Whenever I make these lemon pepper chicken wings for a gathering, I am the life of the party. The chicken wings are crispy and juicy and the sauce is the perfect balance of bright and buttery. If you make my recipe, you can be the life of the party too!
What are Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings?
Lemon pepper chicken wings are crispy wings tossed in a buttery sauce loaded with fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and that bright lemon pepper seasoning. A little baking powder gets the skin crispier and the butter sauce soaks in without turning anything soggy.
Why You'll Love This
- Crispy without the deep fryer: The air fryer or oven does all the heavy lifting and your kitchen stays grease free.
- Bright and buttery: Fresh lemon and melted butter give these a tang that is much better than anything store-bought.
- Weeknight easy, game day worthy: Minimal prep, big flavors, and perfect for a crowd.
Equipment You'll Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Air fryer
- Medium skillet
- Microplane or zester
- Tongs
Ingredients for Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Chicken Wings and Drumettes
- Chicken wings and drumettes: I like to use a mix but you can use just wings if you'd like.
- Avocado oil
- Lemon pepper seasoning: The star of the show that brings the zesty, peppery backbone.
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Baking powder: This is the secret to ultra crispy skin without any deep frying.
- Salt
- Black pepper
Lemon Pepper Butter Sauce
- Unsalted butter
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Parsley
To Serve
- Parsley
- Hot sauce
Customizations
- Dial up the heat: Add more red pepper flakes or stir a splash of hot sauce right into the butter.
- Swap the protein: That same lemon pepper butter is delicious on chicken tenders or even roasted cauliflower for a vegetarian option.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Season the Wings
Pat the chicken wings and drumettes dry with a paper towel. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with avocado oil, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, baking powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly coated.
Cover and marinate for 30 minutes.
Air Fry or Oven Bake Until Crispy
If using air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400F for a few minutes. Arrange the wings in a single layer in the basket without overcrowding, cooking in batches as needed. Air fry for 13-16 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crisp and golden.
If using oven, preheat the oven to 425F. Arrange the chicken wings on a wire rack set on top of a baking sheet. Bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165F.
Make the Sauce
While the wings cook, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, then stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and chopped parsley.
Stir for about 1 minute, then turn off the heat.
Toss and Serve the Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Transfer the wings to a large bowl, pour the butter sauce over the top, and toss until evenly coated.
Move them to a plate, garnish with extra chopped parsley, and serve with hot sauce on the side.
Storage
Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350F for 4-5 minutes to bring the crisp back.
Tips to Make the Perfect Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
- Dry wings, crispy wings: Pat them really dry before seasoning so the skin crisps up instead of steaming.
- Give them room: Crowded chicken wings trap moisture, so give them some space when adding to the air fryer basket or placing on the baking sheet.
- Sauce them hot: Toss the wings in the butter the second they come out so everything clings and glistens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the secret to crispy lemon pepper chicken wings?
My tips are to pat the wings really dry with a paper towel, add a little baking powder to help the skin brown and crisp, and do not overcrowd the chicken wings before air frying or baking.
Can I make these in the oven instead of an air fryer?
Absolutely. Roast them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet at 425F for about 35 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway, so the air can reach all sides and render the fat the way the air fryer does.
What is lemon pepper seasoning made of?
It is usually a blend of dried lemon zest, cracked black pepper, salt, and sometimes a bit of garlic or onion powder.
Why do you add baking powder to lemon pepper chicken wings?
Baking powder raises the pH of the skin, which helps it brown faster and crisp up more in the heat. Just make sure it is baking powder and not baking soda, since baking soda in that amount would leave a metallic taste.
Related Recipes You'll Love
- Honey Chili Oil Chicken Wings
- Lemongrass Chicken Wings
- Soy Rosemary Chicken Wings
- Lemon Pepper Butter Chicken
- Honey Butter Chicken Tenders
- Cowboy Butter Chicken Skewers
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Ingredients
Chicken Wings and Drumettes
- 1.5 pounds chicken wings and drumettes
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Lemon Pepper Butter Sauce
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 2 teaspoon chopped parsley
To Serve
- Chopped parsley garnish
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings and drumettes dry with a paper towel. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with avocado oil, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, baking powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly coated. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes.1.5 pounds chicken wings and drumettes, 2 Tbsp avocado oil, 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning, 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1.5 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, Freshly ground black pepper
- If using air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400F for a few minutes. Arrange the wings in a single layer in the basket without overcrowding, cooking in batches as needed. Air fry for 13-16 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crisp and golden.If using the oven, preheat the oven to 425F. Arrange the chicken wings on a wire rack set on top of a baking sheet. Bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165F.
- While the wings cook, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, then stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and chopped parsley. Stir for about 1 minute then turn off the heat.6 Tbsp unsalted butter, Zest of 1 lemon, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning, ½ tsp red pepper flakes, ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp chopped parsley
- Transfer the chicken wings to a large bowl then pour the butter sauce over and toss until evenly coated. Transfer the wings to a plate, garnish with extra chopped parsley, and serve with hot sauce on the side.Chopped parsley, Hot sauce
Brad says
Hello from Canada. I just made these and they tasty were really tasty. I didn’t know about the baking powder trick. Chicken wings came out of the air fryer, looking like restaurant quality and not deep-fried.
Herman says
So happy you liked this one!!
Karen from Quebec says
This is it! The taste and crunch that we experienced in a restaurant 3 years ago that I’ve repeatedly tried to imitate. Oh thank you!!! Your recipe is perfect! The flavour is amazing! 🤩
Herman says
That means a lot, thank you!