Hot Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe

Introduction

Hot Lemon Pepper Wings offer a zesty twist on a classic favorite, combining spicy heat with bright citrus flavor. These wings are crispy, tangy, and perfect for game day or a flavorful snack any time.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken wings (party wings or drummettes)
• 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons lemon zest (use 2 teaspoons for bold lemon flavor)
• 1/2 cup hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) or prepare your air fryer for 400°F (200°C).
2. Step 2: Pat the chicken wings dry and place them in a large bowl or plastic bag. Add lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt, then toss to fully coat the wings.
3. Step 3 (Oven): Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the wings out. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip and continue baking for 15-25 minutes until cooked through and crispy. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
4. Step 4 (Air Fryer): Place seasoned wings in the air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes, flip, and air fry for an additional 5-10 minutes until fully cooked and crispy.
5. Step 5: While the wings cook, heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring until the sauce is combined and warm.
6. Step 6: Remove the cooked wings from the oven or air fryer. Drizzle the hot lemon butter sauce over them, making sure all wings are coated.
7. Step 7 (Optional): For wings that soak in more sauce, return the sauced wings to the oven for 5 minutes at 375°F or to the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 350°F before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use fresh lemon zest for the brightest flavor; dried zest won’t be as vibrant.
• Adjust the cayenne pepper to control heat level, adding more for extra spice or less for milder wings.
• For extra crispiness in the oven, place wings on a wire rack set over the baking sheet to allow air circulation.
• Swap hot sauce for your favorite wing sauce to customize the flavor.
• Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing for a classic combo.

Storage

Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes to keep them crispy. Avoid microwaving, as it can make wings soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen wings for this recipe?

Yes, just be sure to fully thaw and pat them dry before seasoning to ensure they bake or air fry evenly and get crispy.

How do I know when the wings are fully cooked?

The safest way is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Wings are done when they reach 165°F (74°C). Additionally, the skin should be crispy and the juices clear.

Hot Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 59 reviews

Hot Lemon Pepper Wings are a zesty, spicy chicken wing recipe featuring a crispy baked or air-fried exterior coated with a tangy lemon butter hot sauce. Perfect as a delicious appetizer or game day snack, these wings combine lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and a rich buttery hot sauce for bold layers of flavor.

• Author: Rico
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes (baking) or 30 minutes (air frying)
• Total Time: 50 minutes (baking) or 40 minutes (air frying)
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken Wings

• 2 pounds chicken wings (party wings/drummettes)
• 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt to taste

Hot Lemon Butter Sauce

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 – 2 teaspoons lemon zest (use 2 teaspoons for bold lemon flavor)
• 1/2 cup hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) if using the baking method.
2. Prepare the wings: Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl or plastic bag.
3. Season wings: Add lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt to the wings. Toss or shake to coat the wings evenly with the spices.
4. Arrange on baking sheet: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spread the seasoned wings out in a single layer.
5. Bake wings – first side: Bake the wings for 20 minutes, then open the oven and carefully flip each wing to ensure even cooking.
6. Bake wings – second side: Return the wings to the oven and bake an additional 15-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness.
7. Make lemon butter sauce: Meanwhile, heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce, stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes until fully combined and slightly thickened.
8. Coat wings in sauce: Remove the baked wings from the oven and transfer them to a large bowl. Drizzle the hot lemon butter sauce over the wings and toss to coat them evenly.
9. Optional extra baking: To let the wings soak up the sauce, place the coated wings back on the sheet pan and bake for another 5 minutes at 375°F.
10. Air fryer method – prepare wings: Pat the wings dry, place in a bowl or plastic bag, and season with lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt. Toss to coat.
11. Air fry wings – first side: Place wings in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F (204°C) for 15 minutes.
12. Flip wings in air fryer: Open the air fryer, flip the wings, and continue cooking for 5-10 more minutes, checking that internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
13. Reheat and make sauce: While wings cook, heat butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce in a saucepan over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until combined.
14. Coat air fried wings: Remove wings from air fryer and toss with the hot lemon butter sauce.
15. Optional extra air frying: For more sauce absorption, place coated wings back in air fryer at 350°F (177°C) for 3-4 minutes.
16. Serve: Serve the hot lemon pepper wings immediately while warm and flavorful.

Notes

• Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken wings reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Adjust cayenne pepper amount to control the spiciness level to your preference.
• For a bolder lemon flavor, use 2 teaspoons of lemon zest instead of 1 1/2 teaspoons.
• You can opt to bake or air fry the wings depending on your equipment and preference.
• The optional additional baking or air frying step helps the wings soak up more sauce and intensify flavor.
• Patting wings dry is essential to achieving crispy skin.

Keywords: chicken wings, lemon pepper wings, spicy wings, hot wings, baked wings, air fryer wings, lemon butter sauce, game day food, appetizer