Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy chicken wings tossed in a sticky honey-lemon glaze with bright lemon zest and bold cracked black pepper. Oven or air-fryer friendly and ready in about 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Wings
- 2 lb chicken wings split into drumettes and flats
- 1 tbsp baking powder aluminum-free or 1 tbsp cornstarch for air fryer method
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp neutral oil for tossing before baking
Honey Lemon Pepper Glaze
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice about 1 large lemon
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- ½ tsp flaky sea salt
- 1 garlic clove minced (optional)
Garnish
- Lemon wedges
- Chopped fresh parsley or chives
- thinly sliced scallions and extra cracked pepper Optional
Instructions
- Pat wings very dry. Toss with baking powder (or cornstarch), salt, pepper, and oil. Let rest 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange wings skin-side up on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 25–30 minutes, flip, then bake another 10–12 minutes until golden and crisp. Broil 1–2 minutes if needed.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Air fry wings in a single layer 20–22 minutes, shaking basket halfway, until crisp and cooked through.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add garlic and cook briefly. Stir in honey, lemon juice, and zest; simmer gently then remove from heat. Whisk in cracked pepper and sea salt.
- Place hot wings in a large bowl, pour warm glaze over them, and toss to coat evenly. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges; serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra crisp skin, broil briefly after baking or air-fry a couple minutes at high temp.
- Make wings ahead by baking without glaze; reheat and toss with freshly made glaze to serve.
- Add crushed red pepper or sriracha to the glaze for a spicy version.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to restore crispness.
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 33gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 9gSodium: 820mgSugar: 26g
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