Rice Free Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy, golden wings with a bright, buttery lemon pepper sauce — this air fryer recipe delivers serious restaurant-level results without a deep fryer or a drop of oil for frying. The secret to that shatteringly crisp skin is baking powder, which draws out moisture and helps the exterior caramelize beautifully at high heat. A quick flip halfway through cooking ensures every piece gets evenly golden, and the homemade sauce — fresh lemon juice, zest, coarsely ground black pepper, and melted butter — comes together in minutes while the wings finish up. Because the whole recipe is built around simple, whole ingredients, there's no need to scan labels for hidden grains or fillers. Wings are one of those foods that can sneak in starchy coatings or seasoning blends with unwanted add-ins, so making them from scratch this way keeps things clean and completely in your control. A finishing scatter of fresh parsley and a few lemon wedges on the side makes the platter look as good as it tastes. These are the kind of wings that disappear fast, so consider doubling the batch.
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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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