These air fried lemon pepper wings are crisp on the outside, juicy inside, and seasoned with bright citrus and peppery flavor. They make a quick chicken dinner, appetizer, or game day snack.

Using the air fryer keeps cooking simple while giving the chicken wings a crisp finish without deep frying. Serve them for an easy weeknight meal, party appetizer, or casual snack with your favorite dip.

Lemon pepper chicken wings on a blue plate with lemon half in back.

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I like how the air fryer gives me crisp wings without dealing with a pot of hot oil. The cooking method works best for this downsized lemon pepper chicken wings recipe. Air frying the wings until the skin is really crisp before adding the buttery sauce helps them hold onto the crispy texture without becoming too soft.

These wings are bright and peppery, but I can easily change up the flavor depending on what I'm in the mood for. My mango habanero wings are a good choice when I want sweet heat, while dry rub Cajun wings bring plenty of savory spice without a sauce. With only eight wings in the recipe, it's perfect for solo dinners or snacking.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make the recipe:

chicken wings
butter
fresh lemon juice
lemon pepper seasoning
minced garlic
fresh chopped parsley
salt and pepper

Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.

Instructions

Adding pink salt and ground black pepper to wings in bowl.

Season the wings with salt and pepper to taste.

Place them into a well-greased pan or rack.

Air fry for 15 minutes, and then flip and continue to cook until crispy and fully cooked.

Adding minced garlic to melted butter in bowl.

Melt the butter in a large bowl. Add minced garlic.

Adding lemon pepper seasoning to melted butter in bowl.

Add the lemon pepper seasoning.

Adding squeeze of lemon juice melted butter in bowl.

Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice.

A plate of seasoned lemon pepper chicken wings garnished with chopped herbs, next to a lemon half and a small bowl of green herbs.

Place the air-fried or baked wings into the lemon pepper sauce and toss to coat well. Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Hint: Make the lemon pepper butter sauce in a large bowl so you'll have enough room to add the wings and toss.

Variations

Add a hint of honey. The sweetness of the honey complements the tanginess of the lemon. Simply squeeze a little honey in with the lemon juice.
Add some heat with chili flakes or hot sauce. The spicy and tangy flavors create a flavor kick to take it up a notch.
Bake in oven. If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet instead of simply placing them directly on the pan or tray. Baked chicken wings just take a little longer to cook.

You can even air fry chicken wings from frozen.

Tips

Top tip: Before seasoning or coating the chicken wings, make sure to pat them dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the wings cook more evenly and produces crispier skin.

Leave space around the wings. Avoid crowding them so hot air can circulate around each piece. If necessary, cook them in batches.
Check your lemon pepper seasoning. Some blends contain quite a bit of salt, so check the label before adding much additional salt to the chicken.
Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled juice can have a different flavor, while fresh lemon complements the lemon pepper seasoning particularly well.
Add lemon zest for stronger citrus flavor. A little fresh zest can boost the lemon flavor without adding more liquid to the sauce.
Let the butter cool slightly before tossing. It should still be liquid, but allowing very hot butter to cool briefly can help preserve more of the wings' crisp texture.
Serve them soon after saucing. The wings will have their best balance of crisp skin and buttery coating when served shortly after they're tossed with the sauce.

Storage

Once cooled, place the air-fried or baked lemon pepper wings in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible from the container or bag before sealing it. Store the wings in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

When you're ready to enjoy them again, simply reheat the wings in an oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through. This will help crisp up the skin and warm them up without drying out the meat.

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Recipe

A hand holding a seasoned, cooked lemon pepper chicken wing garnished with chopped parsley, with more lemon pepper chicken wings blurred in the background.

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Lemon Pepper Wings in Air Fryer

4.93 from 14 votes

These air fryer lemon pepper wings are crispy, juicy, and coated in a buttery lemon, garlic, and pepper sauce. They make a flavorful small-batch appetizer, snack, or meal.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free

Servings (Adjustable): 2

Calories: 532kcal

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Ingredients

▢ 8 Chicken wings
▢ 2 tablespoons Butter
▢ 1 squeeze fresh lemon juice about 1 teaspoon
▢ 1 teaspoon Lemon pepper seasoning
▢ 1 teaspoon Minced garlic
▢ 2 tablespoons Fresh chopped parsley
▢ Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (or oven to 425°F.)
Season the wings with salt and pepper to taste, and place into a well greased pan or rack.
Cook for 15 minutes (or 20 minutes oven), and then flip and continue to cook for another 15 minutes (or 20 minutes oven) or until cooked through and crispy.
Melt the butter in a small bowl.
Add in the lemon, lemon pepper seasoning and minced garlic.
Place the wings into a large mixing bowl, and pour the sauce over them. Toss to coat well.
Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

Before seasoning or coating the chicken wings, pat them dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the wings cook more evenly and produces crispier skin.

Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Overcrowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking and less crispy results.

Use a light cooking spray to help crisp the skin and prevent sticking.

A meat thermometer can be used to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken wing. The safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C).

Nutrition

Equipment

air fryer

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Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings in Air Fryer (or Oven)

Ingredients

Instructions

Variations

Tips

Storage

Recipe