Lemon Pepper Wings

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 wings, baked chicken wings, garlic parmesan wings, or Korean wings next.

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.

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. 

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. 

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

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.

Step 5- Bake on the top rack for 40-45 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.

Frequently asked questions 

More delicious chicken dishes to try

• Parmesan crusted chicken
• Chicken Milanese
• Crispy baked chicken thighs
• Hunan chicken
• Marry me chicken
• Or any of these chicken recipes