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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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/hot-lemon-pepper-wings-recipe/