There’s nothing like the citrusy and peppery flavor of Baked Lemon Pepper Wings. Whether you’re hosting a casual group for dinner or are serving Chicken Wings for game day, these easy-baked wings are sure to please. Juicy and crispy with a fraction of the fat of fried versions!
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Obsessed with chicken wings? You’ve got to try our crispy buffalo wings recipe and our air fryer chicken wings (a great recipe for when you’re low on time).
Baked Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe
Lemon pepper wings are often outshined by classic chicken wings or buffalo wings, but they are truly just as good. Instead of reinventing the wheel and making your own lemon pepper seasoning, simply grab a shaker of the premade stuff to make prep a no-brainer. Then, you’ll let the oven work its magic and make a perfect crispy wing.
Ingredients for Lemon Pepper Wings
- Chicken Wings – For the most even-cooking, opt for chicken wings that have been broken down into drumettes (the ones that look like mini chicken legs) and wingettes (the oblong wing pieces). You can use full chicken wings, but they’ll take a bit longer to cook and you’ll need to trim off the wing tip.
- Avocado Oil or Olive Oil – Either high-quality avocado oil or olive oil are neutral enough and great for high-heat cooking. Avoid using canola or vegetable oil, as they don’t have the best flavor for baking and are more common for deep-frying.
- Unsalted Butter – Opt for unsalted butter since you’ll be using a salty, lemon pepper seasoning. Feel free to adjust the salt levels to taste as you wish though!
- Lemon-Pepper Seasoning – Our favorites are Lawry’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning or McCormick Lemon Pepper Seasoning if you need a solid recommendation.
Pro Tip: There’s no need to season the wings before you toss them in the oven. The lemon pepper coating at the end is flavorful enough on its own!
How to Make Lemon Pepper Wings
- Prepare the Chicken Wings – Preheat the oven to 425°F. Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel, place them into a large bowl, and drizzle them with oil.
- Assemble the Chicken Wings – Place on a baking sheet with a bit of space in between each one. Don’t overcrowd the chicken wings, or else they won’t have enough space to get crispy!
- Bake the Chicken Wings – bake for 40 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Make the Lemon Pepper Butter Sauce – Melt the butter in a medium size bowl and stir in lemon pepper seasoning. Pour the sauce over the wings and toss until well-coated then serve.
Pro Tip: If you like the extra smokey flavor, feel free to grill the wings instead! To do so, preheat the grill to 425°F and place the chicken wings onto the grill grates. Cook the wings on each side for about 7-10 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Common Questions
Lemon pepper wings are somewhere in between a dry and wet wing. The lemon pepper butter sauce gets a bit liquidy from the melted butter, but once they are coated and seasoned, the wings are more on the dry seasoning side.
Yes! Place the wings in the air frying basket, spacing them evenly. Air fry at 400˚F for 8 minutes per side, or a total of 16 minutes, or until chicken wings are crisp and golden brown on the outside. Check out our Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe.
Yes, baked lemon pepper wings are healthier than fried wings because they use a fraction of the oil and always come nice and crispy.
Some people use baking powder on their baked chicken wings as a secret ingredient to make them even more crispy. Baking powder dries the skin out a bit and brings them closer to the crispiness of deep-fried wings.
Ways to Serve
Whether you want to eat a healthy low-carb meal or are in the mood for something more decadent and comforting, try these tasty sides with your ultra-crispy chicken wings:
- Potato Dishes – Pair the wings with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potato Wedges, or Roasted Potatoes if you want some classic comfort food.
- Salads – If you want to keep things light, serve the wings alongside a Caesar Salad or a Classic Wedge Salad.
- Appetizer with Dips – If you want to whip up a crowd-pleasing appetizer for game day or a potluck, pair them with Jalapeño Ranch or some blue cheese dressing.
Make-Ahead
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, you’ll love that these chicken wings store well and reheat nicely.
- Refrigerate: To keep your lemon pepper chicken wings fresh for up to a week, store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
- To Reheat: Pop them back in the oven on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the basket of an air fryer if you have one.
Pro Tip: Avoid microwaving the wings, as they will lose their crispy texture.
More Tasty Baked Chicken Recipes
- Oven-Baked Chicken Breast
- Chicken Legs in the Oven
- Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe
- Juicy Roast Chicken
- Baked Chicken Wings
Baked Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lb chicken wings, separated into wingettes and drumettes
- 3 tbsp extra light olive oil, or avocado oil
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp lemon-pepper seasoning, *
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the chicken wings into a large bowl and drizzle them with oil.
- Place wings on a baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Bake the chicken wings for 40 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Melt the butter in a medium size bowl and stir in lemon pepper seasoning. Add the wings to the butter mixture and toss until the wings are evenly coated in the seasoning. Serve while the wings are still warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Natalya Drozhzhin
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Will the wings lose their crispiness if i put them in a crock pot to keep them warm after cooking?
Thanks
Hi Kimberly. I’ve never tested it but likely they can, because of moisture.
Hi Natasha I have tried your lemon pepper chicken wings so many times it’s really yummy can I make this same recipe with the chicken legs.
Hi there, glad you liked it! I think that will be fine too.
This recipe was easy and tasty BUT my wings got all stuck to foil. I suggest an edit to the recipe: turn the wings at 20 minutes for even browning. That also helps with the sticking. Big thumbs up from the family. I’ll make this again!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Dora! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Oh my goodness! These are unbelievably simple to do! They were delicious! Totally keeping this recipe
Thank you for your great feedback, Andrea!
Why are there two different baking temps. Is it 400 or 425 F to bake the wings
Hi Shanell, 425˚F is correct. Sorry about that typo in the post above. I hope you love the lemon pepper wings recipe!
Why does it mention separating into wingettes and drumettes? It is not addressed later in the recipe. Do they have separate cooking times? Or, are they supposed to be separated on the baking sheet for some reason?
Hi Kerrie, yes- I put in the notes: For the most even cooking, opt for chicken wings that have been broken down into drumettes (the ones that look like mini chicken legs) and wingettes (the oblong wing pieces). You can use full chicken wings, but they’ll take a bit longer to cook and you’ll need to trim off the wing tip.
This is a whole lotta “Yum’s”!!!! Only served this with a salad as it was the star of our meal! Thanks Natasha for posting a real winner!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Connie! I’m so glad it was a hit!
This chicken wing recipe is a big hit! I think I need to double the recipe next time.
I’m so happy to hear that and thank you for sharing!
So glad you posted this as I was looking for football appetizers. These were the best lemon pepper wings that we ever had! My boys agree!
That’s wonderful, Diana! I’m so glad your family enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
Hi Natasha,
You mentioned that some people add baking powder to make them extra crispy. Would that work for these wings? If so, how much do you recommend I use?
Thank you.
Yes, it should work. I suggest trying it out first by using just the right amount and then just add if you think you need more.
YUM! These are so good! I’ll definitely be making them a lot during football season.
Glad you enjoyed this recipe, Erin!
The lemon pepper coating makes these! Love how crispy they are! Perfect game day food!
Thank you, Jamie! So glad you enjoyed this recipe.