Name: Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound chicken wings, separated; 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil; 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning; 1/2 tablespoon baking powder (optional); 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

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You simply can’t go wrong with these Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings! They’re loaded with flavor, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. All with just a few simple ingredients.

Y’all know by now how much I love me some chicken wings! My traditional crispy air fryer wings are quick and easy. And my convection oven chicken wings are the bomb! (You’ve gotta try the spice combo I use on those!) Yes I do love all of my chicken wings recipes.

Health Benefits of Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are hands down one of my favorite snacks/appetizers/easy meals. But deep-fried, slathered-in-sugar BBQ sauce wings are a thing of the past for me. And that’s a good thing!

My anti-inflammatory diet has changed my life. Literally. It was a necessity for me (diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease). But through my research, I’ve learned that pretty much every human could benefit from an anti-inflammatory diet.

And that’s where my air fryer comes in. Game changer. Now I can enjoy all kinds of foods that used to be deep fried. Except now they’re air fried with a little health-friendly oil.

Yes, these air-fried lemon pepper chicken wings rival any wings I’ve ever had. (And that’s saying a lot!)

Cooking chicken wings in the air fryer eliminates the bad-for-you oils used for deep frying. Just grab some high-quality wings, a little avocado or olive oil, and some basic spices and you’re good to go! They taste great and give you that requisite boost of protein. (Did I already say they taste great??)

This is one of my most-requested air fryer recipes.

Why Are My Wings Not Crispy In The Air Fryer?

The air fryer is the easiest way to get super crispy wings (if you’re not going for deep-fried). But there are a few tricks to bring out max crispiness.

Some air fryers require preheating, so be sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions to see if you should preheat yours. Also, pat the wings dry before adding the olive oil and seasonings.

raw chicken wings on a cutting board horizontal

Another way to enhance crispiness is to mix in some baking powder with the dry seasonings (see full recipe below). This is optional, but it does add to the final crispy texture of these air fryer lemon pepper wings.

Finally, if at the end of the cooking cycle, you still want them a little crispier, just increase the temp by 20 degrees and give them another 2-3 minutes cooking time.

That’s the beautiful thing about wings in the air fryer – you can make them come out exactly as you like them!

Ingredients For Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings

Chicken Wings – I prefer to use pre-cut wing sections to make prep easier. (See full recipe below)
Olive Oil – Avocado oil works just as well.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning – There are many varieties but I particularly like this all natural one.
Baking Powder – This is optional, but you’ll get the crispiest wings with it.

A note about lemon pepper seasoning

There are dozens of brands and types of lemon pepper seasoning. Some of them have quite a bit of salt, and other don’t. Likewise for pepper.

I suggest you take a quick finger taste test of the seasoning you have to determine the saltiness. Do not add additional salt if your blend tastes very salty. But add 1/2 teaspoon of salt if your mix tastes a little bland. The same goes for pepper.

You can also make your own premade lemon pepper seasoning by mixing together 2 teaspoons of coarse salt with 2 teaspoons of freshly ground pepper. Then add the zest from 4 lemons and mix well.

This homemade seasoning mix does not work quite as well in the air fryer due to the oils in the lemon zest and may have a tendency to burn a bit, so check your wings early!

How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Preheat your air fryer if the manufacturer suggests. (see full recipe below for times and temperature).
Pat the wings dry.
Drizzle with olive oil or avocado oil then add the lemon pepper seasoning (and baking powder, if using) and mix well.
Wipe your air fryer basket with a little more olive oil to prevent sticking.
Place your wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket, leaving a little space between the wings for better air circulation. You may need to do two batches if your air fryer basket is small.
Flip the wings over halfway through the cooking process.
Add additional cooking time if you want them a little crispier.

How to Store And Reheat

The wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months if wrapped tightly to remove as much air as possible.

To reheat, remove from the refrigerator and place in the air fryer basket. Reheat at 300 degrees for 4-5 minutes. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight then follow the above step.

These air fryer wings are great for a family gathering or a simple afternoon snack. You’ll never go back to deep-fried! Check out these amazing air fryer dinner recipes if you’re looking for more inspiration!