These crispy baked lemon pepper wings are irresistibly crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside - all without deep frying! Made with just four ingredients, they're an easy appetizer or dinner that's as good or better as you can get in a restaurant!
🕒 Ready in 1 hour | 🍗 Serves 8 as an appetizer, 4 for dinner | 🔥 Oven or Air Fryer | 🍋 Just 4 Ingredients | 🥑 Keto-Friendly
Why You'll Love these Lemon Pepper Wings
If you love the lemon pepper flavor and crispy oven baked chicken wings, these are the baked lemon pepper wings for you! They're just like fried chicken wings, with all the flavor but without the mess, extra steps and they're healthier way to enjoy chicken wings.
My dad proclaims these these homemade lemon pepper wings to be the "best lemon pepper wings he's ever had". I've lost count as to how many times I've made them! I'm a Packers fan and I love to make this perfect game day appetizer on every football Sunday.
We're going to toot our own horn now because we have some of the best chicken wing recipes around! (Although this one is, hands down, my personal favorite).
Ingredients You'll Need
- Chicken Wings - This recipe calls for 4 pounds of chicken wings, but you can easily scale this up or down to feed any number of people (I've made a pound just for myself many times and served 25 at a barbecue)!
- Cooking Oil - You could technically skip the oil entirely, especially if you're watching your calories. It does help the wings get as crispy as possible, but they're still delicious if you skip it.
- Melted Butter - Don't skip the butter though! It's part of what makes this recipe so delicious and helps the seasoning stick to the wings. Besides, one of the best parts is swirling your chicken into the butter mixture on the bottom of the plate!
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning - I've tried just about every brand of lemon pepper seasoning out there, and I do buy it from time to time since we make these wings often. Still, there's nothing like homemade, so you can learn how to make your own lemon pepper seasoning to keep on hand!
How to Make Lemon Pepper Wings
Oven Instructions
This lemon pepper wings recipe is so simple you won't believe it once you taste them! Just toss your chicken wings with some vegetable or canola oil. Avocado oil is another great one to use because it has a high smoke point.
Bake them in a single layer on a baking sheet and a wire rack for around 45-60 minutes cook time or until they're super crispy. The oil and high heat are the secret to making them as crispy as fried (there's no need to add baking powder or anything extra). Then just brush on an easy lemon pepper wing sauce (a mixture of melted butter and lemon pepper seasoning) and serve 'em up!
Air Fryer Instructions
To make air fryer lemon pepper wings, you'll skip the oven and reduce the oil to 1 tablespoon per pound of wings. Air fry the wings for approximately 15 minutes, turning the wings once during the air frying process. Avocado, canola, or olive oil will all work.
If your air fryer basket is large enough to hold two pounds of chicken wings, increase the baking time by 3-5 minutes.
Once your wings are done, toss them in the lemon-pepper and butter mixture as directed in the recipe. You'll have the best air fryer lemon pepper wings you've ever tried!
What is Lemon Pepper seasoning made of?
Most lemon pepper seasoning has dried lemon zest, pepper, and salt. Store-bought lemon pepper can contain more than that, so be sure to check the label. Some are quite salty while others aren't salty at all, so check first to see if you need to season your chicken beforehand.
I highly suggest making your own at least once - it's very simple and the flavor is incredible!
Are Lemon Pepper Wings Healthy?
Calories in Baked vs. Fried Wings
I've included all the nutritional information below, but for your reference, Baked Lemon Pepper Wings have roughly 776 calories per serving. Compare these baked wings to fried, which has about 1100 calories per serving.
Are These Wings Keto-Friendly?
At the time I created this recipe, I didn't even know what the Keto diet is, let alone that these are, in fact, Keto Lemon Pepper Wings. None of the ingredients used have any carbs, so you can enjoy these all day long and not have to give a second thought to carb counts!
Most lemon pepper seasoning that you buy will be very low in carbs or not have any carbs at all, making it a great choice for keto. You'll want to check the nutrition label to be sure!
Expert Tips for Perfect Wings
- Don't use too much oil - Use just enough oil to coat the wings but don't drench them. They only need a light coating to help them get nice and crispy. Excess oil can also cause your oven to smoke.
- Don't wash your chicken first - Although many people disagree with me, there is a lot of evidence that shows you not only don't need to wash your chicken wings first, but it could cause more harm than good. There are many articles written on the topic, so head to Google if you're interested in learning more.
- Don't pre-season your wings - You don't need to season your wings before baking them. Normally, I would never skip this step, but lemon pepper seasoning typically has plenty of salt. Pre-seasoning your chicken wings could result in them being too salty. If you're using a low-salt lemon pepper seasoning, then go ahead and pre-season them in that case.
- Plate first, then baste - Place the oven-baked wings on your serving platter before basting them with the lemon pepper sauce. That way you won't lose any that happens to drip down.
- Use this cooking method with other seasonings and wing sauces - The method for cooking chicken wings this way can be used with any number of other spice mixtures, so try your favorites! Although this is our go-to method, we do branch out occasionally: if you're a spice lover, try these hot sauce wings. Or go for something exotically spicy like these gochujang wings. These juicy smoked chicken wings with crispy skin are also incredible - just add whatever butter sauce you want at the end! And these sweet and spicy hot honey wings are always a hit!
