Lemon Pepper Wings

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5 from 55 votes
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These lemon pepper wings are baked until crispy and covered with a buttery lemon and pepper sauce. They need little prep and are seriously addictive! 

Love chicken wing recipes? Try my air fryer chicken wingsbaked chicken wings, garlic parmesan wings, or Korean wings next.

lemon pepper wings.

My lemon pepper chicken is one of my family’s favorite dinners, so I wanted to replicate it but in the form of chicken wings. With just a few tweaks, these lemon pepper wings were born and they are a staple for any chance we get to entertain!

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make lemon pepper wings
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions 
  7. More delicious chicken dishes to try
  8. Lemon Pepper Wings (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • Healthier than fried wings. These wings are baked in the oven, so they are a lot healthier than frying. Don’t worry, though- they still have the crispy texture you’d expect. 
  • Fast. You don’t need to marinate the wings in advance. All you need to do is to toss the wings with the sauce and bake them!
  • Perfectly juicy. Lemon juice and butter used in the sauce help tenderize the chicken wings and make them juicy with little effort. 
  • Always a hit. There is a reason why these are at every party, potluck, or game day celebration.
lemon pepper chicken wings recipe.

Ingredients needed

  • Chicken wings. You can use whole chicken wings and separate them at their joints (to be wingettes and drumettes) or pre-cut wings. My butcher often sells me them whole and I just divide them into two portions. 
  • Baking powder. Fun fact. If you’ve made any of my chicken wing recipes before, you know that this is the secret ingredient I use in them all to guarantee crispy wings every single time. Don’t fret- you won’t taste anything acidic or metallic. 

For the lemon pepper butter sauce:

  • Lemon pepper seasoning. A pre-made blend that you can find this mix in any grocery store in the spice aisle. I sometimes make homemade lemon pepper seasoning by combining equal parts dried lemon zest, black pepper, and salt. 
  • Lemon juice. To enhance the flavor and consistency of the sauce. I always prefer using fresh lemon juice versus anything in a bottle.
  • Butter. Melted. 
  • Salt. To taste.

How to make lemon pepper wings

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1 – Prep the chicken wings. Pat dry the chicken wings using paper towels and put them in a bowl. Toss the wings with a mixture of baking powder and salt. 

chicken wings with baking powder and salt.

Step 2 – Make the lemon pepper sauce. In a small bowl, mix the sauce ingredients. Add lemon pepper seasoning, lemon juice, and salt to melted butter and mix well until fully combined. 

lemon pepper sauce.

Step 3 – Combine. Pour the sauce over the chicken wings and toss to get all the pieces covered. 

chicken wings with lemon pepper sauce.

Step 4 – Transfer the wings to a pan. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange the chicken wings on the baking sheet in a single layer so that they are not touching each other.

chicken wings on wire rack.

Step 5- Bake on the top rack for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through. 

lemon pepper chicken wings.

How to make these in the air fryer

Easily make these wings in the air fryer. Once the wings are seasoned, place them in the greased air fryer basket and air fry at 200C/400F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Pat dry the wings before you start tossing them with salt and baking powder. This guarantees maximum crispiness.
  • Spread the chicken wings on the baking sheet in a single layer to ensure that the wings are evenly cooked and all crispy. If I make a larger serving, I sometimes cook them in batches instead of packing them all on one or two trays. 
  • Don’t overcook the chicken wings. Keep a close eye on them while they cook as chicken wings dry out quickly. The best way to check when the chicken wings are fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer to check its temperature. Chicken is ready once it reaches an internal temperature of 165F. 
  • If you are using frozen wings, thaw them in the fridge overnight and dry them thoroughly before use.

Storage instructions

To store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. They will remain fresh for up to 5 days.

To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled wings in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to two months.

To reheat: Reheat chicken wings in a preheated oven or air fryer for 10 minutes or until they are heated through.

lemon pepper chicken wings.

Frequently asked questions 

Are lemon pepper wings wet or dry?

These chicken wings have a wet coating of delicious and fragrant lemon pepper sauce. The sauce’s butter and lemon juice give the wings a slightly wet finish. 

Can I use bottled lemon pepper sauce?

I don’t recommend using bottled sauce as most brands contain excess oil which will yield greasy wings instead of crispy ones.

More delicious chicken dishes to try

lemon pepper wings recipe.

Lemon Pepper Wings

5 from 55 votes
These lemon pepper wings are baked until crispy and covered with a buttery lemon and pepper sauce. They need little prep and seriously addictive! 
Servings: 8 servings
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 32 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

For the lemon pepper sauce

  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 200/400F. 
  • Pat dry the chicken wings with a paper towel. Place them in a large bowl, and toss them with baking powder and salt. 
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon pepper seasoning, lemon juice, and salt. 
  • Add the sauce over the chicken wings and coat well.
  • Line a large baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe cooling rack on top. Transfer the wings to the top of the rack and bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Notes

TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover lemon pepper wings in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. They will remain fresh for up to 5 days.
TO FREEZE: Place the cooked and cooled wings in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to two months.
TO REHEAT: Reheat chicken wings in a preheated oven or air fryer for 10 minutes or until they are heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 11gFat: 16gSodium: 540mgPotassium: 111mgFiber: 0.2gVitamin A: 272IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 1g
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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  1. 5 stars
    Tried this out tonight and it was so good! Quick easy recipe with ingredients already in your cabinets.
    We will definitely be re-creating this recipe often.