Hey wing lovers: did you know it's easy to make an even better version of Buffalo Wild Wings lemon pepper wings recipe at home? These air fryer lemon pepper wings are crispy, buttery, and packed with that tangy lemon flavor we all love without dealing with hot oil and splatter, a pile of paper towels, and the mess that comes with deep-frying.
Thanks to the air fryer these chicken wings come out golden brown and crispy in about 15 minutes, making this recipe a must anytime that wing craving hits, which in our house is often.
What makes this recipe worth adding to your rotation is how little effort it takes for such a big payoff. That lemon pepper sauce coats every wing and thanks to the air fryer, things are lighter and less messy. And don't worry--if you don't have an air fryer but still want to make these wings, I've got oven instructions too.
Serve these as-is or my personal favorite: dunk them into my white bbq sauce for a Southern-style twist that takes them over the top. These are perfect for game day, for casual entertaining, or as an easy dinner any night of the week.
I may not know who's playing, but you better believe I'll be serving these wings to watch the Super Bowl (ah hem, commercials) along with some of my other favorite appetizers and snacks: sausage balls without Bisquick, layer taco dip, ham and cheese empanadas, and my high protein buffalo chicken dip.
Ready to get started? Let's do it!
Jump to:
Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this delicious recipe:
- chicken wings
- olive oil
- lemon pepper seasoning
- kosher salt
- salted butter
- fresh parsley
- Alabama white bbq sauce
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get cooking!
- First, using a sharp chef's knife, remove the wing tips. Cut the wings in half into flats and drumettes.
- Then, preheat the air fryer to 425°F. Pat the wings dry and toss with the olive oil, some of the lemon pepper seasoning, and the salt.
- Next, add the seasoned chicken wings to the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes or until crispy and cooked through, turning halfway through air frying.
- Finally, combine the melted butter and remaining lemon pepper seasoning in a large mixing bowl. Remove the wings from the air fryer and toss in the butter mixture. Return to the air fryer and cook for 2 more minutes or until browned and crispy. Remove to a platter, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with the white barbecue sauce.
Hint: For the best results, be sure to arrange the wings in a single layer for ultimate crispiness. My air fryer has an extra-wide basket so I'm able to cook them all at once. If the size of your air fryer basket is more on the compact side, cook these in two or three batches.
Hint #2: Sometimes you can find already cut chicken wings (flats and drumettes) in the meat department of your grocery store. If you don't want to mess with trimming and cutting, buy those.
Substitutions
Check out these substitution ideas in case you need to make some adjustments:
- Whole chicken wings - If you don't feel like cutting up the wings, you can leave them whole. You may need to cook them in an extra batch or two if you can't fit them all in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Homemade lemon pepper dry rub recipe - Place 2 tablespoons lemon zest on a paper towel-lined plate and top with another paper towel. Microwave in 30-second intervals for about 2 minutes total, or until the lemon zest is dried. Stir with 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder. Store in a jar or airtight container at room temperature.
- Salted butter - You can also use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt.
- Olive oil - Vegetable oil or canola oil are a great choice instead of olive oil.
- Parsley - Substitute the parsley with chopped fresh chives or green onions.
- White barbecue sauce - Instead of the white barbecue sauce, serve these with your favorite dipping sauce. Ranch or blue cheese dressing are great options.
Variations
Here are some additional ways to change up this crispy chicken wings recipe:
- Spicy - Love a fiery kick? Add cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes to the butter mixture.
- Super Lemony Chicken Wings - Add fresh lemon zest to the melted butter for even more lemon flavor.
- Garlicky Lemon Pepper Wings - Stir minced garlic or garlic powder into the butter for a garlicky twist.
- Honey Lemon Pepper Wings - To give these a hint of sweetness, add 1 to 2 teaspoons honey to the butter for a sweet-savory finish.
- Oven-Baked Lemon Pepper Wings - Bake the wings on a wire rack at 425°F for 30 minutes, turning halfway through. Toss with the butter mixture and bake for 2 minutes longer to set the butter mixture and allow the wings to turn golden brown.
Equipment
Here's the equipment you'll need to make this chicken wing recipe:
- chef's knife
- air fryer
- measuring spoons
- 2 large bowls
- metal tongs
Storage
To refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To freeze: Freeze cooked wings in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Then, transfer them to a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F until hot and crispy.
Tasty Tip
Be sure to preheat the air fryer basket so the wings immediately sear once they're added to the air fryer.
Frequently asked questions
Technically yes. You aren't using a deep fryer for the wings so there's less oil (and mess!)
Yep! Be sure to thaw them completely and pat dry before cooking.
Absolutely. Check out my oven method instructions above in the "Variations" section.
My air fryer basket is non-stick and the wings are coated in olive first, but if you're still worried it wouldn't hurt to coat the basket with nonstick cooking spray after it's been preheated and before adding the wings.
You can use either whole wings or wings that have been separated into flats or drumettes. If you do go with whole wings, you may need to cook in extra batches because they'll take up more space.
Yes; Italian seasoning is a great alternative. Or, you can make your own lemon-pepper seasoning. I give instructions for that above in the "Substitutions" section.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these lemon pepper wings:
🍽Get the recipe
Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings (Air Fryer Recipe)
Equipment
- chef's knife
- air fryer
- measuring spoons
- 2 large bowls
- metal tongs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds whole chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning, divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoon salted butter, melted
- Chopped fresh parsley
- White barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Using a sharp chef's knife, remove the wing tips from the wings. Cut the wings into flats and drumettes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 425°F with the air fryer basket in the air fryer while it preheats. Pat the wings dry. Toss the wings with the olive oil, 2 teaspoons of the lemon pepper seasoning, and the salt.
- Add the wings to the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes or until crispy and cooked through, turning halfway through.
- Combine the melted butter and remining 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning in a large bowl. Remove the wings, and toss with the butter mixture.
- Return the wings to the air fryer and cook for 2 more minutes or until browned and crispy. Remove to a platter and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with white bbq sauce.
Video
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Cook the chicken to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F when measured with an instant-read thermometer.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat or eggs.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat or eggs.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating the air fryer.
EJ says
Trying lots of air fryer recipes and this has been one the family likes the most. Loved the crispy skin and the lemon pepper flavor is so good. A really great chicken dish.
Jera says
I cannot wait to pop these Lemon Pepper wings into my air fryer! I'm definitely making these for my next game-night snack!
Marj says
Making wings in the air fryer is SO much easier. Thank you so much for this great recipe!
Liza says
Made a test run for the Super Bowl and these were a big hit with my family! So yummy!
Val says
I'm using the air fryer more and more, so I had to try this recipe. Result? Delicious chicken wings!! So simple and so good.
Tracy says
These are so good! I can’t believe they’re made in the air fryer—and that white bbq sauce is a must.