked cake before serving.

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Lemon-Olive Oil Cake

lemon olive oil cake — Paola + Murray

Olive oil cake is a classic dessert dish that can be enjoyed all year long. The lemon zest and juice make it perfectly moist, and it is topped with fresh berries and whipped mascarpone cream.

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Martha's Lemon Meringue Pie

med104830_0909_ht_lemonmeringue_vert

Nothing ends a feast like Martha's lemon meringue pie. It's a classic dessert, full of perfectly plump lemon zest and juice that make up the filling. The pillows of soft meringue on top complete this nostalgic dessert.

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Lemony Quinoa-and-Spinach Soup

lemony quinoa spinach soup — Armando Rafael

This simple, nourishing lemony quinoa and spinach soup is the perfect meal on a chilly day. The bold lemon flavor gives this dish a fresh finish and comes together in just 40 minutes.

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Grilled Chicken Breasts With Lemon-Thyme Sauce

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon-Thyme Sauce — Kate Sears

Our lemon-thyme sauce takes this poultry dish to new heights. The lemon adds a burst of flavor, creating a refreshing and light effect to the poultry. It's the perfect main dish to add to your weeknight dinner rotation.

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Lemon-Date Bars

Marcus Nilsson

Inspired by a Maida Heatter recipe, this perfect combination of tangy and sweet flavors makes these lemon-date bars a new classic. The dates lend a chewy consistency and unique flavor to each bite.

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Lemon-Basil Custard Pie With Red Berries

Jonathan Lovekin

This fragrant lemon and basil custard pie tastes even better than it looks. The fresh red berries perfectly complement the creamy lemon custard.

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