Hot Lemon Pepper Wings
These Hot Lemon Pepper Wings are spicy and made with a homemade sauce, fresh lemon juice and zest, and butter. If you love the Wingstop wings, you will love this recipe. Theirs don't compare.
Servings 4 servings
Calories 473kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings I use party wings/drummettes.
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt to taste
Hot Lemon Pepper Glaze
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons lemon zest Use 2 teaspoons for bold lemon flavor.
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
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 lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings.
- Bake the wings for 20 minutes and then open and flip the wings.
- Bake for an additional 15-25 minutes. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the hot lemon butter sauce. Ensure all of the chicken is coated.
- Optional (If you like the wings to soak in the sauce): Place the sauced chicken wings back onto the sheet pan and bake for an additional 5 minutes (same temperature).
Air Fryer Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and drizzle it with the hot lemon butter sauce. Ensure all of the chicken is coated.
- Optional (If you like the wings to soak in the sauce): Place the sauced chicken wings back in the air fryer and air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes at 350 degrees.
Notes
- As a rule of thumb, when applying spices to wings. you should apply enough to fully coat the chicken or meat. You don’t want to see any empty spots. Add more spices if necessary.
- You can substitute regular paprika if you wish, but the smoked paprika definitely takes these to the next level.
- You can use actual wings (instead of drums and flats) if you wish, you may need to adjust the number of ingredients needed to fully coat your wings.
- Any oil can be substituted for butter, or you can omit oil if you wish. Butter adds additional flavor and makes the sauce silky smooth. Without butter or oil you may struggle to smooth out the sauce with the lemon zest.
- You can make breaded wings using 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder or 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (enough to fully coat the chicken).
Nutrition
Serving: 8oz | Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 34g