Lemon Pepper Wings

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Lemon Pepper Wings made at home are even better than those you buy in a restaurant. Learn how to make lemon pepper chicken wings in the oven, air fryer, grill, or deep fryer for the perfect game-day snack, or add a few sides and serve them for dinner.

Suitable for Low Carb, Gluten Free, Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

top down view of a bowl filled with the completed lemon pepper chicken wings

I love making delicious lemon pepper chicken wings and Lemon Pepper Chicken for game day, and they are the perfect appetizer to serve at parties. And these lemon pepper wings are so good, they’re also one of my family’s favorite dinner options.

And just like my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, and rather delicious Southwest Egg Rolls, serve these tasty chicken wings with Homemade Garlic Parmesan Fries or the classic wings side of celery and blue cheese dip. Trust me when I say that everyone will love how the tasty lemon pepper seasoning gives these chicken wings tons of great flavor.

These lemon pepper chicken wings are so easy to make and only require 4 ingredients. Plus, they’re super versatile to make too. You can easily cook them in the air fryer, oven, or grill, and you can even deep fry them. It really is the best lemon pepper wings recipe around.

I’ll bet you never knew you could make such incredible restaurant-style chicken wings at home for a fraction of the cost!

close up view of the finished lemon pepper chicken wings recipe

Why Make This Recipe

Affordable – The price for restaurant wings is exorbitant, and they are so easy to make at home for a fraction of the price.
Flavorful – This baked lemon pepper wings recipe is bursting with a fresh, bright flavor.
Versatile – You can make these in your air fryer, oven, grill or deep fryer, so no matter which appliance you have, lemon pepper wings are only a few minutes away!

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – Purchase whole chicken wings or chicken wingettes and drumettes. You can also use this recipe with any bone-in, skin-on chicken. Adjust the cooking time as needed.
Lemon Pepper – Store bought lemon pepper seasoning is readily available in the spice aisle of your local grocery store.
Garlic Salt – If your lemon pepper seasoning contains salt, you will want to use garlic powder instead.
Olive Oil – You can also swap for vegetable oil.

the ingredients needed to make lemon pepper wings

How To Make Lemon Pepper Wings

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F / 190 degrees C.
Combine lemon pepper, garlic salt, and olive oil in a large bowl or zip-top bag.
Shake the wings to coat them completely with the lemon pepper sauce.
Transfer seasoned wings onto a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Use two trays to avoid overcrowding.
Bake for 30 – 40 minutes until golden brown, fully cooked, and crisped to your liking.
Turn the lemon pepper wings halfway through cooking.

Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C when inserted into the thickest part of chicken breasts.

image collage showing the steps for making lemon pepper chicken wings

How To Air Fry Lemon Pepper Wings

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
Combine lemon pepper, garlic salt, and olive oil in a large bowl or zip-top bag.
Shake the wings to completely coat them with the seasoning.
Place wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook for 10 minutes, flip and cook for 10 more minutes.
Cook the crispy lemon pepper wings in batches, and be sure not to crowd the air fryer basket.

the completed lemon pepper chicken wings in air fryer basket

How To Grill Lemon Pepper Wings

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
Combine lemon pepper, garlic salt, and olive oil in a large bowl or zip-top bag.
Shake the wings to coat completely with the lemon pepper sauce.
Place wings onto the grill and cook for 15-20 minutes, turning the wings every 3 minutes.

Tip: if you have a lot of flare-ups, adjust the heat or move the wings for more indirect cooking.

How To Deep Fry Lemon Pepper Wings

Heat oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer to 375 degrees F / 190 degrees C.
Fry the wings for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown fully cooked through.
Combine lemon pepper, garlic salt, and oil in a medium sized bowl.
Add the cooked wings to the lemon pepper sauce, making sure they are completely coated.

close up view of the finished lemon pepper wings

Tips For Success

If gluten free, make sure your lemon pepper seasoning does not contain gluten.
Completely dry the chicken wings with paper towels before seasoning.
When baking or air frying, avoid crowding the pan. Cook the lemon pepper chicken wings in batches if necessary.
If your lemon pepper seasoning contains salt, use garlic powder instead of garlic salt to avoid oversalting the chicken.
To really amp up the lemon pepper flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and some lemon zest to the seasoning mix.
Season the wings before cooking for all methods except deep frying. In that case, season after they are cooked and before serving.
Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of chicken should reach at least 165 degrees F / 75 degrees C.

Variations

Swap The Seasoning – Replace the lemon pepper seasoning with your favorite dry seasoning blend. Tasty options include Cajun or Creole seasoning, Greek seasoning, and Taco seasoning.
Swap The Meat – Use any bone-in, skin-on chicken. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.

top down view of a baking tray filled with lemon pepper chicken wings

Budget-Friendly Tips

Buy Chicken In Bulk – Purchase chicken wings when on sale or in bulk and freeze until ready to make this lemon pepper wings recipe.
Buy Whole Chicken Wings – Whole chicken wings are usually less expensive than the wings that are already split into wingettes and drummettes and have had the wing tips removed. It’s easy to do that at home with a sharp knife.
Save The Wing Tips – Use the unused wing tips to make chicken broth. Place them in a saucepan and cover them with water. Add veggies if desired and simmer for about an hour. Strain and freeze the broth for use in other recipes.
Make It A Meal – Add a few sides and take these wings from appetizer to a meal.

Prep Ahead And Storage

Prep Ahead – Mix the wings with the oil and seasoning and refrigerate for up to 4 hours to let the flavors marinate the chicken.
Store – Leftover wings can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze – Freeze marinated chicken wings for easy use later on by following these steps;
- Mix the chicken, oil, and jerk seasoning.
- Place into freezer bags.
- Store in the freezer for 3-6 months.
- Place in the fridge overnight to defrost.
- Cook as directed.

a white bowl filled with the completed lemon pepper chicken wings

FAQs

How Long Will These Lemon Pepper Wings Keep In The Fridge?

For the crispiest wings, it is best to eat them right away. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat wings in the oven or an air fryer for the best results.

How To Get Crispy Oven Baked Wings?

Moisture is usually the culprit for less than crispy wings and there are a few things you can do to combat this.
#1 – Bring the wings to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.
#2 – Use paper towels to remove all of the excess moisture from the wings.
#3 – Place an oven-safe wire rack on the baking sheet and bake the wings on the rack.

the completed lemon pepper chicken wings on a baking tray

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