Crispy Oven Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Follow these steps to make perfectly crispy 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, separated into flats and drumettes
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (aluminum-free preferred)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons prepared lemon pepper seasoning blend
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire cooling 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, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Add the dried chicken wings to the bowl and toss until every piece is evenly coated with the dry mixture.
- Arrange the coated wings in a single layer on the wire rack, ensuring there is space between each piece for air circulation.
- 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 (74 degrees Celsius) and the skin is golden brown and crisp.
- While the wings finish baking, prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon pepper seasoning blend.
- Remove the wings from the oven. Place them in a clean, large bowl. Pour the butter sauce over the hot wings and toss gently to coat thoroughly.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Using a wire rack allows hot air to circulate underneath the wings, which helps the bottom side crisp up as well.
- Do not skip drying the wings; excess moisture prevents crisping.
- If you prefer a stronger lemon pepper flavor, add 1 tablespoon of the seasoning blend directly to the melted butter sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 wings
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 0.1
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Fiber: 0.2
- Protein: 34
- Cholesterol: 110