Description
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings deliver a crispy, zesty punch that makes dinner feel like a celebration. Baking these wings brings restaurant-quality flavor straight to your kitchen without complicated techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds chicken wings
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 zest of 1 large lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack positioned in the center. Grab a large baking sheet and line it completely with parchment paper.
- Take 2 pounds of chicken wings and place them in a spacious mixing bowl. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil over the wings.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper directly onto the wings. Carefully zest 1 large lemon right into the bowl.
- Squeeze 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice over the wings. Use your hands to thoroughly massage the seasonings into every wing surface until each piece is completely coated.
- Spread the seasoned wings across the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are in a single layer without touching each other. This allows each wing to crisp evenly.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and roast for 35-40 minutes. At the 20-minute mark, carefully flip each wing to ensure uniform browning.
- Check wing doneness by verifying the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin appears golden and crispy. Remove from the oven.
- Let the wings rest for 3-5 minutes on the baking sheet. Serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges for an extra citrusy punch.
Notes
- Patting the chicken wings dry before seasoning helps achieve extra crispy skin that everyone craves.
- Fresh lemon zest provides a brighter flavor than dried zest, so grate it directly from a whole lemon for maximum taste.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free and double-check seasoning labels.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of black pepper or use a milder ground pepper blend to customize the spice level.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 271 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 436 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg