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These Honey Lemon Pepper Wings are not only sticky, sweet, peppery, and citrusy, but also completely addicting! They’re a must-have at parties and on game day.
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A chicken wing bursting with citrus, sweetness, and a peppery punch
Have you been lucky enough to indulge in baked Honey Lemon Pepper Wings yet? If not, you’re in for a treat!
These aren’t your average chicken wings. While Salt and Vinegar Wings and Smoky Dry Rub Wings are delicious and classics for a reason, these lemon pepper wings offer a unique, punchy, and bright flavor profile. Plus, using my method for crispy baked chicken wings, the wings always turn out super crunchy and golden brown!
These baked wings are extra special thanks to the lemon pepper seasonings and honey lemon pepper sauce on top. The zest, spice, and sweetness takes every bite to an entirely different level!
What are honey lemon pepper wings made of?
The chicken wings are coated before being cooked in the oven and covered in sauce. Try not to replace any of these ingredients to achieve the crispiest texture and best flavors:
Chicken wings
Separate the flats and drumettes if the chicken wings are connected. Dry them really well with paper towels so the coating and seasonings stick really well to the skin.
Aluminum-free baking powder
This is the secret to crispy baked chicken wings! Aluminum-free baking powder (along with cornstarch and salt) coats the chicken skin and helps it bubble and blister in the oven without affecting the overall flavor.
DO NOT replace the baking powder with baking soda. While it can crisp up your wings, baking soda will give the chicken a strong, unappetizing metallic flavor.
Cornstarch
The chicken wing coating is made with a simple mix of cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. This coating helps dry out the wings and crips up and bubbles when baked, giving you crispy chicken skin. The longer you let the wings sit in the coating, the better!
Lemon pepper seasoning
Lemon pepper seasoning is made from granulated lemon zest, salt, black pepper, sugar, garlic, and a handful of other ingredients. It's stirred into the chicken wing coating to infuse peppery and tangy flavors in every bite.
Lawry’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning is my favorite storebought brand but you can substitute it for a salt-free alternative, make your own blend, or use fresh lemon zest and cracked black pepper instead.
Do you have leftover seasoning that you aren't sure how to use? It's delicious with roasted vegetables, chicken, and seafood!
Salt
To help flavor the wings.
Honey lemon pepper sauce
The easy honey lemon pepper sauce is made from a simple mix of honey, fresh lemon juice, and black pepper. The wings maintain their delicious crispy skin and crunchy bites even when doused in the sauce.
Try warming up the honey right before mixing the sauce together and coating the wings. The warm honey complements the chicken beautifully while the sweetness helps balance the tart, zippy wings.
How to make baked honey lemon pepper wings
The sweet and tangy wings are ready to eat after a few simple steps:
Step 1: Thoroughly dry the chicken wings with paper towels.
Step 2: Mix the baking powder, cornstarch, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt together in a small bowl.
Step 3: Toss the wings in the lemon pepper mixture.
Step 4: Place the wings on a wire rack and leave them to chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours
Step 5: Bake the wings until they're crisp and golden brown.
Step 6: Drizzle the baked wings with the warm honey mixture, then enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
Maple syrup should work in place of honey, although I haven’t tested it. The wings will still taste sweet but the overall flavor will differ from the original recipe.
If you’re hungry for wings right now you can bake them without letting them chill for a long time, but they won’t turn out as crispy. The longer they sit in the coating, the more time they have to dry out. This lengthy process always gives you the best results.
If you won’t have much time to cook on the day you’re serving the wings, you can prepare them ahead of time. Coat the wings in the baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and lemon pepper seasoning and leave them to rest in the fridge for up to 12 hours ahead of baking.
Chicken wings always need a dipping sauce on the side! These wings would be delicious dipped in an extra batch of the honey lemon pepper sauce, ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing.
Having a party? Serve these wings with more fun snacks like vegetarian nachos and pigs in a blanket. They’d also be delicious next to mac and cheese and salad if you’re serving a batch for dinner.
Leftover chicken wings can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
Reheating them in an air fryer will retain their crispiness or you can place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet and reheat them in the oven instead.
🎉 It's time to cook! 🎉
Alright, friend! It's your turn to make this delish recipe for your next get-together.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When you do, please leave a comment and star rating below so we can hear what you think! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings separated into drumettes and flats
- 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top of each. Spray the racks with nonstick spray.
- Place wings in a large bowl and thoroughly dry with paper towels.
- Mix baking powder, cornstarch, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt together in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle the lemon pepper mixture evenly over the wings and toss to coat.
- Evenly place on the racks and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 12.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Bake the wings for 30 minutes. Flip the wings, and continue to bake until they are crisp and golden brown about 15 minutes.
- While the wings are almost done baking, thoroughly mix the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl. If you like, warm the honey mixture slightly.
- Plate the wings and drizzle with the honey lemon pepper mixture and serve immediately.
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