This Lemon Aioli is a flavorful and versatile addition to a number of different recipes. It’s creamy, tangy, and incredibly easy to make!
What is lemon aioli?
Lemon aioli is a garlicky, mayo based sauce that has been infused with the flavors of lemon using fresh lemon juice and zest.
Pro tip
A “real” aioli is an emulsion of garlic, olive oil, salt, and egg, but today’s recipe is a “cheaters” aioli, because we’re using mayo as our base.
Ingredients
This homemade sauce is made with simple ingredients, but tastes fantastic and will elevate any dish!
- Mayonnaise – a true aioli is an emulsion of garlic, olive oil, salt, and sometimes egg, but we’re making a “cheaters” aioli and using mayo as our base. I always have an olive oil based mayo on hand, but any mayo should work. It’s a prominent flavor in this aioli, so be sure you enjoy the taste of whatever mayo you’re using.
- Sour Cream – balances out the creaminess of the mayo with a touch of tangy flavor. The flavor of mayo is too strong if used by itself. Want to lighten it up? Try greek yogurt as a sour cream replacement.
- Olive Oil – just enough to provide a subtle earthy flavor and ultra smooth texture. Use any olive oil you have on hand, but something like “smooth” vs “robust” is preferred so the flavor doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.
- Garlic – provides a strong, nutty flavor. Buy jarred minced garlic to save on prep time.
- Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest – adds a sharp, tangy flavor to balance out the creaminess of the mayo. Lemon juice helps to thin out the sauce and lemon zest provides an even more intense lemon flavor.
- Salt and Pepper – a simple blend of spices to add flavor to the aioli. The seasonings are kept so simple, because we want the flavor of the garlic and lemon to really shine.
Pro tip
Want to really blow people away? Make your own homemade mayo!
How to make
This creamy, yet tangy sauce takes 5 minutes or less to make.
- Place mayo, sour cream, oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, salt, and pepper into a medium sized bowl and whisk until well combined.
- Taste and re-season, if necessary, and serve!
Pro tip
Don’t feel like whisking? Place the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend away!
What to serve with lemon aioli
Aioli is a great dipping sauce or spread for a variety of different foods including fish, seafood, and chicken.
- As a dip. Serve next to french fries, tater tots, or potato wedges.
- On sandwiches. Spread it on steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, or even grilled cheese.
- Over veggies. Serve it on roasted vegetables, roasted potatoes, or crispy broccoli.
- As a sauce. Drizzle it on chicken tenders or pork chops.
- With seafood. Dollop it on crab cakes, fish sticks, salmon, or tilapia.
How to store
Leftover lemon aioli will last for up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge.
– Jennifer
Lemon Aioli
This Lemon Aioli is a flavorful and versatile addition to a number of different recipes. It’s creamy, tangy, and incredibly easy to make!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Yield: 18 tablespoons
Equipment for this recipe
(equipment shown are affiliate links)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large lemon juiced and zested
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place mayo, sour cream, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper into a medium sized bowl and whisk until well combined.
- Taste and re-season, if necessary, and serve with fries, on a sandwich, with vegetables, seafood, chicken, and more!
- Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:1 Week
Freezer:N/A
Reheat:N/A
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Lemon Aioli
Amount Per Serving (1 tablespoon)
Calories 64 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 106mg5%
Potassium 20mg1%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 46IU1%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Keywords: dipping sauce, easy aioli, lemon sauce, sauce for fish, sauce for seafood