Lemon Garlic Aioli Recipe: Easy Homemade Sauce

Name: Lemon Garlic Aioli Recipe: Easy Homemade Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 Tablespoons lemon juice; 2 garlic cloves (minced or pressed through a garlic press); pinch paprika (optional)

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This lemon garlic aioli recipe gives a quick flavor boost to seafood, chicken, and veggies. It's an easy homemade sauce that's ready in 5 minutes!

Lemon garlic aioli sauce in a bowl with a cut lemon and garlic cloves behind it.

Looking for a simple, low-carb, and flavorful condiment that can elevate any dish? Look no further than garlicky aioli sauce. It's creamy, tangy, and incredibly versatile.

I make it all the time! It's equally perfect as a dipping sauce for french fries or healthy chip alternatives and drizzled over crab bites.

And the best part? It's incredibly easy to make because it starts with store-bought mayo.

Traditional aioli is a Mediterranean sauce made from scratch with egg yolks, extra-virgin olive oil, and garlic. On a side note, they served it alongside a basket of bread instead of butter when I dined in a fancy restaurant in Spain!

But you can make a creamy, tangy version using good mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and fresh garlic.

Why? Because egg yolks and oil are the main ingredients in mayonnaise, making it a fantastic shortcut. And the nice thing is you won't have to deal with raw eggs or drag out a food processor or immersion blender.

I guarantee you'll turn to this easy aioli recipe whenever you want to turn a dish into something special.

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Ingredients
Directions with Pictures
Aioli Variations
Ways to Use Lemon Garlic Aioli
FAQ
Storage
More Easy Sauce Recipes
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Ingredients

You need 3 simple ingredients to make this lemon garlic aioli recipe:

Mayonnaise - Use a quality mayonnaise because it will definitely impact the taste. Kewpie mayonnaise is incredibly creamy and perfect for aioli. Use vegan mayonnaise for eggless aioli.
Lemon Juice - Juice a real lemon for the freshest taste!
Garlic cloves that are finely chopped.
Paprika is optional and not the only spice that can be used! See more ideas to customize aioli below based on how you will use it.

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

Directions with Pictures

Follow these directions to make easy lemon garlic aioli sauce:

Collage of directions to make lemon garlic aioli: 1) Mayonnaise, lemon juice, paprika in bowl with garlic being pressed through a garlic press on top. 2) Whisk in a bowl of mixed ingredients.

Add mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, and paprika to a small mixing bowl. We use a garlic press to quickly crush raw garlic cloves. It's one of my favorite kitchen gadgets!
Whisk well to combine. Taste test and add more lemon or garlic, if desired. The flavors will continue to meld together after you mix everything together. Store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to enjoy it.

It doesn't get any easier than that! I usually make what I need because it's so easy to whip up.

Spoon lifting homemade lemon garlic aioli out of a small bowl.

Aioli Variations

There are many variations you can make to the basic lemon garlic aioli recipe. Get creative and experiment with different flavor combinations to find your favorites.

Add lemon zest for a more intense lemony flavor.
Use lime instead of lemon.
Use roasted garlic.
Add a dash of sriracha.
Use a Cajun spice blend in place of paprika.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chopped jalapenos for a little heat.
Add some pesto.
Stir in fresh herbs like dill, basil, cilantro, or parsley.

Ways to Use Lemon Garlic Aioli

Here are some popular pairings and ways to use aioli:

Dipping sauce: Aioli pairs especially well with fried foods like fries or chicken nuggets, adding a creamy texture and garlicky contrast.
Topping for seafood: Drizzle fish, crab cakes, and salmon cakes with this delicious sauce. It's perfect with salmon stuffed with crab!
Sandwich spread: It's a flavorful and creamy spread. Try it on a turkey, roast beef, or grilled chicken sandwich, and make your favorite sandwich even better.
Topping for meats: Top grilled or roasted meats with easy aioli sauce, adding a burst of flavor and moisture. It pairs particularly well with main dishes of chicken and pork.
Marinade: Use it as a marinade for meats or vegetables, adding flavor and helping to tenderize the food.
Topping for vegetables: Artichokes, green beans, asparagus, carrots, okra fries, and brussels sprouts are just a few of the veggies you should try it with.

FAQ

What is the difference between mayonnaise and aioli?

Both aioli and mayonnaise are made with egg yolks and oil. However, aioli has a more robust flavor due to the addition of garlic and is made with olive oil. Conversely, mayonnaise is generally made with a neutral oil, like canola, soybean, or avocado oil, resulting in a subdued flavor.

Storage

Store homemade lemon garlic aioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 7 days. Stir before using to recombine any ingredients that have settled.

Easy lemon garlic aioli sauce in a small mason jar with lid, lemon, and head of garlic next to it.

More Easy Sauce Recipes

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