- Use this baking method with other types of chicken - You can also use this method with chicken thighs or drumsticks. I've made four different flavors at one time using chicken thighs, potatoes, and asparagus all on the same sheet pan for an easy one-pan meal!
- These lemon pepper wings are perfect as-is. - But for a twist, add a little garlic powder or hot sauce to the lemon pepper sauce before basting. And if you really love lemon, you can give them a squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving.
These air fryer or oven-baked lemon pepper chicken wings are on my permanent and frequent go-to recipe list. I know they'll be on yours, too, as soon as you try just one!
Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Wings
This is the most popular recipe on this site and it couldn't be easier! Be sure to watch the video at the top of the post for visual directions if you have questions.
Ingredients
- 4 lb chicken wings
- ¼ cup avocado oil (can also use canola)
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons lemon-pepper seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Toss chicken wings and oil. Place wings on a wire rack set on a baking sheet, taking care not to crowd wings. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove wings from the oven. Mix melted butter and lemon-pepper seasoning and brush liberally onto wings (stir butter mixture as you go to make sure you have plenty of seasoning for each wing).
- Place on a platter and serve immediately.
Notes
Be sure your sheet pan has sides to catch the grease! If you use a flat pan that has no sides, the grease will drip onto the bottom of your oven and cause it to smoke.
Use this homemade lemon pepper seasoning recipe or store bought.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8Amount Per Serving: Calories: 776Total Fat: 68gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 219mgSodium: 280mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 1gProtein: 45g
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D says
Were the wings frozen or thawed when baking them?
Kristy Bernardo says
Thawed 🙂
Regina Abernathy says
At what temperature should oven be for 45 mins ?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Regina, I haven't cooked these higher than 400, but if I only had 45 minutes to bake them, I'd crank the heat to 425F. Watch them closer than you normally would!
Geraldine Natale says
Is it possible to prepare these wings ahead of time, possibly freezing them cooked for a few days? Thank you.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Geraldine! I haven't frozen these wings, but I believe it should be fine to do so. Just make sure they're completely cooled before freezing. I'd reheat at the same temp until they're cooked through and crispy again.
Jen says
Have you used this seasoning on other cuts of chicken, like breast or thighs? Wings are too much work for too little meat...haha!
Monique McArthur says
Hi, Yes. Tastes great on any cut of chicken!
reggie says
i`ve made this recipe twice and it was delicious and i was wondering can you use this same recipe on chicken thighs and are there any different steps
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi reggie, I've used this method for all types of chicken (usually drumsticks and thighs). Just be sure the chicken is fully cooked otherwise the method is the same!
Natasha says
I made chicken wings using your method twice now. My family loved it! The only thing I changed was use melted duck fat instead of oil. Previously my wings always set the fire alarms off until I learned that I was using too much oil/fat and I needed to add the seasoning after baking! Now my house is smoke free. I toss some of the wings in bbq or Buffalo sauce and the rest in the lemon pepper butter. Everyone’s happy. Thank you!
Debbie says
I make these whenever Chicken wings are a request in our house! They’re in the oven right now! They are a huge family favorite and I’ve passed it on to many! The ingredient list shows regular butter…glad I saw your comment that you use “unsalted ” butter. I’ll try it next time. Thank you! We love it!
Evita Brundidge says
Making them right now. So far no smoking of the oven. I do hear the popping others spoke of but I did buy/use an wire rack. The only question I have is, there were no instructions on basting the other side of the chicken, should I flip it over on the wire wack and baste the other side with the sauce or should I shake them up in a bowl like the fast food wing places do?
Bal says
Hi Kristy, great recipe! The skin on the wings seems to stick to the foil (I do place foil on a cookie sheet), and do coat the wings in olive oil. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Bal and thanks! I don't use foil but maybe you could spray the foil in addition to coating the wings with oil? Let me know if you've found a solution or if this works for you. Cheers 🙂
Karin R. says
These are soooooo good! Used lemon pepper seasoning made from the Jamacian shop and they are perfect. I like mine a tad salty so I did add a tiny amount of lemon pepper seasoning and a little garlic powder before baking. YUM!
Carline Smith says
Stop telling people not to wash their chicken. Chicken is produced on equipment that may not have been cleaned for weeks. Chicken meat can fall to the ground and place back into the package. How you cook is total nastiness and unhygienic.
Kristy Bernardo says
I share what I do, provide links to reputable articles, and encourage people to make their own choice. I also respect those choices. Thanks for sharing yours and I hope you have a great day!
Ava says
@Carline Smith,
I completely agree.. all this cross contamination rhetoric is hogwash!!! If you are intelligent enough to wash the slime off the chicken you also know to use bleach to clean the surfaces. It’s just common sense. I’ve washed my chicken for decades and no one has fallen ill or worse.
Robin Wright says
I made these lemon pepper wings and they were absolutely delicious! Addictive! Great for parties!
Kristy Bernardo says
YAY, so glad you loved them! Thank you for taking the time to comment. Have an awesome day, Robin!
