Lemon Pepper Wings

These lemon pepper wings are baked until crispy and covered with a buttery lemon and pepper sauce. Ready in minutes and seriously addictive! 

We are a family of chicken wing lovers here.

Whether they are air fried, baked, doused in a garlic parmesan sauce, or enjoyed with low carb seasonings, we love them. Recently, we’ve added lemon pepper chicken wings into the mix and have a new favorite! 

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Healthier than fried wings. As they are baked in the oven, these are a lot healthier than fried ones. However, they are just as crispy and delicious as you’d expect them to be! 
• 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 very little effort. 

What I love about these lemon pepper chicken wings is just how flavorful they are. It hits all the senses and are so delicious, there are never any leftovers. 

Ingredients needed

This recipe calls for very simple ingredients. Besides the wings and some seasonings, there isn’t much else that goes into it. Here is what you’ll need: 

For the wings:

• Chicken wings. Whole chicken wings or a mix of wingettes and drumettes. 
• Baking powder. To make the wings crispy. 
• Salt. To taste.

For the lemon pepper sauce: 

• Lemon pepper seasoning. Homemade or store-bought.
• Lemon juice. To enhance the flavor and consistency of the sauce. 
• Butter. Melted.
• Salt. To taste. 

How to make lemon pepper wings

As these lemon pepper chicken wings are baked in the oven, they require very little hands-on time. 

Step 1 – Preheat the oven

Set the oven to 200C/400F degrees to allow it to preheat while you prepare the sauce for the wings. 

Step 2 – 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. 

Step 3 – 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. 

Step 4 – Toss the chicken with sauce 

Pour the sauce over the chicken wings and toss to get all pieces covered. 

Step 5 – Transfer the wings to a pan and bake

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.

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

Can you make these in the air fryer?

You can totally make lemon pepper wings in the air fryer. They follow the exact same process as my air fryer chicken wings recipe. The only difference is that you cook them for an extra five minutes to compensate for the sauce. 

Tips to make the best recipe

• 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. 
• Don’t overcook the chicken wings. Keep a close eye on them while they cook as chicken wings dry out very quickly. 
• If you are using frozen wings, thaw them in the fridge overnight and dry them thoroughly before use. 

Storage instructions

• 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. 

More chicken recipes to try

• Air fryer chicken breast
• Saffron chicken
• Yakitori
• Chicken tempura
• Blackened chicken

Frequently asked questions