Go Back
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Baked lemon pepper chicken wings burst with flavor and crunch—all without frying. Discover easy tips, tasty variations, and get the printable recipe card below.
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Lemon-Pepper Seasoning

  • 4-5 large lemons zested
  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns crushed

Chicken Wings

  • 4 lbs. chicken wings tips removed and patted dry
  • Olive oil cooking spray

Instructions
 

Make the Lemon Pepper Seasoning

  • Position oven rack to center position and preheat oven to warm (lowest setting).
  • Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • To prepare the lemon-pepper seasoning, wash the lemons and pat dry. Remove zest from each lemon with a microplane. While doing so, collect as much of the flavorful yellow outer layer as possible, while avoiding the more bitter white layer below.
  • Spread the zest in a thin layer on the parchment paper and place in the oven. After 20 minutes, remove pan from oven and shake to make sure zest is drying evenly. Return to oven until thoroughly dried, approximately 25-30 minutes.
  • Remove dried lemon zest from the oven and increase oven temperature to 425°F.
  • Add dried lemon zest to spice grinder or food processor along with salt and black peppercorns. Grind ingredients until desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust ratio of salt and pepper as desired.

Make the Chicken Wings

  • In a large bowl, add the chicken wings and spray with olive oil cooking spray and 1 - 2 tablespoons of lemon-pepper seasoning and toss until evenly coated.
  • Arrange seasoned chicken wings in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Do not overcrowd. Place baking sheet on center rack of preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.
  • Remove baking sheet from oven and turn each wing to ensure they cook evenly on all sides. Return to oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until wings are browned and crispy.
  • Remove from oven and serve immediately with sliced celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing, if desired.
Keyword lemon pepper chicken wings