Baked lemon pepper chicken wings- tasteful and a delightful recipe for chicken wing lovers. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Each bite is balanced with a tangy, peppery flavor that would leave you smacking your lips.
These chicken wings can be made in the air fryer for a delicious, healthier, and oil-free version. Like these lip-smacking sticky chicken drumsticks. Serve them with your favorite dip or pair them with this next-level creamed corn side dish.
Jump to:
Why should you make this recipe?
Lemon pepper dry rub wings are a fantastic recipe on many different levels. Here is why you should make this recipe more often:
It is utterly delicious. The rich lemony, and peppery flavor is otherworldly.
It is super quick and easy to make.
It is not only perfect for adults but kids as well.
The dish is very versatile. You can enjoy it as a snack, appetizer, or main course.
Oven-baked chicken wings are easy to make. However, you can make them in an air fryer as well.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for the wings recipe
- Chicken wings: The main ingredient for this recipe are the chicken wings. You can buy either fresh or frozen chicken wings. If using frozen ones, thaw them first to get rid of moisture. I used 4-pound chicken wings, which are about 16 pieces. I left the tips and wings. Feel free to discard ends and split the wings.
- Olive oil: Olive oil helps the wings cook to perfection. Plus, it also allows the seasoning to stick to the winds. You can also use avocado oil or canola oil for this recipe.
- Seasoning: I used chicken bouillon powder, a seasoning made from chicken stock. It adds a rich, savory flavor to the wings.
- Baking powder: Baking powder absorbs the moisture in the chicken wings and makes them crispier and crunchier.
- Butter: Butter adds buttery goodness to the chicken wings.
- Lemon pepper: Lemon pepper seasoning is the hero f this recipe. It has a citrusy, lemony, and peppery flavor, which is very tasteful.
- Garlic: It is the perfect ingredient to add a depth of savory flavor to the dish.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make lemon pepper
Making one at home is easier than ever if you can't find lemon pepper seasoning.
To make lemon pepper seasoning at home, combine dehydrated lemon zest (yellow part only), black peppercorns, ground garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt into a spice grinder. Pulse a few times until it resembles a crumbly mix.
How to make it
To make the recipe, we will start by preheating the oven.
Next, Pat dry wings with a paper towel. Transfer into a ziplock bag or bowl. Drizzle with oil, and sprinkle in seasonings and baking powder.
Give it a good toss.
Line a baking sheet with parchment or place a cooling rack over the pan. Space out the chicken, then put it on the middle rack and bake for 55 minutes; flip after 40 minutes.
Now toss that sizzling crispy chicken wings in the buttery lemon sauce. Give it a few tosses, or use a wooden spoon or thong to marry the sauce with the wings.
- If you want a little more tang of that Lemon pepper, now is the right time to add it. If you are feeling bold, zest a whole lemon into the mix.
- Garnish with some finely chopped parsley, or serve it as it is. Your taste bud will be happy you made this lemon pepper chicken wing recipe.
Lemon Pepper chicken wings two ways
Baked lemon pepper chicken wings:
Another way to cook chicken wings without frying them is by baking them in the oven. Make sure to toss the wings in baking powder before placing them in the oven for that crispy exterior.
- Pat-dry chicken
- Sprinkle with olive oil
- Season chicken breast
- Toss in chicken powder
- Line on a baking sheet and bake at 425°F.
Please follow the instructions on the recipe card.
Lemon pepper Air fryer wings:
If you've been intimidated by the thought of how to cook chicken wings in an air fryer, I am here to tell you it's probably the easiest way to cook chicken.
As you can see in the image below, these easy lemon pepper wings were baked in an air fryer in my instant pot to perfection. So crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Here is how to air fry chicken wings.
- First, I spray the inner basket with cooking spray and heat the air fryer at 400°F.
- Season chicken
- Next, place the chicken in the basket and bake for 20 minutes; flip and bake for another 5 minutes.
Lemon pepper wing sauce to toss wings
Here is how to make the lemon pepper sauce;
- melt butter in a large skillet or wok
- Add garlic and lemon pepper seasoning
- Add fresh herbs like parsley
*See instructions on the recipe card
What to pair with lemon chicken?
Lemon pepper chicken goes so well with:
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted vegetables like green beans, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, etc
- Pasta salad
- Creamy potato salad
- Lemon pepper sauce
Equipment
You'll need an oven or an air fryer to make this healthier version of chicken wings.
Storage
Store baked wings in an airtight container and refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in either an oven or an air fryer.
Moreover, once they are cooked and cooled down, place them on a tray and flash freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Now, place them in a plastic zip-lock bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer and enjoy!
Top tip
Don't skip using the baking powder for this recipe. The baking powder helps the wings yield a brown and crispier exterior like that of a fried chicken. There is no aftertaste, so there is no need to worry here.
Frequently Asked Question
You can turn a chicken wing into two by clipping and cutting the wing from the joint. Also, trim excess fat, and you are done.
Lemon pepper seasoning is a versatile seasoning that works well with many ingredients. It is perfect for seasoning meat like chicken, fish, or steak. You can use it as a dry rub or in a marinade. Plus, you can use it in salad dressings to add a citrusy and peppery flavor to your salads.
This party wing recipe is a crowd-pleaser, and I hope it gets all the cheers at your next gathering. Share a bite with us on our social media. If you make this recipe using the hashtag worldlytreat(#worldlytreat), we'd love to join the soirée. Also, don't forget to pin it for later. Chat soon?
PEACE & LOVE
Maureen
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase after clicking on a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your continuous support.
📖 Recipe
Baked lemon pepper chicken wings
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 4 lbs Chicken wings (feel free to discard tips or split wings)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons chicken bouillon powder (better than bouillon is another option)
- kosher salt to taste
- 4 tablespoons Baking powder
- ½ cup unsalted Butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon pepper
- A fist full of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped. (about ⅓ cup)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil and top with a baking rack. Grease with cooking spray. Set aside
- Pat dry the chicken wings with a paper towel and transfer them into a bowl or large ziplock bag.
- Add the olive oil, chicken powder, salt, and ground black pepper into the bag/bowl. Give it a good massage to combine. Add the baking powder to the bowl/bag and toss it until all the chicken pieces are coated.
- Line the chicken wings on a single layer over the prepared rack. Bake for 40 minutes, rotate the pans and flip the wings. Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the skin is crispy and cooked to your desired doneness.
- Meanwhile, for sauce, melt butter in a saucepan or large skillet. Add garlic and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the lemon pepper, reduce heat to low, and cook for another minute. Add the chopped parsley and remove it from heat. If using a large skillet, place wings into the pan and toss to coat. You can equally combine in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle it with more lemon pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Lemon pepper Air fryer wings:
- spray the inner basket with cooking spray and heat the air fryer at 400°F.
- Follow the direction above to prepare and season the chicken.
- Next, place the chicken in the basket and bake for 20 minutes; flip and bake for another 5 minutes.
- Toss in the lemon sauce and serve
Leave a Reply