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GET IT NOWChicken recipes — especially crispy baked chicken wings — are always a favorite in my house, but there’s something about these lemon pepper wings that makes them extra special. The bright, zesty flavor of lemon and pepper together is a nice change of pace from our usual go-to spices. If you love wings like me or just want to change up your chicken routine, whip up a batch of my lemon pepper wings recipe with me for an easy dinner or appetizer!
Why You Need My Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe
- Extra crispy skin – I have a secret ingredient 🤫 and a little trick to help your lemon pepper wings bake up super crisp.
- Spicy, lemony flavor – My simple spice blend gives them a lovely lemony kick. I find they taste better this way than just using lemon juice.
- Quick and easy to make – With just 3 ingredients (including my fave lemon pepper seasoning that I always make in advance) and 5 minutes of prep, it doesn’t get much easier than this.
- Crowd pleaser – Whether I’m serving them as a main dish on a busy weeknight or as part of a game day spread, these lemon pepper chicken wings are always a hit with everyone. Your family and friends will love them!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my lemon pepper wings recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Chicken Wings – I usually grab pre-cut wingettes (flats) and drumettes, but you can separate whole chicken wings yourself if you prefer. Using just flats or just drumettes works, too. Frozen wings are fine, but you’ll want to thaw them first. You can also use the same seasoning blend with other cuts of chicken, like chicken legs, chicken quarters, chicken breast (skip the baking powder since it’s skinless), or chicken thighs. The oven times will be different, so just use my linked recipes as your guide.
- Olive Oil – Avocado oil works great, too.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning – I make my own homemade lemon pepper seasoning with dried lemon zest, sea salt, thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can use a pre-made blend if you like.
- Baking Powder – This is optional, but it’s my first secret 🤫 for crispy baked wings! Baking powder absorbs moisture and changes the surface pH for that perfect crunch. Any brand will work, but I like this non-GMO one. Just don’t swap it for baking soda—it leaves a weird aftertaste.
How To Make Lemon Pepper Wings
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Season the wings. Pat the wings dry with paper towels. Place them in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil. Add the lemon pepper seasoning and baking powder (if using), toss again, and rub the seasoning into the skin.
- Spread them out. Arrange the wings on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. (This is my second secret to getting them super crispy!)
- Bake until crispy. Bake lemon pepper wings in the oven, flipping halfway through, until the skin is nice and crispy.
My Recipe Tips
- Do you have to use the rack setup? No, but I highly recommend it! It lets the air circulate around the wings for that extra crispy skin we all love. I use and love this set — it’s easy to clean and the rack fits perfectly.
- Line the pan under the rack if you like. You can use foil or parchment paper. It makes for easier cleanup!
- Give them some space. Make sure your lemon pepper wings aren’t crowded on the pan. They need room to crisp up!
- Check with a meat thermometer. For white meat like wings, I am for 165 degrees F, but you’ll also know they are done when the skin is crispy. Sometimes the internal temp goes higher than 165, and that’s totally fine for wings. That crispy skin is #1!
- Want a lemon pepper sauce? Just mix the same seasoning with melted butter (or olive oil) and a splash of lemon juice, then toss with your wings. Extra lemony and buttery!
- Want them sweet or hot? To make honey lemon pepper wings, whip up a lemon pepper butter sauce and stir in a tablespoon of regular or sugar free honey. For lemon pepper hot wings, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the dry rub for a little extra kick.
- Prefer to use your air fryer? After seasoning, just cook the wings in the air fryer like this.
Storage & Meal Prep
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Meal prep: Mix up the seasoning in advance! I like to keep a jar of my lemon pepper mixture ready in the pantry. You can also season the wings up to 24 hours ahead — this makes them even more flavorful and tender, like a dry brine.
- Reheat: I usually just pop the lemon pepper chicken wings in the oven again to crisp up, this time at 350 degrees F to avoid burning them. The air fryer works great for a faster option.
- Freeze: Arrange in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until solid (this prevents sticking), then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3-6 months.
Serving Ideas
Wondering what to pair with your lemon pepper wings? I’ve served them as an app or a dinner, so choose based on that:
- As an appetizer – For an appetizer spread, I love pairing these wings with jalapeno poppers (and stuffed mini peppers for the kids), hot crab dip, and cauliflower pizza.
