Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings

Air fryer lemon pepper wings are crispy, juicy, and delicious! Made in the air fryer in 20 minutes these crispy chicken wings are covered in lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper for a kick of heat. This easy game-day appetizer or snack is simply the best!

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Who doesn’t love a good crispy chicken wing? They are so good as a party appetizer, quick snack, or meal served with your favorite sauces and side dishes. My family and I love to make air fryer buffalo wings but I think these air fryer lemon pepper chicken wings might take the #1 spot!

They are made with a homemade lemon pepper dry rub that is both lemony with a slight kick of heat. These wings also (most importantly!) have crispy skin – thanks the air fryer and because we added baking powder to mix! 

I love that I can make a batch of wings in under 20 minutes and when served with fresh lemon wedges they are finger-lickin’ good!

If it’s football season or you are looking for the perfect appetizer for game day parties, the Super Bowl,  the upcoming holiday season, or whenever you are craving chicken wings(always!) – these crispy lemon pepper wings are the way to go! 

Why use baking powder?

Baking powder seems like a weird ingredient to add to chicken wings but it helps to dry out the chicken skin and give your wings an even crispier exterior. 

If you don’t want to use baking powder on your wings or you ran out, it’s totally fine to leave it out as well. But I always like to add it to make sure my wings come out as crispy as possible. 

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken wings – Use 2lb of split wings. We like to use a mix of both flats and drumettes, so everyone can get what they like. You could also use whole wings or just one part of the wing if you like. If you are using the whole wing, keep an eye on the wing tips so that they don’t burn in the air fryer. 

Lemon pepper seasoning – to give these wings their classic lemon pepper flavor. This is a blend of dried lemon peel, black pepper, sea salt, cane sugar, garlic, onion, and dried thyme.

Salt and ground black pepper – for seasoning and to increase the spicy peppery flavor of these crispy wings. I love to use freshly ground black pepper for a better flavor. 

Baking powder – this is used to dry the skin out a bit more and give even crispier skin. 

Garlic powder – Extra savory flavor. 

Cayenne pepper – For a touch of heat. Feel free to use more if you want hot lemon pepper wings.

Ground paprika (optional) – it gives these air fryer wings a little bit more color and a nice flavor. 

Olive oil or avocado oil – coats the wings so they get extra crispy in the air fryer. 

Lemon wedges – We love to serve these lemon pepper wings with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to give them an even brighter and very delicious flavor. You could top them with lemon zest too!

How to Make Crispy Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step one. Start by preheating your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees on the AIR FRY setting.

Step two. Next, rinse and pat your wings dry with a paper towel, then place them inside a large bowl or plastic gallon bag with all your seasonings and vegetable oil. Close the bag and mix until the wings are completely coated.

Step three. Using a pair of tongs place wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer with a little bit of space between them. Depending on the size of your air fryer you might need to work in batches.

Step four. Cook the wings for 15 minutes then flip them over, continue cooking for another 5 minutes or until they are crispy, golden brown, and cooked through. 

Step five. Transfer your cooked wings to a serving platter then repeat with any remaining wings.

Step six. Serve lemon pepper wings with lemon wedges and enjoy!

Serving suggestions

• Serve topped with lemon zest and lemon wedges to increase the lemon flavor of these crispy air fryer chicken wings.

• Lemon butter dipping sauce made with fresh lemon juice and melted butter.

• Serve with your favorite sauce or with celery sticks

• Ranch dressing

• Homemade hot honey lemon pepper sauce with lemon juice and zest, melted butter, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and honey. 

Recommended Tools

Air fryer, This is the one that I have.

2 pairs of tongs, one for the raw wings and one for the cooked wings to make cooking easier.

Pro Tips

For best results place your wings in the basket of your air fryer in a single layer. They shouldn’t be stacked or overlapping each other, because then your wings won’t get nearly as crispy. 

If you decide to rinse your wings, make sure to pat them dry with a paper towel before adding the oil and seasonings. Otherwise, they will start to steam in the air fryer instead of getting a crispy exterior.

How To Store/ Make Ahead

Store any leftover wings inside an airtight container for up to 5 days. When you are ready to reheat them place the wings inside your air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes or until they are crispy again and heated through. 

To reheat in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 – 15 minutes. If you have a “QUICK BAKE” setting on your oven, set it to 375 degrees for 8 – 12 minutes. 

Frequently Asked Questions  —

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