These Hot Lemon Pepper Wings are spicy and made with a homemade sauce, fresh lemon juice and zest, and butter. If you love the Wingstop wings, you will love this recipe. Theirs don’t compare.
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What Type of Wings to Use
I love to use party wings that are already split as opposed to whole chicken wings. Party wings will cook at a more even and consistent temperature. Feel free to use whole chicken wings if you like.
What Type of Hot Sauce to Use
Always use your favorite sauce. The hot sauce is one of the star ingredients so be sure to use something you actually like. I prefer Louisiana Hot Sauce.
How to Get Lemon Flavor
You will need to use a quality lemon pepper seasoning to actually add flavor to the meat. I also love the Lemon Garlic Seasoning from Trader Joe’s.
You will first bake or air fry the wings to get them crisp. From there you will drizzle them in a hot lemon pepper sauce made with fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, hot sauce, and butter.
How to Zest a Lemon
I use this lemon zester from Amazon. You can also use a box/cheese grater. If using the zester hold it one hand and the lemon in the other. Graze the lemon over it, away from you and back and forth. You can read more about How to Zest a Lemon here.
How to Make Hot Lemon Pepper Wings
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pat the chicken dry.
- Add lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Bake or air fry.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is incorporated.
- Drizzle the chicken in the sauce.
Bake or Air Fry the Wings
The instructions below in the recipe card include full details for both cooking methods.
How to Make Breaded Wings
You can use 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder or 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (enough to fully coat the chicken).
How to Reheat the Wings
The best way to reheat wings is on the grill or in the air fryer or oven. I wouldn’t microwave them. You can use the same cook temperature and reheat the wings until warm.
Freezer Tips
Leftover wings can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and follow the instructions above to reheat.
Can You Use Other Types of Chicken?
Absolutely! Chicken tenders, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs will work. Click the links to check out my other recipes for cook time.
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Lemon Pepper Fish
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Hot Lemon Pepper Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings I use party wings/drummettes.
- 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt to taste
Hot Lemon Pepper Glaze
- 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
Oven and Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings.
- Bake the wings for 20 minutes and then open and flip the wings.
- Bake for an additional 15-25 minutes. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the hot lemon butter sauce. Ensure all of the chicken is coated.
- Optional (If you like the wings to soak in the sauce): Place the sauced chicken wings back onto the sheet pan and bake for an additional 5 minutes (same temperature).
Air Fryer Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and place it on a large bowl or plastic bag.
- Add the lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and salt to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and hot sauce.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture is incorporated.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and drizzle it with the hot lemon butter sauce. Ensure all of the chicken is coated.
- Optional (If you like the wings to soak in the sauce): Place the sauced chicken wings back in the air fryer and air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes at 350 degrees.
Notes
- As a rule of thumb, when applying spices to wings. you should apply enough to fully coat the chicken or meat. You don’t want to see any empty spots. Add more spices if necessary.
- You can substitute regular paprika if you wish, but the smoked paprika definitely takes these to the next level.
- You can use actual wings (instead of drums and flats) if you wish, you may need to adjust the number of ingredients needed to fully coat your wings.
- Any oil can be substituted for butter, or you can omit oil if you wish. Butter adds additional flavor and makes the sauce silky smooth. Without butter or oil you may struggle to smooth out the sauce with the lemon zest.
- You can make breaded wings using 1-2 tablespoons of baking powder or 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (enough to fully coat the chicken).
Kerry
Friday 9th of August 2024
Hi. Would Worcestershire sauce be considered a hot sauce for this recipe? Or a sweet chilli or saracha be a better option. (In Australia)
staysnatched
Friday 9th of August 2024
No, Worcestershire sauce isn't spicy. Sweet chili and Sriracha would work.
Cassie A.
Tuesday 11th of October 2022
Loved this wing recipe. I found 2 lemon pepper seasonings at my local store since there’s no TJS near me. One had MSG the other was Mrs dash so I went with that. Wings turned out great!
staysnatched
Tuesday 11th of October 2022
I'm glad they turned out great!
Cassandra P
Monday 11th of July 2022
My favorite wings are Cowboys Hot which is basically Buffalo hot with lemon pepper seasonings. After tasting this recipe, I decided why do I need to spend the money there when I can make this awesome recipe at home! These are some of the best wings I have made and it does not disappoint. They had a nice kick to them and I can’t stop raving about these!
staysnatched
Monday 11th of July 2022
I'm so glad to hear that!
Felicia
Sunday 10th of July 2022
These looked so good I had to try them. To be fair I’ve never had hot lemon pepper wings from Wing Stop, but I doubt they’d taste this good! These wings are hot!! I adjusted the cayenne to have a little less heat, and I adjusted the lemon pepper seasoning as well because I knew how potent my lemon pepper seasoning from The Spice Suite was. The recipe was easy to follow, and I put the wings back in the air fryer after saucing them to give them that extra kick. I would’ve posted a picture but they were all gone before I had the chance. The layering of flavors was everything! The lemon juice and zest really gave these that lemony flavor, I like a bold amount of lemon flavor so I used the full amount of zest. Make these wings, you won’t regret it!
staysnatched
Sunday 10th of July 2022
Thanks for sharing all of this!
shauna
Saturday 9th of July 2022
Saw these posted and went right to make them for lunch lol. Hot honey and lemon pepper are my two fav wing flavors so this one is the best of both IMO. I put them back in after coating, don’t skip it
staysnatched
Saturday 9th of July 2022
Adding honey sounds bomb!