Leslie Dsouza says
Looks yummy
Deryl says
Looks awesome! I'm wondering, could the fat drippings from the chicken could be used to replace the butter for the sauce?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hey Deryl! That's an interesting question. I'm not sure since I've never tried it but I think it could work. It's certainly worth a shot and could turn out delicious! Can you do me a favor and let me know if you try it? I'm curious! Thanks - Kristy
Brandy Jackson says
Looks and sounds amazing!
Amelia Castilla says
I think I will try to make the wings I love lemon pepper.
Carol Davis says
Sounds yummy!
Angel says
I'm about to try these today with my air fryer and I'm only using a little over a lb. of chicken wings and wanted to know how much would the measurements be for the recipe? (Ex. Butter, Lemon pepper)
Thanks
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Angel, I'm not at my computer at the moment so I can't give you exact measurements. Since the recipe uses 4 lb of wings, just use 1/4 of the other amounts and you should be good to go!
Amy says
My entire family devoured these! I used two lbs of chicken wings from Wegmans that I had on hand but kept the other measurements the same. They were so delicious! I checked on them at 40 minutes and they were perfect. My 3yo daughter hasn’t touched chicken in probably 1.5 years - pretty much ignores meat on her plate - and she was obsessed and asked for more. It was a huge win! Thanks so much for a great recipe.
Kristy Bernardo says
Oh, I love this!! I'm so glad your family enjoyed it, esp your daughter! I know how tough it can be to get those little ones to eat certain things. I hope you and your family are safe and well during this trying time. Cheers 🙂
Carole says
I prepared these wings for my husband and I last night. After trying dozens of low carb wing recipes over the years, your recipe is the ONLY one I will use from now on. They were true perfection! Thank you for your wonderful website, your outstanding Weeknight Keto cookbook, and your delicious recipes.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Carole! Sorry I'm just replying, this went into my spam folder for some reason. I'm thrilled you love the recipe so much! Cheers 🙂
Joy Maxwell says
Mom these are the best
You did a good job. Why thank you. Oh yes they came out so gooooooood
Love love love them
Kristy says
Thanks so much, Joy!
Stella Tinnin says
I made the lemon pepper wings I made six whole wings I cut them apart my mistake is I don't think the six wings were two pounds. the recipe called for two pounds the wings were so salty my husband and I couldn't eat them. if you use this recipe make sure you use two pounds of wings, if I had I think they would have been very good next time I make them I will make sure to use two pounds, or cut the recipe in half
Shana says
Great recipe! After reading all of the comments about smoke in the house, I decided to comment. Ovens vary so you have to adjust the temperature accordingly. Definitely use a pan with sides and clean your oven before cooking. I didn’t have any problems. I’ll post pics. Thanks for the recipe!
Jeni says
I made these last month, followed your recipe exactly. Fam Bam loved it! I also did another full batch with Garlic Salt. (My son hates Lemon Pepper). They were awesome. I did two racks in the oven at the same time, turned out perfectly. I also did plain. They were supposed to be a mixture of season salt and paprika or chili seasoning, I didn't know what I was doing, it tasted so bad. Luckily I tasted it first, I couldn't ruin them like that. The Lemon Pepper and Garlic were a hit! You could try any seasonings you want, with this recipe. Thanx Kristy!
danny says
I am wondering if I could use lime pepper seasoning? It sounded like a good idea when I thought of it 🙂
Kristy says
I haven't used it but heck, why not? I love lime. Maybe add a little chili pepper to it? Let me know how it turns out if you try it! - Kristy
Nancy Spancer says
A classic recipe which never gets old. It is still one of my favorites chicken wings recipe after 2 years I first tried it. Thank you so much!
Kristy says
Now that's a great testimonial. Thanks so much, Nancy!
Mary Beth Jew says
OMG!!!! Definitely will make again!! Better than WINGSTOP. THANK YOU for sharing your recipe.
Kristy says
YAY!! So happy you love them so much!!
Marquita says
I made this without the rack and they came out PERFECT. I will definitely use this Recipe again
Nora Lilly says
Hi...! Your whole guide is great but please let me know. Should i use a frozen chicken?
Kristy says
Hi Nora! I would start with thawed wings as I haven't tested them from frozen. Let us know if you do try it though!
Larisa says
Last wing recipe I made was so terrible I gave up completely. This recipe was so easy to follow and perfect! I made it last night and my boyfriend who is a chicken conniseur ate every last wing! It was super crispy, not a drop of grease. The flavor was perfect. First time cooking with a wire rack and it made the house smell so heavenly. Never going to a wing place again. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
Kristy says
Larisa, this comment made my day. Thank you!! So happy you're enjoying it so much! Cheers - Kristy
Meagan says
These were amazing! I cooked mine for an hour and 20 minutes because I like my wings super crispy. I think I'll be making wings a lot more often now. Going to experiment with different sauces next time just for fun. Thanks for an awesome recipe!
Kristy says
That's what I do and I've found some yummy flavor combos that way. So glad you like it! Cheers - Kristy
Isabel says
Made these tonight and they we're good. We'll definitely make them again but will use a salt free lemon pepper.
