Crispy Oven Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Follow this recipe to make perfectly crispy, zesty lemon pepper chicken wings using only your oven, avoiding deep frying.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 50 min
- Total Time: 65 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (aluminum-free)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons prepared lemon pepper seasoning blend
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). Line a large baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of the foil.
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry using paper towels. This step is crucial for crispiness.
- In a large bowl, combine the baking powder, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Add the dried chicken wings to the bowl and toss thoroughly until every piece is evenly coated with the dry mixture.
- Arrange the coated wings in a single layer on the wire rack, ensuring they do not touch each other.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Flip the wings over. Return them to the oven and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the skin is deeply golden and crisp.
- While the wings finish baking, prepare the sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon pepper seasoning blend.
- Remove the crispy wings from the oven and immediately transfer them to a clean large bowl.
- Pour the melted butter sauce over the hot wings and toss gently until they are fully coated.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Using a wire rack allows air to circulate completely around the wings, which helps the bottom side crisp up as well.
- Do not skip the baking powder; it raises the pH level of the skin, helping it brown and crisp faster.
- If you prefer a thicker coating of sauce, reduce the amount of butter slightly or add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the melted butter mixture before heating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 wings
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 110