Coconut Free Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy, golden wings with a bright, buttery lemon pepper sauce — this air fryer recipe delivers serious restaurant-quality results without a drop of coconut anywhere in sight. A lot of store-bought wing sauces and seasoning blends sneak in unexpected oils or tropical-derived ingredients, so making your own sauce from scratch is the smartest move. Here, the magic comes from a simple dry coat of baking powder, garlic powder, and salt that draws moisture out of the skin and creates that satisfying crunch the air fryer then locks in. The sauce is nothing but melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and cracked black pepper — clean, bold, and completely free of any hidden surprises. Tossing the hot wings directly in that glossy sauce means every piece gets fully coated in tangy, peppery flavor. A scatter of fresh parsley and a few lemon wedges on the side make the whole platter look like something you'd order at a proper wing bar. These are the kind of wings that disappear fast, so you might want to plan on making two batches.
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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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