Kristy says
Glad you like them, Isabel!
Jami Hanzman says
Great, easy, meal. This is the 2nd Sunday in a row this meal got requested and both times have been delish!
Only one very small problem. I’ve found the wings sticking to the pan, even with the oil brushed on.
Any tips for preventing that, so the wings don’t get mangled?
Beverly Piontek says
These Lemon Pepper Wings will make you wanna "Slap your Momma"! They are Soooooo good and have just the right amount of crisp and tang. I followed the recipe as written but added a squirt of Real Lemon to the Lemon Pepper butter! Wow!
Kristy says
haha, I love it!! The extra squirt of lemon sounds YUM, too!
Sony says
Hi I wanted to ask can I use peanut oil instead of vegetable oil? We fry turkey in that and its delicious
Kristy says
I'm sure you can!
Katherine K. says
Hello! I was wondering what the serving size is for your nutritional label? Thanks!
Stacey says
The nut info- how many equals a serving? How many servings does this make?
Chanelle says
I'm cooking these again tonight for the 2nd time this week as this is what my husband has requested for his birthday dinner! My family loves this simple recipe and I enjoy preparing it!
Kristy Bernardo says
Love it! Please tell your husband I said "Happy Birthday"! 🙂
Chanelle says
Aww, I absolutely will and THANK YOU!!
Kristy Bernardo says
❤️❤️❤️!!
Sylvia says
I bake chicken a lot and I have never added oil to it. Most of the time the chicken produce the oil on its own. Why is it necessary to add so much oil to the chicken in the first place? All I do is spray the pan with olive oil and add the chicken. Seems like the butter is all you need to make the lemon seasoning stick. I have never experience a smoke out while baking chicken. Just saying.
Thanks,
Sylvia
Kristy says
The oil makes it crispier.
Carolyn says
I am a wing fanatic and I think they should be their own food group!
Erin says
Love lemon pepper! Such a great recipe
Jennifer Farley says
I love baking chicken wings at home. So easy and flavorful! These look amazing.
Elizabeth says
I tried this recipe today and it was fantastic! I used a broiling pan with no smoke issues..They came out perfectly crispy. Thank you for the excellent recipe,it's definitely a keeper!
Melissa says
Hello. I have made your recipe about 10 times now and love it! I came back to read some comments just because and noticed several people stating it caused lots of smoke in their kitchen. This did happen to me as well in my old house. My old house was a rental house which had an old oven that wasn't as clean as it should have been. Since I loved the wings so much, I put up with all the smoke and didn't mind opening the doors and windows. lol I have since purchased a new home which has a brand new oven and omg it's amazing the difference it makes. No smoke what so ever and they are more crispier than before. Just wanted to share that the smoke is caused from a dirty oven. That was my experience at least.
Engle Coulter says
I love lemon pepper wings. Just made this for the first time and my husband raved that it tasted just like a restaurant! Thanks for a simple recipe. The only thing I did different was let it broil for 1 min to let the butter and lemon pepper cook into the chickena bit. I didn't want the butter runny. It was AWESOME!
Kristy Bernardo says
I love it! Thanks, Engle 🙂
Deena says
Made these for the first time tonight ... so easy to make but absolutely DELICIOUS!!!! This will be a regular in our house!
Kristy Bernardo says
That's fantastic! So happy you enjoyed them!
Sky says
Thanks for the great recipe....I was a little concerned about my oven being smoky, so I made this in my convection air fryer and it came out great! The chicken was super crisp and delicious!
Kristy Bernardo says
That's wonderful, Sky! Thanks for letting me know. Have a great day!
Charnay says
If I use regular chicken wings will the cooking time and heat be the same?
Monica says
These were BOMB ?.. lemon pepper is my fav and I'm so glad I found this recipe. My first time making wings and my husband loved them.. Thank you!!!
Kristy Bernardo says
So awesome!! Love it!! Thanks for taking the time to let me know, Monica 🙂
Misha says
Hey! I am having the same problem as someone else. For some reason my house smoked out every time I make these. I use vegetable oil and like you said. This is a mystery to why this keeps happening.. my husband loves them as well as myself and kids. It's just the smoke .. is there a particular pan you use? I have covered the pan with foil and without.. I use a rack as well..
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Misha! I've researched this a bit because I simply cannot figure out why this happens to a few people but not others (it's never happened to me). I found quite a few articles on the topic; here is one that might help: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6521-smoke-free-roasting
Alison says
I cooked them twice they were excellent! Crispy and moist.
Kristy Bernardo says
Love it! Thanks, Alison!
Nikki says
Hi. I have a cookie cooling rack. Would that work? Are there a difference in those & a oven rack? Thanks
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Nikki,
As long as it's oven-safe you're good to go!
Nancy A says
My wings are frozen, do I have to defrost them first? I'm new to cooking/baking. Thank you for your help.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Nancy, I know I already responded to you via email but wanted to post the answer here, too. I would definitely defrost the wings. Let me know how you enjoy them!
Jennifer says
We didn't like these at all! They did not crisp enough & were very bland. I followed the recipe to the t.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Jennifer! You're the first person to tell me this but I know everyone's tastes are different and I respect your opinion. Cheers 🙂
Sandra dee says
So so good, took a little Longer to cook to get them done and crispy.. Cranked up the heat to 425 the last 10 minutes.
