Home » Recipes » Desserts » Pies and Tarts » Lemon Chess Pie

Lemon Chess Pie

Lemon Chess Pie is an old-fashioned favorite that’s perfect for summer potlucks. I think it is best served chilled and it has plenty of tart lemon flavor balanced by a good amount of sugar.

Slice of Lemon Chess Pie on blue plate.

This pie is creamy with a smooth texture and is made from only a few basic ingredients: milk, butter, sugar, flour, and eggs.

Chocolate Chess Pie is my favorite but during the summer months, it’s hard to resist the bright color and refreshing flavor of lemons.

Quick and Easy Recipe

Chess Pie is the simplest of pies. No mixer needed.

Just put the ingredients in a bowl, stir them together and pour into a pie crust.

Slice of pie on plate with lemons in background.

Type of Pie Crust

You can use a store bought crust or use this simple recipe for a homemade Flaky Pie Crust.

Recipe Tip

Lemon Chess Pie may not seem quite set in the middle when you remove it from the oven, but once chilled, it should firm up nicely.

Slice of pie on blue plate.

More Lemon Desserts

For tips on how to make the perfect Flaky Pie Crust watch this video.

Never miss a recipe. Follow Spicy Southern Kitchen on Facebook and Pinterest.

Watch the short video below to see how easy this pie is to make.

Lemon Chess Pie

Lemon Chess Pie is an old-fashioned favorite that's perfect for summer potlucks. Best served chilled and it has plenty of tart lemon flavor.
PREP: 10 minutes
COOK: 55 minutes
TOTAL: 1 hour 5 minutes
SERVINGS: 8

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornmeal
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • grated lemon zest from 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 9-inch pie shell (uncooked)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Whisk together sugar, flour, and cornmeal in a large bowl.
  • Add eggs, melted butter, milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt and whisk well.
  • Pour into pie shell.
  • Bake for 15 minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes.
  • Pie will still be fairly jiggly but will firm up as it cools.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal
Author: Christin Mahrlig
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southern
Keyword: easy pie recipe, lemon

Want to Save This Recipe?

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




I accept the Privacy Policy

16 thoughts on “Lemon Chess Pie”

  1. Impossible to get out of the pie pan, but that might be because I used a pre-made graham cracker crust. Tasted okay but I won’t make this again. Thick and heavy.

  2. Ricky Furrow

    It said grated rind from one lemon. I wonder if it should have said the zest of one lemon? I juiced the lemon, cut the ends off and ground the rind up in a food processor. “m thinking the white part of the rind may have made the pie bitter, or at least gave it a bad taste. Did I do it wrong?

    1. DIANE DEARMORE

      Yes, the recipe should say zest. That definitely makes a difference. Try it again, and you’ll be proud of your creation….it’s a delicious pie! <3

    2. Sure that is what they should have said is the zest
      When you ground it up you got the “pith” the white part on the inside of the rind and that is bitter. Well you learned a lesson the hard way. So next time you use lemons just grate the yellow and juice Voila!

  3. Not crazy about lemon but love chess pie
    Could I just leave out the lemon? My chess pie recipe has faded with age.

  4. Louise Lowry

    Christin, this sounds like an easy pie to prepare thank you for the recipe it looks delicious. I have a ton of lemons from my neighbors tree so I will put them to good use.

  5. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction

    We’ve been all about lemon desserts lately! This looks like a perfect spring pie!

  6. Jessica {Swanky Recipes}

    This would made a lovely addition to Memorial Day cookout. I know a few people in my family who would love this!

  7. I’ve been craving pie like crazy lately, and what better pie for spring than lemon? I don’t think I’ve ever had a lemon pie that didn’t have meringue topping, and me and meringue always get into a fight. So this would be perfect for me!

  8. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    This chess pie looks incredible! Love the creaminess of the filling and the tender crust 🙂 Pinning!

  9. Ashley - The Recipe Rebel

    I would definitely not be able to resist a couple slices of this! We are all lemon lovers here and this is the perfect Spring dessert!

  10. Mary // chattavore

    I absolutely adore chess pie, especially when it is lemon-flavored. This looks so delicious. Thanks for the recipe, Christin!

Scroll to Top