Crispy Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe are made without baking powder, easy, seasoned to perfection, juicy tender and ready in about 20 minutes. Perfect for game day snack or holiday appetizer.
Chicken wings are always a family favorite around here. They can be baked, grilled, fried or air fried, tossed in Bbq, buffalo, teriyaki, garlic parmesan, Korean, Sweet chili sauces and enjoyed as an appetizer for game day or a light dinner with a side salad. They are simply the best!
One of our favorite wings is the lemon pepper wings from Wingstop. The perfectly seasoned wing with zesty lemon and cracked black pepper is hard to beat.
This homemade wing recipe uses all pantry ingredients and some fresh chicken wings from the grocery store. We recommend using a good jar of lemon pepper seasoning.
Don't have an air fryer? We have included baking instructions in recipe notes.
Lemon Pepper Wings made in Air fryer is
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- Healthier than deep fried
- Under 5 ingredients (salt & pepper doesn't count)
- Well seasoned
- Juicy tender
- Delicious
Main ingredients
Chicken wings – We used a mix of drummettes and wingettes
Butter – Unsalted butter (reduce salt if using salted butter)
Seasonings – Salt, pepper and lemon pepper seasoning.
Flour – Just a tablespoon of all purpose flour to give some crispiness
Method
(Please find step-by-step pictures to guide you along the way)
Pat dry with paper towels - It is very important for the wings to not have any moisture to ensure crispy wings in the air fryer.
Prep wings – Stir flour, salt and pepper together and toss chicken wings, until evenly coated.
Air Fry – Cook wings at 350°F for 15 minutes and then at 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
Toss in lemon pepper seasoning - As soon as the wings are done cooking, transfer hot wings into a large bowl and toss with melted butter until thoroughly coated. Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning all over and toss again until well combined.
Serve hot with ranch!
Expert tips
Pat dry – It is very important for the wings to not have any moisture to ensure crispy wings. So, pat them dry with paper towels.
Cooking temperature – Since the wings are made without breading, they are cooked at two different temperatures to guarantee crispiness. First, at a medium heat to cook and then at a higher temperature to crisp up.
Place them in a single layer – Spread them out so that they are in a single layer and not overlapping.
Seasoning - We used Lawry's and used 2 tablespoons of seasoning for 2 pounds since we love a well seasoned wing! However, you could use your favorite brand and the quantity that you like.
Do not over cook - Remove wings as soon as they are done cooking. Cooking them longer than needed might make them dry out and not be as juicy.
Using whole wings - If you have whole wings then cut the drummettes and flats separately, discarding the wing tip. We used pre cut wings for convenience.
Air Fryer size - We used 6-quart Instant vortex air fryer and was able to cook 2 pounds wings in a single layer. If you have a smaller air fryer then we recommend cooking in two batches or you simply want to cook only a pound of wings then here are the instructions-
How to cook one pound of chicken wings? Halve the recipe but adjust the cooking time and temperature —> Cook for 11 minutes at 350°F and then for 2 to 3 minutes at 400°F.
Can this recipe be made ahead? Absolutely! To make ahead for a party/gathering, follow these steps:
- Cook wings and let it stand at room temperature for several hours.
- Melt butter just before serving (make sure that the butter is hot) and toss along with wings. Finish with seasoning.
How to cook lemon pepper wings in oven?
Toss wings with flour, salt and pepper, place on wire rack lined baking sheet (in a single layer) and bake in a pre heated 400°F for about 40 minutes and then toss them in melted butter and seasoning, as soon as they are done baking.
How do I know they’re done cooking?
Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the wing. It should register 165° F.
Air Fryer wing variations
This is a basic air fryer wings recipe that can be used with other kinds of seasonings like Cajun seasoning, Barbecue, Jerk, Indian or Lemon garlic pepper.
Reheating instructions
Place leftover wings in a pre heated 375 degree air fryer (in a single layer), cook for 5 to 9 minutes (depending on the quantity) or until heated through.
Serving suggestions
Air Fryer lemon pepper chicken wings are perfect for appetizer served with ranch or blue cheese dressing for all your game day or parties. Serve with celery and carrot sticks for a more traditional approach.
Frequently asked questions
Not flipping wings half way through cooking is recommended since it gives the wings a more deep golden color when compared to cooking one both sides.
One serving of wings has 646 calories.
The chicken wings need to be placed in a single layer without overlapping to avoid steaming and ensure crispiness. Stacking them might make them steam and result in a soggy wing.
More Air Fryer Appetizers to try-
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings (without Baking Powder)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings patted dry
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt or as per taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
Equipment used
Instructions
- Stir together all purpose flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl , add chicken wings and toss until thoroughly combined.
- Pre heat air fryer to 350°F for 15 minutes. When ready, place wings in a single layer and cook ( don't need to flip over).
- After timer is over, cook for 3 to 5 minutes at 400°F.
- Transfer hot chicken wings into a large bowl along with melted butter and lemon pepper seasoning. Stir until evenly combined and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third party calculations, should be considered estimates and not be construed as a guarantee. Varying factors such as product types, brands purchased, produce, the way ingredients are processed and more change the nutritional information in any recipe.
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Martina
I was kinda skeptical about trying this but i followed every step and the wings came out DELICIOUS!!!
Maria Doss
Happy to hear hun, have a wonderful day - Maria
Santosha
Hello, I only made one pound tonight to test the recipe out for Superbowl. They were so delicious that my husband requested some for his lunch tomorrow. Very good recipe! I did cook them longer though.
Maria Doss
Happy to hear hun, have a fantastic game day - Maria