Description
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings made with zesty lemon, aromatic garlic, and a buttery garlic sauce. These wings offer a perfect balance of tangy, savory, and spicy notes, cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer for a healthier twist on a classic favorite. Ready in just 40 minutes, they make a delicious appetizer or main dish for gatherings or weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds split chicken wings (fresh or frozen, we used frozen)
- 4 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, divided (use any seasoning blend you prefer, mindful of salt content)
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt, divided (if your lemon pepper seasoning has no salt, use 2.5 teaspoons salt total)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Garlic Butter Lemon Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 whole lemon, juice and zest
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (optional)
To Serve
- Additional fresh parsley
- Lemon slices or wedges
- Dipping sauce of choice
- Fresh vegetables (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Season: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F and prepare the basket or trays. In a large bowl, toss chicken wings with 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, half the salt, garlic powder, and avocado oil, ensuring they are thoroughly coated.
- Air Fry the Wings: Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket or trays. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the wings reach an internal temperature of 165°F and are golden brown and crispy. For extra crispiness, continue cooking to your preference.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce: While wings cook, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Lower heat to low, add minced garlic, and stir constantly for 7-10 minutes to gently cook the garlic. Add minced parsley and remove from heat.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the garlic butter sauce with fresh lemon juice, the remaining salt, and remaining lemon pepper seasoning, blending all flavors.
- Toss Wings with Sauce and Lemon Zest: Transfer cooked wings to a large bowl, zest one whole lemon over them, then pour the buttery garlic lemon pepper sauce on top. Toss thoroughly to coat all wings evenly.
- Serve: Serve wings garnished with fresh parsley, lemon wedges, your choice of dipping sauces, and veggies on the side. Enjoy immediately.
- Storage and Reheat: Store any leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, air fry them at 350°F until warmed through and crispy.
Notes
- Using frozen wings is perfectly fine; just ensure they are fully thawed before air frying for even cooking.
- Adjust salt quantities depending on the sodium content of your lemon pepper seasoning blend.
- For extra crispy wings, consider flipping them halfway through the cooking time in the air fryer.
- The garlic butter sauce can be prepared ahead and warmed before tossing with wings.
- Pair these wings with fresh veggies and your favorite dipping sauces for a complete snack or meal.
- Reheating in the air fryer helps restore crispiness better than microwave reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
