Barley Free Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy, golden wings with a bright, buttery lemon pepper sauce — this air fryer recipe is the kind of thing that disappears fast at any gathering. The secret to that shatteringly crisp skin is baking powder, which draws out moisture and helps the exterior caramelize beautifully without a drop of oil. A quick toss in a fresh sauce made from real lemon juice, lemon zest, and coarsely ground black pepper keeps every bite punchy and vibrant. For anyone navigating a barley-free lifestyle, store-bought wing sauces and seasoning blends can be a minefield of hidden grain-based additives — this recipe sidesteps all of that with a short, clean ingredient list you can verify at a glance. The butter-based sauce comes together in minutes on the stovetop while the wings finish in the air fryer, so timing is effortless. Finished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon, these wings are just as at home on a weeknight dinner plate as they are on a game-day spread.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 lbs chicken wings, split into flats and drumettes, tips removed
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
For the lemon pepper sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
- 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pat the chicken wings thoroughly dry with paper towels. In a large mixing bowl, toss the wings with the baking powder, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
- 2
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (205°C) for 3 minutes. Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece — work in two batches if needed to avoid crowding.
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