Lemon Pepper Wings
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Bring zesty, mouthwatering flavor to your next meal with this easy recipe for Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings! Whether you cook them in the air fryer for quick, crispy perfection or in the oven for a hands-off approach, these wings are perfect for game day, parties, or a simple weeknight dinner.
They’re perfectly seasoned with a lemon pepper dry rub, then tossed in a buttery, zesty lemon pepper sauce for a burst of bright lemon, bold pepper, and savory flavor in every bite.
Why you’ll love these wings
I’ve made almost a dozen different flavors of wings over the years, but for my friends that like mild wings, these are always a fan favorite! These three reasons are why these are the best lemon pepper wings you’ll ever try.
- They’re packed with the taste of lemon pepper! Some wings are simply rubbed in lemon pepper seasoning. Other wings are just tossed in a lemon pepper sauce after they’re cooked. But these wings are seasoned in lemon pepper seasoning and tossed in a buttery lemon pepper sauce, making them twice as flavorful!
- We’re adding a secret ingredient that makes them super crispy… it’s baking powder! Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never make wings without it!
- You can cook them a variety of ways and I’ve perfected each method so you’ll always get wings that are super crispy on the outside and super juicy on the inside! Make a bunch of wings for a crowd in the oven, make them extra quick (and extra crispy!) in an air fryer, or add a smoky flavor by cooking them on the grill.
Ingredients
Here I explain the best ingredients for this lemon pepper chicken wings recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For the exact ingredient measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Chicken wings – I recommend purchasing “party wings” which contain both the drumettes and the wingettes or “flats”, already separated. Otherwise, if you purchase whole chicken wings, you’ll have to separate the drummette, wingette and tips yourself. The wing tips are mostly cartilage, bone and skin, so you can either discard them, or toss them in the freezer to use for chicken stock at a later date.
- Lemon pepper seasoning – save money by clicking the link to make your own seasoning at home. It’s super easy to make with dried lemon zest, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. And you can store it in the pantry for up to 6 months. You can also purchase lemon pepper seasoning on the spice aisle at the grocery store.
- Baking powder – this is the secret ingredient I use to make the most crispy wings! Just don’t swap it out for baking soda, chemically they don’t do the same thing, and it won’t work. If you don’t have baking powder, just skip it and season the wings without it.
- Lemon juice
- Unsalted butter
My recommended cooking method for wings
I’ve made wings in the oven, on the grill, in a smoker, in a sous vide, in an air fryer, the list goes on and on. So which cooking method do I use at home and recommend for making these lemon pepper wings? Well, it depends!
- Cooking for a crowd? Use the oven or grill. It’s the easiest way to cook a lot of wings at one time!
- Want to add a smoky flavor to the wings? Use the grill or a smoker.
- Want to set it and forget it? Use the sous vide.
- Cooking a small batch and want them extra crispy? Use the air fryer.
I have detailed posts for each cooking method, so check them out and pick your favorite! Learn more about sous vide chicken wings, smoked chicken wings, or grilled chicken wings.
More chicken wing recipes
Make an epic wing spread for your next party with all of these delicious recipes!
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings, party wings – separated drums and flats
- 5 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning, divided (click link for recipe)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat an air fryer to 400°F. (See the notes section below for oven and grill cooking instructions.)
- If the wings were frozen, make sure that they’re fully defrosted and pat them completely dry (this will help them get a crispy skin on the outside.)
- Combine 3 tablespoons of the lemon pepper seasoning with the baking powder in a large bowl. Add the wings and toss them in the seasoning.
- Place the wings in an even layer (not touching) in the air fryer for 10 minutes.
- Flip the wings and continue to air fry for an additional 8 minutes.
- While the wings are cooking in the air fryer, combine the melted butter, lemon juice, and the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning in a large bowl.
- Remove the wings from the air fryer and immediately toss them in the lemon pepper sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
-
To cook the wings in the oven: preheat the oven to 425°F (preferably on convection). Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven. Place the seasoned wings on a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet. Place on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, flip and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
- To cook the wings on the grill: preheat a grill over medium heat, around 350°F. Once the grill is hot, place the seasoned wings on the grill in an even layer (not touching) for 6-7 minutes. Flip the wings and continue cooking for an additional 6-7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Since the air fryer will only cook 1 pound of wings at a time, if you’re doubling this recipe for a party and want to make 4 pounds of wings, I recommend using the oven or grill, as you can cook all of them at the same time.
- Only sauce as many wings as you plan to eat in one setting. If the wings haven’t been sauced, you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container and reheat them in the oven or air fryer. Once they’ve been sauced, the texture won’t be as good when they’re reheated.
Nutrition Facts
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