Crispy Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings

Name: Crispy Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken wings (450 g, Notes 1,2,3); 1 tablespoon oil; ½ teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning

Make these crispy air fryer lemon pepper wings tonight! All you need are 3 ingredients and less than 30 minutes. Tender chicken wings with crispy skin and intensive flavor.

Jump to Recipe

close up of one crispy and golden brown chicken wing piece.

These air fryer lemon pepper wings make a fast and delicious weeknight dinner but not only. They are the perfect appetizer for any party, game day, or Super Bowl. And they are so good! Crispy and peppery on the outside, juicy and soft on the inside.

Serve them as they are or with your favorite dipping sauce. If you love chicken wings with lemon and pepper, check out our Hot Lemon Pepper Wings or our Honey Lemon Pepper Wings. For a different flavor, try the Garlic Butter Chicken Wings, Baked Curry Chicken Wings, Baked Cajun Chicken Wings, or Peanut Butter and Jelly Wings. Or learn How to Parboil Chicken Wings.

Why will you love these wings?

No deep frying, thus no heavy smell in the house, no splattering, no wasting of oil, and no work for you.
Healthy: Air frying the wings instead of deep-frying them makes them much healthier.
Economical and quick: A family favorite made with only 3 simple ingredients in less than 30 minutes.
Perfectly crispy exterior and tender meat.

Recipe ingredients

bowls with raw wings, oil, lemon pepper seasoning and salt.

Fresh chicken wings: Between 1 and 1.5 lb pieces (depending on the size of your air fryer), separated into wingettes and drumettes. Usually, you should be able to find already-cut wings at your grocery store easily. However, separating wing parts is very easy if you don’t find them.
Lemon pepper seasoning: A mixture of lemon zest, black pepper, and salt. You should be able to find it in almost every supermarket; it’s a trendy seasoning mix.
Olive oil: Just a little oil to coat the wings in a thin layer. It helps the seasoning adhere to the wings, improves the flavor, and makes the wings even crispier.
Fine sea salt

How to air fryer lemon pepper chicken wings?

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C (check the instruction manual).
Season: Dry the chicken wings with paper towels (1). Place wings in a large bowl and rub them with the oil, salt, and seasoning mix (2).

collage of two pictures or raw wings on a paper towel and in a bowl.

Cook: Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer (3). Cook the lemon pepper chicken wings for 10 minutes.
Flip them using tongs and cook them for another 10 minutes or until crispy, golden brown, and cooked through (4).
Serve the air fryer wings immediately as they are or with a dipping sauce or some lemon wedges on the side.

collage of two pictures of wings in an air fryer basket before and after cooking.

Expert Tips

Divide whole chicken wings at the joint: Place one piece on the cutting board and use a sharp knife to remove the wing tip (if still attached). Cut through the joint between the bones; you should not encounter much resistance. If you do, move the knife to the left or right to find the right spot to cut between the bones.
Dry the wings thoroughly before coating them with oil and seasoning. That ensures the chicken skin crisps up faster and better in the air fryer.
Chill the wings in the fridge for extra crispy skin. Dry them well and place them, uncovered, on a plate in the refrigerator for about two hours. It’s not mandatory; the wings will still get crispy but allowing them to dry well before frying makes them even more so.
Single layer: You should be able to fit the wings in the basket in a single layer, which ensures that the air circulates properly and that the wings are cooked through and crispy. If you want to serve more people, please work in batches.

close up of half a plate with crispy wings with lemon pepper seasoning.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use frozen chicken wings?

Sure. Thaw them overnight in the fridge, dry them well and proceed with the recipe. Or learn how to cook Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings; it’s super easy and fast. Replace the seasoning with lemon pepper and follow the instructions (tossing the wings with the sauce is optional). Make sure that the wings are cooked through.

Can I use another dry rub?

Yes, whatever you like. Try Cajun or Italian seasoning, taco seasoning, or your favorite poultry seasoning. Or mix some salt and pepper with whatever spices you have in your cupboard, for instance, paprika (sweet, smoked, or hot), garlic powder, curry, coriander, and cumin.

How to check if the chicken is cooked through?

The easiest way is with an instant-read meat thermometer; the internal temperature should be 165°F/74°C (Amazon affiliate link). However, checking the wings is still easy if you don’t have one. Tear one; the flesh should be white with no traces of pink or red.

How to store and reheat?

Refrigerate the crispy wings in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze leftover wings in an airtight container or freezer bag for 2-3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat before serving.
Reheat in the air fryer at 390°F/ 200°C for about 5 minutes until heated through and crisp again.
Reheat in the preheated oven at 350°F/180°C on a lined baking sheet for about 10 minutes or until heated through.

air fryer lemon pepper wings on a black plate with lemon wedges and a fork.

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