Homemade Lemon Pepper Wings
“Homemade lemon pepper wings made with fresh lemons and cracked black pepper.”
Visual learner? Watch me make these lemon pepper wings from start to finish!
Don’t you just LOVE the way these lemon pepper wings look all covered in real lemon zest and cracked black pepper with those flecks of green parsley? Makes it so hard to resist grabbing one!
I’ve grown to love lemon pepper wings in my elderly years. As a child, I never understood why adults were crazy about them. Lemon and pepper on chicken? Ick, boring, boo!
While the fast-food version of lemon-pepper wings is not one of my go-to picks, the homemade version is right up my lemon-loving alley!
Have you ever made homemade lemon pepper wings using fresh lemon and cracked black pepper? It’s heavenly! Perfectly tart and lemony and perfectly peppery! Just the way I like it!
If you’re used to lemon pepper wings that are made with a blend of artificial flavors, then these wings may not be for you. This recipe uses nothing but fresh lemon and cracked black pepper with a dash of garlic and onion powder to create a light balanced flavor. They are super light and bright, is how I can best describe the flavor.
The one thing about working with fresh lemon is that you have to really layer on the lemon flavor! For these lemon pepper wings, we are going to be creating homemade lemon pepper seasoning as well as an easy lemon pepper butter to toss the wings in. And if that wasn’t enough lemon pepper for ya, we’ll be giving them a final drizzle of fresh lemon and cracked black pepper!
This may sound like overkill and too much work, but it’s so easy and quick! The ending flavor is fresh, light, and vibrant. True restaurant quality that is perfect for game day and perfect for an appetizer before an elegant dinner.
If lemon pepper wings aren’t your thing, wait, there’s more!!!
Like these:
Tangy Baked Wings
Baked Honey Mustard BBQ Wings
Hot Wings
Chipotle Lime Wings
Arrange them on a platter and watch how fast they disappear!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Lemon Pepper Wings
Ingredients
LEMON PEPPER SEASONING
- 4 lemons
- 1 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
WINGS
- 1.3 lbs chicken wings, 12 wings, washed and dried thoroughly
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
LEMON BUTTER
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Garnish: parsley, fresh lemon juice, cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 F.
- Zest lemons.
- Arrange lemon zest on a pan in a single layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until dry.
- Crush lemon zest with your fingers until powdery.
- Place dried zest in a bowl (about 1 1/2 tablespoons worth) and add pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. (This is a mild lemon pepper seasoning. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.) Set aside.
- Drizzle chicken lightly with olive oil and toss with 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning.
- Mix flour and 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning in a bowl or paper bag.
- Add chicken and toss until chicken is lightly coated in flour.
- Place coated chicken on a plate and cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate until ready to fry or at least for 30 minutes to allow the flour to absorb a bit.
- Heat peanut oil in a deep skillet (375 F). (I like to add a slice of onion and a clove of garlic to my oil, optional)
- Fry chicken (about 10 minutes) until golden brown.
- Let chicken drain on a cooling rack with paper towels underneath.
- While chicken is draining, quickly make lemon butter by melting butter in a large pot.
- Stir in pepper, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. (add more seasoning if desired)
- Right before you add the chicken into the mixture stir in the lemon juice.
- Toss hot chicken into the lemon butter until coated.
- Place on a cooling rack and IMMEDIATELY sprinkle with the remaining lemon pepper seasoning on the top and bottom of the chicken.
- Garnish with parsley.
- *optional* Before serving drizzle chicken with the juice of half a lemon, salt, and fresh black pepper. Let sit for a few minutes for lemon juice to absorb and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Can these wings be done in a air fryer. Thanks