Kristy Bernardo says
First...is that really your email address?? I love it 🙂 Second...glad you got them crispy and that you liked them so much! Cheers 🙂
CP says
These were so so EASY and very DELICIOUS! Thanks for this quick go to recipe way cheaper than take out wings
Kristy Bernardo says
I'm so glad!! Thanks, CP!! Cheers 🙂
minnie_thelady8home says
You are right! This chicken does look amazing, and super easy. I am going to try this. Bookmarked.
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, minnie!
Shan says
I also don't have a wired rack and just used a baking sheet pan and it turned out perfectly crispy!
Kristy Bernardo says
Good to know, thanks!
Shan says
Followed exactly as directed and it came out very good! Like restaurant quality, if not better! Will be making it again! Thank you for such a simple and tasty recipe!
Kristy Bernardo says
Love it! Thanks so much, Shan!
Steph says
Yummy! Theses were easy and oh so delicious!
Kristy Bernardo says
I love it! Thanks, Steph!
Rachel says
I've been meaning to try lemon pepper chicken for some time now, and this looks like a really good recipe to try. Thanks for sharing!
Kristy Bernardo says
My pleasure, Rachel! Hope you enjoy!
Anna says
My family said yesterday these were the best chicken wings they've ever had - at home or anywhere. I did not have the lemon pepper seasoning so I just melted the butter with lemon juice, zest, and loads of fresh ground pepper. Thank you!
Kristy Bernardo says
WOW, what a compliment, thank you! Love how you improvised so well, too; I'll bet you're a great cook!
Darlene says
Can I use this recipe with drumsticks?
Kristy Bernardo says
Absolutely!
Kim says
Guys don't panic if you don't have a baking sheet with a wired rack, the alternative way is just use a broiler pan. I did and my wings came out nice and crispy.
Kristy Bernardo says
How did I miss your comment? So sorry! Thank you for the tip for others, it's much appreciated!
Ty Bowens says
These are so delicious!!! I'm making them for the third time for my family... My husband loves them... Simple, Easy, & non fatty!!! I love!!! Thank you!!!
Kristy Bernardo says
I love hearing this!! Thank you, Ty!! xo
Gabrielle says
OMG! This was so so Good! Thanks a bunch!
Kristy Bernardo says
AWESOME!! Thanks, Gabrielle! 🙂
Kate says
Do you think this can be done with drumsticks instead?
Kristy Bernardo says
Absolutely, Kate!
Nicole Pierce says
Will my wings still be crispy if I don't have the racks?
Kristy Bernardo says
They will be crispy on the top but not as crispy on the bottom side.
Maryann says
Where is the recipe
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Maryann, the recipe is in the blog post above. I'm not sure why you can't see it but I just checked on both desktop and mobile and I've verified it's still there 🙂
Nadia says
My son loves wings but deep fried wings make a huge mess so I thought that these would be an alternate. Unfortunately, I also have a house filled with smoke.I used canola oil. I believe most of the smoke occurred because the grease was popping from the chicken and onto my oven floor. After wiping the oven floor and cooking the wings a little longer, the grease stopped popping and the smoke stopped.
These wings were better than deep fried and not as greasy as deep fried. They literally fell off the bone when eating. If I can prevent the grease popping and smoke, I'd make again.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Nadia! My question to that is...how is grease getting to your oven floor? There shouldn't be so much grease that there is "popping" and with a sheet pan under the rack, nothing should be dripping down. So...I am at a loss. I've just never had this occur in any recipe I've ever made (yet obviously something is causing it). Having said that...I'm so happy you love the recipe! If I discover any reason why this could be occurring I'll be sure to update the post. Thanks so much for commenting and have an awesome day! Cheers 🙂
Shada says
First off, let me give you props for being such an engaged food blogger and addressing even the most unappealing comments. *fist bump* I actually juuuuust finished your recipe and I succeeded in not setting off the smoke alarm. I'm really curious as to why others had that problem? Anyway the mister is upstairs bathing the kids and I'm trying NOT to eat all the chicken before he's done. Whyyyyyy are they so deliciously golden, crispy and yummy? It was so easy. Ive never owned an over rack thingy before this but it was soooo worth it. Pinterest strikes again. Thank you!
Kristy Bernardo says
Hey Shada! I already emailed you directly but just wanted to give you another thanks for the sweet comment! SO happy you loved them; they're one of my FAVORITE recipes, too! Have an awesome day! xo
Kim says
I just tried these today and they were delicious! Super easy and tasty ? Thanks for sharing!
Kristy Bernardo says
So happy to hear that, Kim! Thanks for letting me know! Cheers 🙂
Jesseca says
So what happens if you don't have a wire rack?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Jesseca, you can bake them directly on a sheet pan but they won't get as crispy.
kin says
Hi, if you got a broiler pan use that because I did the recipe today and they came out perfectly nice and crisp.
Ambar says
Hello! I want to make these for a party. What is your advice on making them in advance? I'm thinking the night before since my party is at 11am and I'm planing to make a large amount (around 16lbs). Please help!
