Homemade Lemon Pepper Sauce is one of the best wing sauces for anyone who isn’t a fan of classic spicy buffalo. It’s bright, garlicky, and buttery! Feel free to use it in any way that you want—on chicken, pork, fish, or even vegetables. You will love how much flavor is developed in such a short amount of time.
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The fresh lemon juice and zest add the right amount of tart flavor to cut through the fattiness of the butter. Each component balances each other beautifully to create an amazing sauce you can even use as a homemade lemon pepper marinade!
If you like tasty lemon pepper recipes, you will love Lemon Pepper Pork Chops and Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Bites.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It’s only 4 ingredients: With just 4 simple ingredients plus a little salt and pepper, you can have a bold and zesty sauce to make some amazing chicken wings.
- It’s ready in 10 minutes: Preparing this sauce takes just 10 minutes, making it quick and easy to put together whenever you want.
- It has endless uses: This isn’t just a wing sauce! Any food that could use a good kick of lemon pepper would be great with this sauce. From seafood to pork and more!
Ingredients
With just 4 ingredients (plus salt and pepper), you can make this simple lemon sauce. They are all easy to find, and you likely have most of them on hand!
- Butter: This is the base of your lemon pepper butter sauce. It adds fat and richness to balance the other ingredients. It also helps it cling to the food to ensure you get some in every bite.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best here. It has the right amount of sharp and pungent flavor to give this sauce a lift. I don’t recommend jarred minced garlic here, if possible. It just doesn’t taste the same in this recipe.
- Lemon: A winning combination of fresh lemon juice and zest takes this homemade sauce up a notch. It adds a lovely and bright citrus punch.
- Salt and pepper: a little salt ensures the sauce is perfectly seasoned. Of course, black pepper is key to getting that lemon pepper flavor. If possible, try fresh cracked black pepper to enhance the sauce!
- Honey: Sweetness goes a long way to balance the tart and savory flavors. Honey is perfect because it mixes well and has a subtle floral note that compliments the lemon.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Spicy: Add some crushed red pepper and a dash of hot sauce to give this lemon pepper wing sauce a spicy kick.
- Maple: Swap honey for maple syrup to still add sweetness but depth and subtle notes of caramel.
- Lime: Squeeze in some lime juice to enhance the citrus flavor! You may even use lime instead of lemon for a brand-new flavor profile.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Wing Sauce
Here are the instructions needed to make this wet lemon pepper wing sauce recipe. Ensure your saucepan is preheated over low heat so when you add the butter, it will already start melting.
Step 1: Add the ingredients. Add the butter to a saucepan over low heat and melt it. Then, saute the garlic for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Whisk in the lemon, spices, and honey.
Step 2: Simmer. Allow the sauce mixture to simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes or until it’s fully mixed and perfectly smooth.
Step 3: Brush and serve. Use a basting brush and baste the warm sauce onto your chicken wings. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Make a slurry: If you want a thicker sauce, make a slurry with cornstarch and water and add it to the sauce. Cook it for a few minutes to thicken, and then serve.
- Add broth: If you want a thinner sauce, feel free to add a splash of chicken broth. It’s a better option than water, so it doesn’t dilute the flavor.
- Keep the heat low: Keep an eye on the stove so the heat doesn’t get too high. It could burn the garlic and give the lemon sauce a bitter taste.
If you love recipes like this zesty lemon sauce, you may also enjoy this Lemon Garlic Aioli.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store extra sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Put it into a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 1 month.
- Reheating: This is best reheated in a saucepan over low heat until warm and smooth. I don’t recommend using the microwave.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the sauce 1-2 days ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. It’s a great way to spruce up leftovers or add flavor to chicken wings quickly.
Serving Suggestions
- If you want to use this lemon pepper sauce for chicken, try it with these easy butterfly chicken drumsticks. It’s also great on turkey like these slow cooker turkey wings.
- These would make a delicious glaze on chicken ricotta meatballs.
- Serve it with a simple yet tasty fish recipe like this baked catfish without breading.
- Try this lemon sauce on Instant Pot asparagus as lemon and asparagus go so well together.
Recipe FAQs
This will work in a pinch, but I prefer the flavor of fresh garlic. It adds a delicious aroma to the lemon pepper chicken sauce, too. If you use garlic powder, 1-1 ½ teaspoons is perfect.
This is a normal chemical reaction between the garlic and the lemon. Use slightly dried garlic cloves or saute them before adding the lemon to prevent it.
If the heat is too high, it can cause the butter to separate. Keep the heat low as it cooks for the best results.
More Delicious Sauce Recipes
Do you like sauces? Here are some homemade sauce recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Zesty Lemon Pepper Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
- Whisk in the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and honey until smooth.
- Simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to blend the flavors.
- Remove from heat and toss immediately with freshly cooked wings or use as a dipping sauce.
Notes
- Make a slurry with cornstarch and water if you want a slightly thicker lemon sauce for your chicken.
- Store any leftover lemon pepper wing sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Saute the minced garlic long enough, or use slightly older and dryer garlic to prevent it from turning blue when it comes into contact with the lemon juice.
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