If you’ve ever had lemon pepper wings that tasted more salty than lemony, we’re fixing that today. I have nearly 20 wings recipes and have been making wings for years. I’ve learned the secret is getting them truly crispy first, then hitting them with bright lemon and bold pepper while they’re hot. This recipe keeps things simple, uses real ingredients, and gives you that better than Wingstop taste!
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When it comes to chicken wings, I truly have found my niche. I love every single flavor. You may also love my Hot Lemon Pepper Wings recipe.
Lemon Pepper Wings Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: I love to use party wings that are already split as opposed to whole chicken wings. Party wings will cook at a more even temperature. Feel free to use whole chicken wings if you like.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, and Salt
- Flour
- Cooking Oil Spray
- Lemon Juice
- Lemon Zest (from fresh Lemons)
- Butter
How to Make Lemon Pepper Wings
Exact measurements and full detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Season the chicken with flour, lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Bake or air fry.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic powder.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the lemon butter sauce.
- Bake or air fry.
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Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings I use drummettes.
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- cooking oil spray I use olive oil.
Lemon Pepper Glaze
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Oven and Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the flour, lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings. Spritz the chicken wings with cooking oil.
- Bake the wings for 20 minutes and then open and flip the wings. Spritz with cooking oil. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic powder.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the lemon butter sauce. Ensure all of the chicken is coated, if not, each wing won't have the lemon pepper. Add additional lemon juice if necessary to fully coat.
- Return the chicken to the oven. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the flour, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket. Spritz the chicken with cooking oil.
- Air fry for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Spritz the chicken with cooking oil. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic powder.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and drizzle it with the lemon butter sauce. Ensure all of the chicken is coated, if not, each wing won't have the lemon pepper. Add additional lemon juice if necessary to fully coat.
- Return the chicken to the air fryer. Air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes on 400 degrees.
Notes
- I like to put the wings back into the oven or the air fryer after drizzling the lemon butter sauce so that it soaks into the skin of the chicken. You can wait to do this step immediately upon serving the wings if you wish. This also helps if you're finding some wings do not have lemon flavor (because they weren't properly drizzled), you can drizzle them with juice once fully cooked.
- If you are having trouble spraying the wings with oil because of the flour, you can allow them to cook for about 5 minutes and then spritz the oil. The will prevent the breading from coming off.
- To make this recipe low carb you can swap the all-purpose flour for baking powder. I usually only use a tablespoon of baking powder.
- You can use actual wings (instead of drums and flats) if you wish, you may need to adjust the amount of ingredients needed to fully coat your wings.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
You will need to use a quality lemon pepper seasoning to actually add flavor to the meat. I also love the Lemon Garlic Seasoning from Trader Joe's.
You will bread the chicken with lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and all-purpose flour. From there you will bake or air fry to get them crisp.
Then combine lemon juice, lemon zest, butter, and garlic powder in a saucepan until melted. Drizzle the mixture over the chicken and bake or air fry again.
Nope, simply omit it for non breaded wings.
You can use 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder (enough to fully coat the chicken). You can also omit flour completely and make naked chicken wings.
I reheated these chicken wings over the next couple of days in the air fryer for 4 minutes on 400 degrees. Test to see that the chicken is warm in order to determine the optimal time that will work for you.
You can reheat them in the oven on 350 degrees until warm.
You can freeze leftover chicken tightly sealed for a few months. Defrost overnight or reheat the chicken frozen.
Pat them completely dry, use baking powder (not baking soda) if baking, avoid overcrowding, and cook at high heat.
Dry wings are tossed in seasoning only, while wet wings are coated in a lemon butter sauce for extra flavor. Don't bake or air fry them again after adding the sauce, if you want wet wings.
Yes. Just add a few-several extra minutes to the cook time.
Ranch, blue cheese, garlic aioli, or a light honey drizzle all pair well.
More Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipes
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Naked Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Traeger Smoked Chicken Wings
Cajun Chicken Wings
Sauced and Flavored Chicken Wing Recipes
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
Crispy Ranch Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Honey BBQ Wings
Thai Chili Chicken Wings
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Garlic Parmesan Wings
Keto Low Carb Chicken Wings (Maple BBQ)
Pair These Wings With These Recipes
Southern Macaroni Salad
Lemon Pepper Fish
Southern Coleslaw Recipe
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Southern Potato Salad
Easy Spaghetti Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
Honey Hot Wings
You may also enjoy our Lemon Pepper Shrimp and Lemon Pepper Steak.
Ramya says
will be making this soon can i use mushrooms vegan butter as am a vegan perfect for my office snacks will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
staysnatched says
Have you used it before? I have not, so I can’t say.
Eunice says
Another great recipe! I had to hurry and put some of these wings away before I ate them all.
staysnatched says
haha! Love to hear it!
Andrea G says
My family LOVED the lemon pepper wings that I made using the #StaySnatched recipe. The wings were perfectly seasoned,crispy and the sauce was amazing! This was so easy to prep so I'll definitely add this to my list of go to meals.
Thank you! #StaySnatched
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Shunta says
These were AMAZING! I split the wings so they could all cook at the same time so some in air fryer and some in oven. Definitely love the texture/crisp of the air fryer more but both were so good!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Cierra says
Another GREAT recipe from Brandi!!! These wings were amazing!! Easy to follow, flavorful and versatile. What I’m mad about is that I didn’t have these in my repertoire sooner! It’s easy to get stuck in a recipe rut while doing keto but Brandi has gotten me “unstuck” for sure!
staysnatched says
I love to hear it!
Sarai says
Perfectly juicy and crispy with REAL lemon flavor. My husband never liked lemon pepper wings, but he devours these. As always, thanks for the detailed instructions.