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Ambar, I have never made these in advance so I'm not sure how well they'd hold up. If I were making them in advance, I'd probably make them completely and refrigerate. When reheating, I'd bring to room temperature then pop them under the broiler to heat and crisp them up again. I don't know how well they'll turn out but that's my best advice for making ahead, hope it helps! Cheers 🙂
Charnay says
Will the wings that look like wings lol work as well? I don't know the diffrence if there is any in their names.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Charnay! Yes, they'll work, lol! I think what you mean are the drumettes and the wing part that haven't yet been separated? You can certainly cook them this way, or carefully take a sharp knife and cut them apart at the joint. Either way, I think you'll love them! Shoot me another note if you have more questions, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Cheers 🙂
Will C says
These look really nice. Although, Im going to use this for grilled chicken wings cooked over charcoal. I think this will make a nice addition to the table as its all to easy to serve bbq sauce with everything. Lemon chicken wings will make a nice change. Thanks!
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, Will! I just made them on my gas grill the other night and they turned out great. I'm sure charcoal will be much better! Enjoy and have a great day 🙂
Lauren says
I was always told by my mom and grandma that you shouldn't "wash" chicken anyways and it always worked for me! Def gonna give this a try tommorrow night! Thanks!
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, Lauren! And I can't wait to hear how you like the wings. Have a great day! 🙂
Dana says
Can you use this on boneless breasts?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Dana,
Technically, yes, although without the skin the butter mixture will mostly slide off. I'm sure it would still be delicious though!
Simu says
Can you use chicken strips
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Simu, if they were breaded I think that would work fine!
Michele says
The best tasting and easiest recipe! I wouldnt change a thing, its amazing as is!! Thank you!!
Kristy Bernardo says
That's fantastic, yay!! So glad you love them as much as me 🙂 Thanks, Michele!!
Monyka says
I made these wings and they were very good. I also tossed it a little salt because of was afraid they would be bland. They weren't as crispy as I'd hoped. Next time maybe I'll turn on the broiler for a few minutes. But I'll definitely make them again. Thanks for the new recipe!
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Monyka! Lemon-pepper seasoning is pretty salty as is so that's why I don't season the chicken beforehand. If they didn't get as crispy as you'd like, simply leave them in the oven a bit longer as every oven is different...but I assure you that they WILL get crispy. The broiler method will also work though so do whatever works best for you. Thanks and I'm glad you liked them! Cheers 🙂
Latoya says
Trying these today, did u use regular salted butter?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Latoya, I use unsalted butter.
Tara says
Can I flip the chicken in between to get the bottom crispy too?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Tara, if you use a rack you don't need to, it'll get crispy all the way around. If you don't have one then you can flip them if you like 🙂
Ms. Cookie :-) says
Yes, yes, yes!!!! I've found a winner!!!! I came across this recipe on Facebook, and I've been anxiously wanting to try it for a while now, and I FINALLY did!!! My husband loooooves lemon pepper wings!!! He and my kids have made me cook them for 3 days straight!! I KID YOU NOT!!! If you're like me, I have a 6 year old who's "never hungry" and a 2 year old who has specific food that she will eat, but when I made these wings, they both really enjoyed them!!! (Each night lol!!). I also let my 2 sister-in-laws try them and they bragged so highly about how good they were!!! I baked the whole wings instead of the wingettes/drummettes. I'm so glad I went ahead and tried them, because honestly the comments about the "smoking in the oven" kinda made me hesitant... but I can say that I didn't have that problem at all!!! (Sorry the comment was long lol but I had to tell about MY experience!!) THANKS A LOT FOR POSTING THIS RECIPE!!! 😉
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Ms. Cookie!! First, what a fantastic comment to read on this dreary Saturday evening! Second, I love that you love them so much!! They're honestly one of my favorites and I make them all the time for my girls, too! Mine are a little older than yours but I still have that problem sometimes so I can completely relate! You gave me a big smile, thank you! xo
Ms. Cookie :-) says
You are sooo very welcome!!! Keep up the good work, and continue to do what God has given you, that u may share it with the world!!! Be blessed!! 😉
Kristy Bernardo says
You are soooo sweet!! Thank you, Ms. Cookie!! xo
ML says
P.S. I prepared your wings and they were delicious. I washed and let dry before tossing in oil. No smoking oven. ?
Kristy Bernardo says
I'm so glad you liked them! They're one of my favorites and everyone always enjoys them. Thanks so much 🙂
ML says
I would guess that the reason some people experience a smoking oven is that they wash the chicken and did not let it dry or pat it dry. We know hot oil and moisture don't mix.?
Kristy Bernardo says
That is a good point and one that hadn't occurred to me. You may be on to something, ML!
Keri says
I'm cooking them now. I did wash and dry and I'm still getting smoke. I have the baking pan under them and when I opened the oven to see what it is, it's the drippings from the chicken on the pan itself. No worries though, I just opened everything up and took the smoke detector down for the moment. I can't wait to try them.
