Turmeric Free Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy, golden chicken wings with a bright, buttery lemon pepper sauce are one of those crowd-pleasing bites that never get old. The air fryer does the heavy lifting here, circulating hot air around each piece until the skin turns deeply golden and genuinely crunchy — no deep fryer, no mess. A light coating of baking powder is the secret weapon, drawing out moisture and giving you that satisfying snap with every bite. The sauce is simple and made entirely from scratch: melted butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and coarsely ground black pepper come together in minutes for a flavor that's tangy, savory, and a little bold. Store-bought lemon pepper seasonings are notorious for sneaking in unexpected spices and additives, so making your own sauce from these clean, straightforward ingredients keeps everything exactly where you want it. A finishing scatter of fresh parsley and a few lemon wedges on the side makes the whole platter look like something you'd order at a restaurant. Serve them immediately while the skin is still crackling and the sauce is warm — these don't last long.
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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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