Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings (Printable)

Crispy chicken tossed in zesty lemon-pepper coating with a burst of citrus and spice.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs chicken wings, separated into flats and drumettes

→ Marinade & Seasoning

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp salt
04 - 1 tsp cracked black pepper
05 - 1 tsp garlic powder

→ Lemon Pepper Coating

06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
07 - Zest of 2 lemons
08 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
10 - 1 tsp coarse sea salt
11 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place a wire rack on top.
02 - Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Toss wings in a large bowl with olive oil, salt, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange wings in a single layer on the wire rack. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
04 - While wings bake, combine melted butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, cracked black pepper, and coarse sea salt in a large bowl.
05 - Remove wings from oven and immediately toss them in the lemon-pepper butter mixture until thoroughly coated.
06 - Transfer wings to a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy skin and that tangy, buttery coating makes them impossible to stop eating.
  • Gluten-free, naturally, so nobody has to feel left out or worried about what's in them.
  • They're ready in under an hour, which means you can go from "what should I make" to "come grab these" without stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the wings or they'll steam instead of getting crispy; I learned this the hard way the first time I made them.
  • The wire rack is non-negotiable—it's what transforms these from steamed to genuinely crispy.
  • Toss the wings in the lemon-pepper butter the moment they come out of the oven while they're still hot, or the coating won't stick the same way.
03 -
  • Air-fry these at 400°F for 22–25 minutes if you want to skip the oven; the results are nearly identical with less cleanup.
  • If you have time, let the wings air-dry uncovered in the fridge for an hour before baking—it gives you even crisper skin and makes them almost impossible to mess up.
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