Kristy Bernardo says
Aha!! Maybe that's the answer then! I wonder why some people experience that and others don't? So strange as it's never happened to me and I've made these wings COUNTLESS times. Thanks for sharing your experience; would love to hear what you thought of the end result! Cheers 🙂
theresa says
What can you substitute for the butter?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi theresa, I'm not sure there really is a good substitute, unfortunately. You could try mixing a smaller amount of olive oil instead just to get the flavor of the seasoning to adhere but I would probably cut the amount in half. Let me know if you try it!
Shay says
I made these today and the only thing I did differently is added a little bit of sea salt after coating the wings. I followed the instructions and these are awesome. My son doesn't like bone in chicken and hates baked chicken but he loved these. Very simple to make. Will keep this on rotation!!!
Kristy Bernardo says
That's so wonderful to hear, thank you!
Beka says
Can you still do them in a baking pan and they turn out crispy? I don't have the baking rack?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Beka! I've only personally tested the recipe with a rack but several people commented on the FB post that they made them without one and it worked out fine. Hope that helps! Cheers 🙂
SallyJoJo says
I have baked chicken wings without a rack and turn them halfway through the baking and they are nice and crispy. For traditional Buffalo Chicken Wings, you can just toss them with the sauce, or any other sauce you want, when they come out of the oven. Thanks for posting I will love Lemon Pepper Wings and will be trying it soon!!
Kristy Bernardo says
Yes! That's exactly how I make my buffalo wings: http://www.thewickednoodle.com/crispy-baked-buffalo-wings-as-good-as-fried/ Let me know how you like these!
kin says
Yes you can but it will not turn out super crispy, my suggestion is if you don't have a rack like she does use a broiler pan I did the recipe today using the broiler pan and they came out super crispy.
Gerald J Hill Sr. says
These looks so good. I went to a restaurant about a week ago, and decided to try the LemonPepper Chicken wings. They were so awesome, i sat there wondering how to make them my self. Thanks for this easy recipe, I will be making these this weekend. (I even went out and brought lemon pepper the same weekend, waiting to look up the recipe)......Thankyou..thankyou. Wish me luck
Kristy Bernardo says
I'm so glad I posted the recipe then! I hope you love them as much as I do, Gerald. Please let me know how they turn out for you! Cheers 🙂
Kristin says
Can you use coconut oil?
Kristy Bernardo says
I wouldn't. I've never cooked with it but I don't believe it has a high enough smoke point.
SallyJoJo says
Here is a link about the smoke point of different oils. I have been using coconut oil instead of canola for a while now. According to this chart, coconut and canola have the same smoke point. https://jonbarron.org/diet-and-nutrition/healthiest-cooking-oil-chart-smoke-points
Bernida says
Can I use chicken legs
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Bernida, I haven't used legs myself but I don't see why not! You'll need to increase the cooking time otherwise everything will be the same. YUM!
Traci says
Hi I've never tried baking my wings. I was wondering do you have to thaw them first? Usually mine are straight from the freezer to the frying pan.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Traci, I would definitely thaw them first. You'll love this baking method, since it's at a high heat with vegetable oil they do "fry" and get crispy. Let me know how you like them!
Ang says
Was just wondering why you didn't wash the chicken first? Great concept though.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Ang! I actually just updated the post to answer that very question. Here's the reason why I don't wash my chicken before cooking: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/08/31/216948010/dont-panic-your-questions-on-not-washing-raw-chickens Hope that helps!
Jessica says
I'm making these now and my whole house is filled with smoke. I had to open the doors and windows and the smoke alarm has gone off eight times. I don't normally cook chicken that's still on the bone so I don't know what went wrong but I think I should stick with take-out wings in the future..
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Jessica, the only reason your oven would smoke is if you used a different oil with a lower smoke point (such as olive oil). I list vegetable or canola oil in the recipe because they have a higher smoke point and are used for frying or cooking at a high heat, whether that's on the stove or in the oven. Bone-in chicken or boneless would not contribute to causing smoke in any way. Sorry that happened to you but I do stand behind the recipe. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Susan says
I haven't made these particular wings yet but I have always made chicken wings in the oven using olive oil, not vegetable oil and I cook mine at a higher temp (425) turning them 3 times at 20 minute intervals and have never had a "smoking" issue either. Not sure why some would be having that problem. I am looking forward to trying these with vegetable oil. I loooove me some lemon pepper wings! 🙂 Can't wait to try!!
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, Susan. Let me know how you like them!
Marse says
I'm with Jessica, unfortunately. I just tried this - and was very excited to - and I literally saw sparks of flames in the oven about 10 minutes in. I had to turn it off and air out the kitchen. If high heat and vegetable oil are a thing in the oven, I'd encourage caution with this one.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Marse,
High heat and vegetable oil work fine together in the oven. I can't speak to why you had issues but there are MANY recipes that call for both of those ingredients. Perhaps your oven needs to be cleaned? I really can't say, but there are over 2,000 comments of the Facebook thread for the video, many of which made the recipe and raved about it.
Joanne says
Just sound like you ladies can't cook
Chuckii says
LMAO!!!!
I'm about to try this recipe. I'm sure I want have any problems. Thank you for the recipe Kristy..
