Beef Free Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy, golden chicken wings with a bright, buttery lemon pepper glaze — this air fryer recipe is the kind of thing that disappears fast at any gathering. The secret to that seriously crunchy skin is baking powder in the dry coating, which draws out moisture and creates a texture that rivals anything deep-fried. No beef, no pork, no mystery ingredients — just clean, simple components you can feel good about. The lemon pepper sauce comes together in minutes on the stovetop, with fresh lemon juice, zest, and coarsely ground black pepper stirred into melted butter for a finish that's tangy, savory, and just a little rich. Tossing the hot wings straight into that sauce means every piece gets fully coated before it hits the platter. A handful of fresh parsley and a few lemon wedges on the side make it look like you put in way more effort than you actually did. Whether you're feeding a crowd or just treating yourself, these wings are genuinely hard to stop eating.
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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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