- As a meal – Toss together my Israeli salad or creamy cucumber salad (I think the tangy flavors work really nicely with these lemon pepper wings), or just roast some vegetables. Add some air fried potatoes if you want something more hearty.
Lemon Pepper Wings (Extra Crispy)
Whip up my zesty lemon pepper wings recipe with just 4 simple ingredients! I've got 2 easy tricks to make them extra crispy.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204degrees C). Place 2 oven safe racks fitted inside 2 rimmed baking sheets.
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Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken and rub into the skin all over. Toss with baking powder if using (optional).
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Arrange the wings on the racks in a single layer without touching. Bake for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) and the skin is crispy.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 3-4 chicken wings, or 1/6 entire recipe
- Tips: See the details in the post above! I’ve got tips to ensure your lemon pepper wings turn out extra crispy, plus variations for a lemon pepper sauce, making them spicy, or using your air fryer.
- Storage: 3-5 days in the fridge.
- Freeze: Freeze on a lined sheet pan first until solid, then transfer to a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Lemon Pepper Wings
30 Comments
Kay
0So easy and very delicious!
Nicole
0This was so easy to make and tasted so crispy! My whole family enjoyed and will definitely keep this recipe in our rotation!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad your whole family enjoyed these, Nicole! Thank you!
Karen
0Would this recipe work on the grill?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Karen, Yes, you can use these same seasonings on the grill if you like.
Sabrina McGee
0I made this recipe today for a church potluck. They were amazing…everyone loved them and I didn’t have any to take home
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Sabrina! I’m so happy to hear everyone at the potluck liked these lemon pepper wings. Always a good sign when there aren’t any left to take home, lol. Hope you make them again soon!
Lori
0Delicious ~ my 11 yr old son’s FAVORITE ♥️
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Lori! Guess I have to add this recipe to my kid-friendly category!
Janice Wright
0What does the baking powder do in dusting the chicken parts in this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Janice, The baking powder makes the wings more crispy.
Nina
0Could I put the lemon pepper wings in the air fryer?
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Nina, Absolutely! I actually have an air fryer wings recipe with a variation section for lemon pepper.
jean beauchesne
0I have never made lemon pepper chicken from scratch and I found your recipe and it looked so delicious I had to try it. My whole family just loved them so much. They are crispy and juicy and they are as easy to make as they are delicious. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!
Felicia
0I love that the recipe gives me the option of adjusting the number of servings however this does not carry over into the printable version.
Even the print version lets me type in new servings but it does not change the ingredient amount.
Am I doing something wrong ?
Thank you
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Felicia, After hitting the print button, you will be able to adjust the number of servings on the new page which will change the ingredient amounts.
Brenda
0This was so good!! I’ve always only put lemon pepper on fish, but WOW! I did make one substitution, I used boneless chicken breast instead of wings.
Edward Hochstatter
0Made them for the Super Bowl yesterday. They were almost too peppery but I’ll use a bit less lemon pepper next time. Baked they were fully cooked but not that crispy even with the baking powder
Michelle Smith
0Can you make these in an air fryer? If so what would the directions be? Would you still use the oil?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Michelle, Yes, absolutely! Just follow my air fryer wings recipe and you can still use these same seasonings.
Jen
0The perfect recipe for the weekend. Crispy wings without all the deep fried oil. Definitely will make again.
Neli Howard
0These are making my mouth water, I am a wing lover! Cannot resist them 😉
Andrea Metlika
0Love all the seasoning on these and how crispy they are.
Claudia Lamascolo
0I surprised my husband with this recipe and he loved them I am so happy to have found this! thank you
Amanda
0Can you cook these frozen or do they need to be thawed?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Amanda, This recipe requires thawed wings. If you want to cook from frozen, you can follow my method for air fryer frozen wings and just use the seasonings from this recipe.
Melanie
0When the recipe says you can freeze, do you mean prepare then freeze uncooked? Thaw and cook another time, or are you freezing after cooking? I’d like to make ahead but wondering if it will affect the crispness?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Melanie, You could do either. You can crisp them up again in the oven or air fryer.
Melanie
0Thank you!
Katie
0I LOVE lemon pepper chicken!