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, Chuckii!! Let me know how they turn out. Cheers! 🙂
Jamila says
I just put mine on the oven so excited for the results...i will keep u guys posted...thanks again if for nun but the excitement of how good yours looked hopefully i will get tue same reseults..tyanks again!!! Tbc...
Kristy Bernardo says
I hope you love them, Jamila! Keep us posted! xo
Kelsey says
Sounds like your oven either needs to be cleaned or the oil on the wings dripped to the bottom and started to smoke!
Doris says
Could something have spilled onto your oven floor?
Jasmine says
the oil wasted out in your oven that's the only logical explanation
A- says
I agree with Jasmine. Although it's seen in the video, and is commonly known to cooks, the rack has to have something underneath to catch the dripping oil/juices. I am not trying to be sarcastic. But it seems a logical reason for that situation.
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi A-, yes, you're correct. It's not just in the video but it's also in the recipe steps that a sheet pan should be placed under the rack.
Misha says
The same thing keeps happening to me. This is the second time that I've made them and my house is filled with smoke..
I am not sure what I'm doing wrong either..
I did think.. maybe I shouldn't rinse the wings off first, but then again it seems to be smoking because of the oil ..
Hmmm
Kristy Bernardo says
I’ve researched this a bit because I simply cannot figure out why this happens to a few people but not others (it’s never happened to me). I found quite a few articles on the topic; here is one that might help: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6521-smoke-free-roasting
allie says
Wow, I cant believe how easy these are, Kristy. No frying and no mess. I love lemon pepper, so we definitely gotta try these. Maybe on game day.
Kristy Bernardo says
You'll love 'em, allie!
heather says
we love our wings, but frying makes such a mess, so this is the perfect way to get a nice crisp wing without the mess; I cannot wait to try them!
Kristy Bernardo says
I hear you on that, heather!
Carmella says
These look perfect!! I just recently became a fan of lemon pepper wings, I like them with hot sauce. 😛 Yum!
Kristy Bernardo says
Haven't tried them with hot sauce, I'll do that next time for sure!
jenn says
I'm assuming you throw the wings in the oven frozen???
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi jenn,
No, the wings should not be frozen when you put them in the oven. You definitely want them fully thawed (or, better yet, never having been frozen at all if you can find them that fresh). Hope that helps!
Kristy
Sues says
Yum, these look delightful! Simple to make and super flavorful 🙂
Kristy Bernardo says
Thanks, Sues!
Kristen says
Kristy, I have to be honest. I did not want to click on this recipe--I HATE chicken wings. I know that is a sin here in America, actually I think it is a sin in my house--but my son ADORES chicken wings (begs for them) and his most favorite flavor in the world is lemon. So, being the good mom I am, I clicked on the recipe and now I am pinning it and promise to make it for him 🙂 I am sure he says thank you to you!
Kristy Bernardo says
That is so cool, Kristen! Well, not that you don't like wings, but that you'll make them for him 😉 What a good mom you are! You might like these even if you don't like wings - the lemon pepper combo is soooo good! Cheers!
Gabrielle says
I think I put to many on my baking pan and I did them wet so it's taking longer. Only 1 side is crispy after a little over an hour. Help me what do I do different next time
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Gabrielle, it's hard for me to say since you were a little vague. Did you use a rack? What do you mean by "did them wet"? Please let me know as I'm happy to help you. Thanks!
Missy says
Wet means "she washed before cooking". Gabrielle, next time honey don't rinse the wings, just pay dry. And if you want to rinse first, pet dry then let them sit for about 10-15 on dry paper towel to absorb the remaining water. Then continue on with the recipe. BADIA brand seasoning is also great if you want a more lemony flavor. ?
Kim says
So, they cannot be frozen then I'm assuming?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Kim, not sure if you mean cooked frozen or after you cook them but, in either case, I don't recommend it.
Pink says
@Kim, please don't cook chicken from frozen
Karolina says
You need a wire rack.. this happened to me so many times until I finally bought a wire rack. All problems solved
Larry says
I'm doing it now & have so much smoke in the house I'm afraid the fire alarms may go off. Cooking on a cookie sheet with sides an a rack. Not good.
Kristy Bernardo says
I’ve researched this a bit because I simply cannot figure out why this happens to a few people but not others (it’s never happened to me). I found quite a few articles on the topic; here is one that might help: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/6521-smoke-free-roasting
Daiana says
So I’m confused I’m making this tonight and I read the recipe why would I put the butter & lemon pepper seasoning after cooking the wings??? Wouldn’t I put it on before putting them in the oven??
Kristy Bernardo says
Nope, it goes on after it comes out! 🙂
Daiana says
Okay thank you!
Latasha says
Should we use salted or unsalted butter?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Latasha, I use unsalted butter. Thanks!
Trisha Barnes says
I made these last night with whole wings and they were delicious! Thank you!
Kristy Bernardo says
Yay!! Thanks for sharing, Trisha...so happy you love them!!
Zy says
Do the wings usually pop in the oven? Or did I use too much Oil ?
Kristy Bernardo says
They will pop a little, but it's hard to say if it's normal since I don't know how much yours are popping. How much oil did you use? I don't think that would be a factor unless you used a LOT of oil.