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm glad you both enjoyed them.
Brit says
The flour and double air fry trick is the key!! Delicious.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Ashley says
If you're not making Brandi's wing recipes then what are you even doing with your life? That's it! That's the review! Debate ya granny!
staysnatched says
haha! This is so funny. THank you!
Nicole says
Made these for dinner. And OMG is all I have to say. Another amazing wing recipe!!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so happy you enjoyed them.
Natalie says
Made these tonight because I had the biggest lemon pepper wing craving and these were EASILY the best wings I’ve ever made! The lemon zest / butter glaze takes these to the next level and they were so easy to make. These are definitely on rotation now!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so happy to hear that.
Kelley York says
Made these last night for the second time because the kids were gone. The first time they demolished them the first time without me ever tasting them! I ain’t mad at them anymore because these were freaking awesome!!! I felt no guilt, I love me some Brandi!
staysnatched says
haha love to hear it.
Lydia says
These lemon pepper chicken wings were delicious! Not a one made it to the freezer. Thank you for this recipe, it was so easy.
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Lisa Baker-McGee says
Absolutely a delicious and easy recipe. I have made these twice once in the oven and the other in the air fryer…loved them both! Recipe going into regular rotation! Thanks for making it simple!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you found it simple.
Amanda says
These were so quick and easy to make and the flavor was amazing. I made them in my air fryer and they came out with crispy skin AND juicy meat! Can’t wait to make these again!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! Glad to hear you will make them again!
Jani says
Made these wings for dinner and OMG they were FINGER LICKING GOOD!!! The recipe was really easy to follow. I was able to adjust the recipe for an individual serving with ease. Wing stop won’t be seeing my coins no more.
staysnatched says
Yay! Love to hear fingerlickin good!
Tessa says
Made these wings last night and will make them again tonight - love your wing lemon pepper recipe. Thank you.
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Chandra says
Flavorful, Moist & Crispy
This recipe was easy to follow. The wings were delicious! I love a good wing that is crispy and moist. This recipe does both. My family has already asked when I will be making these wings again. Make sure you read all of the good notes that Brandi put here because I did not and messed up the sauce. This was my error not Brandi's. I will be adding this dish to my meal rotation. I highly recommend you give this recipe a try. You will not be disappointed.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Abiola says
The first time I tried this lemon pepper chicken recipe, I was in a hurry so I didn't toss them in the butter,lemon sauce but they still turned out perfectly delicious.
Today, I tried out the recipe again and I tossed it in the butter lemon sauce. This has definitely come to stay. Soooo yummy.
Thanks a million for sharing ❤
staysnatched says
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed them.
Rashawnda Wright says
Used your instruction as a base, they wings turned out perfect in my new air fryer. Thank you for details that work!
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Ann says
This is a good wing recipe. I doubled the glaze to kick it up because I like lots of lemon flavor. This was my first time using my airfryer for wings and they were cooked perfectly. Adding this recipe to my dinner rotation!
staysnatched says
This is a great one to add to the rotation!
Sydney says
These are AMAZING! Best wings I have ever made.
staysnatched says
So glad to hear they were the best.
Rochelle Bullock says
I made this and these wings were so easy to make and were delicious and flavorful ! I don’t need to go out and buy them now. My family loved them! Will be making them on the regular!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you will be adding them to the rotation!
Lee Ann Guynn says
This recipe is how I learned to make chicken wings in my air fryer. I make them once a week now. These are absolutely delightful. The flavor is BEYOND!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad to hear it.
Melissa says
Another easy and delicious recipe. Paired it with your broccoli salad for dinner and the whole family loved it. We will add this into our regular rotation of meals.
staysnatched says
Yum! Glad to hear it will be in the rotation!
Samantha says
Brandi is my go-to wing guru! Followed the instructions for air fryer (including putting them back in a 2nd time) and they were PERFECT.
staysnatched says
YAY! So glad to hear it.
K. Phillips says
The glaze takes these over the top! The entire family loves them!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad the family loved them!
Dara says
My husband had a craving for lemon pepper wings. I knew Brandi’s recipe would deliver. He LOVED them even more than restaurant wings. Once again, more cooking for me :). Thank Brandi for a great recipe. The lemon sauce drizzle added that perfect finale to the wings. Highly recommend.
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Typhanie says
As soon as I saw the recipe come across my Instagram page, I knew I had to make them! These did not disappoint! 100% perfection. Juicy, crispy, perfectly seasoned! Definitely a family favorite!
Hattie says
These HIT!! With any of Brandi's wing recipes I know I'm in for a treat. I've loved every single one I've tried and this one is fighting for the top spot. Made these on the grill this time instead of the air fryer (was making Brandi's sweet potato fries!), putting them back on after saucing like it says in the notes and it was perfection.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Tori says
I made these wings for a little dinner party where each guest was tasked with bringing a special sauce/seasoning mixture and at the end we would all decide which wing was best - no surprise, but my Stay Snatched lemon pepper wings won of course! Everyone asked for her recipe for future use so I directed them to her site. Couldn't have loved them more!
staysnatched says
Thanks for sharing it with them!
Sydney says
Your wings never disappoint I have made three different recipes for the family today and all were a hit.
staysnatched says
Yay! So glad to hear it!
Iris says
What brand of baking powder do you use so there is no metallic taste?
staysnatched says
Trader Joe's. But anything aluminum free shouldn't have a metallic taste.
Katherine Carver says
These were fantastic even without breading! Loved the sauce that wasn’t to lemon forward! We also made lemon/ranch wings when we followed this recipe and added ranch seasoning!
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them!