Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

A simpler, lighter option for wing night that’s sure to become a favorite!

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We’re big fans of a good chicken wing, and this is one of our favorite recipes. It’s super simple and has a lighter, fresher flavor than breaded or saucy wings… not that we don’t love those styles, too!

You know how sometimes wings can be so heavily sauced that you can’t really taste the chicken? Here the flavor of the chicken takes center stage, and is augmented with a lemony lighness and some depth from the pepper. Simple and perfect. We like to make a simple 0% fat Greek yogurt dip for them and a pile of raw veggies on the side.

Are Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Healthy?

This is one of the healthiest ways to cook chicken wings. They’re not fried, breaded or coated in sugary sauce, and accompanied by crunchy veggies and a low calorie dip, they’re pretty much as healthy as chicken wings can get.

If you’re worried about the additives in store-bought lemon pepper seasoning, it’s really easy to make your own with just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. This way you can manage the sodium levels and make sure you’re not getting any MSG, binders or fillers that can be in commercially prepared seasonings. If you’re going to buy your lemon pepper, read the ingredient list carefully.

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Making your own lemon pepper seasoning is very easy and we think it brings these crispy wings to the next level. Simply grate the rind of a washed lemon and add equal parts of freshly ground pepper and your favorite salt. We like slightly coarse Himalayan Pink Salt or Celtic Sea Salt – they have a more complex flavor than regular salt and are also loaded with trace minerals that your body needs. If you like, add a little garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika to the mix. Give it a good stir and leave it in a open bowl for a couple of hours to let the zest dry out, at which point you can transfer it to a mason jar where it’ll keep for months.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 pound of chicken wings tips removed and wings separated
1 tbsp of homemade or store-bought Lemon Pepper seasoning opt for low sodium for a healthier choice
Fresh lemon zest optional
Cooking spray olive oil or avocado oil preferred

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat

Preheat your air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes.

Season

Toss wings in Lemon Pepper seasoning and fresh lemon zest for added tang.

Cook

Lightly oil the air fryer basket. Place the wings in, cook for 10 minutes, flip, then cook for another 10 minutes till golden and crisp. DEVOUR!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

These wings are best eaten right out of the air fryer, but you can prep them in advance and store them in the fridge for 24 hours. It’ll actually deepen the flavors. Make sure to bring them to room temperature before air frying, for a maximum of two hours. If you forget, that’s OK… but they might take a minute or two longer to cook.

How do I get the wings super crispy?

An air fryer works by circulating hot air around your food. The secret for the crispiest wings is to not over-crowd the fryer. Leave space around the pieces in the basket. If you need to cook a lot of wings and you have to pile them in, pause the fryer every 4-5 minutes and give the basket a good shake to move the wings around.

What kind of dip are they good with?

the simple answer is “any dip you like!”, but we opt for a healthy and delicious yogurt dip. To 0% fat Greek yogurt add some garlic powder, a squeeze of lemon juice and a little dill. A little grated cucumber gives the dip a lovely freshness that goes great with the lemony wings.

How will i know when they’re fully cooked?

Your best bet is meat thermometer. Instant-read thermometers are inexpensive and easy to find, and we feel every kitchen should have one. Probe the thickest part of drumette without touching the bone – it should read 165F.

Serving Suggestions

We like to offset the calorie count by serving these with crudité; a bunch of raw veggies like celery, carrots, peppers, broccoli or whatever you have on hand. Having said that, they pair beautifully with https://www.foodfaithfitness.com/oven-roasted-lemon-greek-potatoes/ for a really hearty meal.