Healthy Lemon Recipes

Find healthy, delicious lemon recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Rating: 4 stars 63
This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that's garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta" and she called it "Devon's Favorite Pasta." Either way it's a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It's a simple dinner the whole family will love.
By Devon O'Brien

Breakfast Lemon-Blueberry Oatmeal Cakes

Rating: 4.5 stars 9
A cross between muffins and baked oatmeal, these oatmeal cakes are perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or snack. If you prefer to use fresh blueberries, they're an equal swap for the frozen in this recipe. You can also make a double batch and enjoy one during the week and store the other batch in the freezer to savor later.
Sara Haas Headshot
By Sara Haas, RDN

Lemon-Blueberry Poke Cake

Rating: 5 stars 2
This lemon-blueberry poke cake is tender and light. Holes are poked into the cake after baking to let the tangy-sweet glaze seep in.
By Carolyn Casner

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

Rating: 4 stars 22
This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup.
By Carolyn Casner

Simple Cabbage Salad

Rating: 4.5 stars 8
Cabbage maintains a nice crunch when it's tossed with an easy dressing in this simple cabbage salad recipe. This easy salad is perfect for fall when cabbage is at its sweetest.
Karen Rankin
By Karen Rankin

Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

Rating: 4.5 stars 7
While a 1-to-2 acid-to-oil ratio is common for vinaigrettes, shifting it to 1-to-1½ yields a dressing with a brighter flavor and fewer calories. For every ½ cup of acid, use 3/4 cup of oil in this salad dressing recipe.
Carolyn Malcoun
By Carolyn Malcoun

Garlic Butter-Roasted Salmon with Potatoes & Asparagus

Rating: 4.5 stars 12
This one-pan salmon and potatoes recipe makes a healthy and satisfying weeknight dinner. Melted garlic butter coats the salmon and vegetables, adding depth of flavor and richness to the dish.
By Carolyn Casner

Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing

Rating: 3.5 stars 9
This creamy lemon-garlic dressing carries the full flavor of roasted garlic, with lemon juice and Dijon mustard rounding out the flavor.
Marianne Williams
By Marianne Williams

Garlic-Butter Salmon Bites

Rating: 5 stars 4
These garlic-butter salmon bites are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, with a simple marinade of butter, lemon juice and garlic. Enjoy them as an easy appetizer, or serve them over pasta or rice.
By Carolyn Casner

Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & Potatoes

Rating: 4.5 stars 9
Yukon Golds are great here because they get crispy on the outside but completely creamy on the inside. A brush stroke or two of balsamic glaze provides a rich color and a sweet finish to the roasted salmon.
By Julia Levy

Lemon-Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Rating: 4.5 stars 3
These quick lemon-balsamic chicken thighs are perfect for busy weeknights. The sweet and tangy onions complement the chicken that's slathered in a buttery sauce.
A portrait of Breana Killeen, M.P.H., RD
By Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD

Creamy Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Casserole

Rating: 5 stars 1
This creamy chicken casserole recipe pops with lemon and savory Parmesan cheese. It's also loaded with vitamin C-packed broccoli. Using whole-wheat orzo ups the fiber content in this healthful and comforting dinner.
By Carolyn Casner
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Inspiration and Ideas

12 Lemon-Blueberry Recipes You'll Want to Make All Summer
Simple, sweet and bright—lemon and blueberry might be one of summer's winningest combinations.
Healthy Lemon Chicken Recipes
Lemon chicken is a classic favorite for a reason.
Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake
Rating: 4.5 stars 60

This healthy pound cake recipe isn't just delicious—it also only requires one bowl to make. For the best cake texture, be sure to beat the sugar and butter together long enough in Step 2 to look creamy—the time it takes to get there varies according to the type of electric mixer you have. Serve with brunch or alongside a cup of coffee in the afternoon.