These Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings are coated in a lemon pepper seasoning, cooked until crispy in an air fryer, and then tossed in a zesty honey lemon pepper glaze. Perfect for Game Day! Naturally gluten-free.
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Why You'll Love This Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe
Air fryer honey lemon pepper chicken wings are certain to become your next go-to recipe for Game Day, summer holidays, and neighborhood cookouts. The wings are coated in a lemon pepper seasoning, cooked until crispy in an air fryer (freeing up oven space), and then tossed in a homemade honey lemon pepper glaze. Crispy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. Reserve the extra sauce for dipping and garnish with a sprig of parsley for a pop of color. For more delicious appetizer ideas, check out our Tequila Lime Chicken Wings, Honey Mustard Chicken Wings, Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Wings, and Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers. Here are some more reasons why you will love this honey lemon pepper wings recipe:
- Healthier Choice: Air frying leads to a healthier choice without all the oil from deep frying, while still maintaining the extra crispness of these delicious wings.
- Quicker Cooking: The cooking process is faster than traditional oven baking.
- Perfect for Parties! Everyone loves juicy chicken wings, this easy appetizer can be served on a platter for gatherings like Super Bowl parties, holidays, and potlucks.
Lemon Pepper Wings Ingredients
Air fryer lemon pepper chicken wings are the perfect appetizer, made in less than 30 minutes!
Seasoned Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings: We like to use a mix of wingettes and drumettes. You'll need one pound of fresh chicken wings for 4 servings. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, just make sure to air fry one batch at a time.
- Olive Oil: To coat the wings and prep them for air frying.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning: You can find this seasoning blend at most grocery stores. Look for a brand with simple ingredients consisting of lemon peel, black pepper, garlic powder, and no added sugar.
- Salt: A little extra salt helps flavor the wings and the sauce.
Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce
- Lemon Juice & Zest: This vibrant sauce has fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Honey: Adds a hint of sweetness, creating the perfect balance.
- Minced Garlic: The garlic flavor compliments the honey and lemon.
- Butter: The melted butter gives the glaze a creamy texture and light buttery flavor. You can also use ghee if tolerated.
Find the printable recipe card with full instructions and measurements below.
How To Make Lemon Pepper Wings
- Step 1: Prepare the wings. Preheat the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at 390℉. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Toss the wings with the oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt.
- Step 2: Air fry the wings. Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: Flip the wings. Using tongs, carefully flip the crispy chicken wings and continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until cooked through, golden brown, and registering at 165°F.
- Step 4: Make the glaze. In a saucepan over medium heat, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, honey, butter, lemon seasoning, and salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer while whisking continuously for 5-8 minutes or until thickened.
- Step 5: Set the glaze aside. Turn off the burner and let the glaze rest for 2-3 minutes. The glaze will thicken as it cools.
- Step 6: Coat the wings. Add the wings to a large bowl and pour the glaze over the top. Toss the chicken wings until they are evenly coated in the glaze. Plate the wings and reserve any remaining glaze as a dipping sauce on the side.
Substitutions & Variations
- Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings: Add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the sauce mix for spicy wings. You could also sprinkle in a few dashes of cayenne pepper or paprika instead of hot sauce.
- Dairy-Free: You can use dairy-free butter or ghee if tolerated.
- Garnish: Add a few fresh lemon slices and chopped cilantro or parsley to garnish.
Storage
- To store: Store any leftover wings in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- To reheat: Preheat the air fryer to 350℉ and cook the wings for just 3 to 4 minutes until they’re warmed through.
FAQ
It depends on the size of the air fryer, but the wings can take up to 20 minutes per batch, or pound.
For extra crispy skin, remove the wings from the refrigerator 30 minutes before air frying. For best results, make sure you dry the chicken wings thoroughly before seasoning them and adding them to the air fryer basket. This is essential for making sure they get nice and crispy.
Yes, these wings can be prepared in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Layer a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet then place a wire rack on top. Place the seasoned wings onto the wire rack and bake for 45 minutes or until crispy. While the wings are cooking, make the glaze. Remove the wings from the oven. Using tongs, toss the wings in the honey glaze until fully coated. Place the coated wings back on the baking sheet into the oven to bake for another 10 minutes, or until the wings are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Yes, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches, about 1 pound at a time, so that the wings are not overcrowded.
Air fryer wings are much healthier compared to deep frying wings in oil.
More Recipe's You'll Love
I hope you love this lemon pepper wings recipe as much as I do! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.
Recipe
Honey Lemon Pepper Wings (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
Chicken Wings
- 1 pound chicken wings (about 10 wings), wingette and drummette separated
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
Honey Lemon Pepper Glaze
- finely grated lemon zest of one lemon
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) water
- 2 tablespoons (42g) honey
- 2 tablespoons (28g) butter
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the wings. Preheat the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at 390℉. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Toss the wings with the oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt.
- Air fry the wings. Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip the wings. Using tongs, carefully flip the chicken wings and continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown, registering at 165°F with a meat thermometer. Transfer the cooked chicken wings to a large bowl.
- Make the glaze. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, honey, butter, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer while whisking continuously for 5-8 minutes or until thickened.
- Set glaze aside. Turn off the burner and let the glaze rest for 2-3 minutes. The glaze will thicken as it cools.
- Coat the wings. Pour the glaze over the top of the wings and toss until they are evenly coated in the glaze. Plate the wings and reserve any remaining glaze as a dipping sauce on the side.
Kenny says
Delicious wings! The perfect mix of sweet with a peppery finish.
SRPi66 says
Did you miss a step before placing the wings in the air fryer?
Rebecca Taig says
I did! Looks like it didn't transfer from the body of the text to the recipe card. Thank you for catching that and bringing it to my attention, I really appreciate it. 🙂
Post is updated with the correct next step.
Enjoy the recipe, the wings are so delicious.