Do you love deep-fried chicken wings but want a healthier way to enjoy them? These lemon pepper wings air fryer are the answer to your problems!
Lemon pepper wings air fryer are incredibly succulent and gently seasoned with a hint of lemon, garlic, and onion for an extra unique flavor. Like the deep-fried version, these wings have gorgeously crispy skin, also infused with delicious seasoning.
The great thing about air fryer lemon pepper wings is that air frying cooks the meat quickly and evenly, retaining the natural juices and cooking them to perfection much quicker than in the oven. Plus, you’ll only use a light spritz of olive oil, lowering the fat content.
Air-fried lemon pepper wings are so simple to prepare and guaranteed to impress! You’ll want to go back for seconds and thirds.
Ingredients You'll need
**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**
Chicken wings - make sure you buy wings with plenty of skin; that’s the best part, after all! When purchasing chicken, check for freshness by gently pressing down on the packet and observing how long it takes the meat to spring back - fresh chicken should always be springy.
Lemon pepper seasoning - this is the base for the dry rub for wings in air fryer. It’s available in most grocery stores, or you can make it yourself by combining lemon zest and ground black pepper. If you want a spicy wing, try using paprika and cayenne pepper.
Garlic powder - garlic is a staple for most seasonings, and the powdered form is excellent for a rub because it’s already ground up so small. But, of course, you could also use fresh minced garlic.
Onion powder - onion powder is a store cupboard staple! You can find it in most grocery stores, and it’s worth buying because it’s so versatile! For example, you could use grated onion as a substitute.
Lemon zest - you can buy lemon zest or make it yourself from fresh lemon - see the recipe tips below to find out how. Always make sure you buy the freshest lemons you can find!
Lemon juice - again, you can buy this ready bottled or squeeze fresh lemons to get the juice.
Olive oil - this is my go-to for air frying because of its high smoke point and delicate flavor. Another good oil for air frying is avocado oil.
Tools used to make the recipe
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How to make lemon pepper wings in air fryer?
Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Add the wings, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic and onion powder, lemon zest, and juice to a large bowl, and toss to coat.
Place the lemon pepper chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spritz with olive oil,, and cook at 370ºF for 15 to 18 minutes, turning halfway through. Repeat with the remaining wings.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Recipe tips
- To zest a lemon, simply take a fresh lemon and run it back and forth over a box grater (use the side with the smallest holes). Keep going until you have grated off all of the yellow parts.
- To juice a lemon, begin by putting it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds - this will soften the lemon and make it easier to juice. Then, cut it in half and squeeze it into a glass - it’s a good idea to use a tea strainer to catch the pips. You can insert a spoon into the lemon half to crush the flesh and ensure you get all the juice out.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months in an airtight container.
How long to air fry lemon pepper wings
Air fry lemon pepper wings for roughly 15-18 minutes at 370°F. The exact time will depend on your air fryer model and the size of the wings, so use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
What is a good side dish for chicken wings
- Air fryer whole sweet potato
- Buffalo cauliflower air fryer (no flour)
- Healthy air fryer eggplant parmesan
- Beet and feta cheese salad with citric dressing
How to store air-fried lemon pepper chicken wings
Store lemon pepper chicken wings in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 2 to 6 months. To store, seal the wings in an airtight container and move them to the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking (this helps prevent bacterial growth).
If you are freezing a lot of wings, it’s a good idea to lay them out on a baking sheet to freeze them separately before moving them into a container or ziptop bag - otherwise, they can clump together.
Best ways to reheat chicken wings
The best way to reheat lemon pepper chicken wings in the air fryer is to preheat it to 350°F, spritz the wings with a small amount of oil, and then heat for 2-3 minutes. Ensure the wings aren’t touching so the hot air can circulate properly.
Use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature before serving, and increase the cooking time to 15-20 minutes if you are heating wings from frozen.
To reheat your wings in the oven, preheat it to 350°F and lay your wings out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Heat for 15-20 minutes, and again use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature before serving. You will need to defrost frozen wings before reheating them in the oven.
FAQ’S
You can keep raw chicken wings in the freezer indefinitely, although they will start to degrade in taste and texture after a while. To maintain quality, use raw frozen chicken within nine months of freezing.
Cooked chicken wings can be kept safely in the freezer for 2-6 months before they start to lose quality.
The minimum internal temperature for chicken wings is 165°F. To check the temperature of cooked wings, insert a meat thermometer into the meatiest part of the wing, and avoid touching the bone (this can skew the reading).
More Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipes You’d love
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Best Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
The great thing about air fryer lemon pepper wings is that air frying cooks the meat quickly and evenly, retaining the natural juices and cooking them to perfection much quicker than in the oven. Plus, you’ll only use a light spritz of olive oil, lowering the fat content.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Oil sprayer bottle with olive oil
Tools
Instructions
- Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels; add the wings, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic and onion powder, lemon zest, and juice to a large bowl, and toss to coat.
- Place the lemon pepper chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spritz with olive oil, and cook at 370ºF for 15 to 18 minutes, turning halfway through. Repeat with the remaining wings.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 541Total Fat: 41gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 544mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 26g
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated, only the sodium in the other ingredients is calculated.