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Air Fryer Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings: Craving two flavours at once? These crispy air fryer wings combine lemon pepper seasoning with a hot honey glaze for a sweet, tangy, and spicy bite. Cooked in the air fryer instead of deep frying, they’re a lighter option that still delivers great crunch — perfect as an appetizer or game-day snack.

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Lemon Pepper Meets Hot Honey

Rather than a straight lemon pepper wing, this version marries lemon pepper seasoning with a hot honey glaze for a delicious contrast of bright citrus, peppery notes, and sticky heat.

What to Love About These Wings

Healthier than deep-fried: Air frying uses far less oil but still produces a crispy exterior.
Air fryer crisp: The air fryer gives the skin excellent crunch without deep frying.
Bold, layered flavor: Each bite combines lemon pepper tang with sweet, spicy hot honey.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings — Step by Step

Make the seasoning: In a small bowl combine smoked paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, lemon pepper, cayenne, and hot chili powder.
Season the wings: Place wings in a large bowl and toss with about half of the seasoning blend so they’re evenly coated.
Coat with cornstarch: Mix the remaining seasoning into the cornstarch, then dip each wing into the cornstarch mixture and shake off the excess. Lining them on a wire rack helps them dry slightly before cooking.
Air fry: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Lightly spray the basket to prevent sticking, arrange wings in a single layer, spray the tops lightly, and cook for about 25 minutes, turning every 5 minutes for even browning.
Make the hot honey lemon pepper sauce: In a saucepan melt butter, stir in hot sauce and honey, then add fresh lemon juice and lemon pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, whisk smooth, and remove from heat.
Toss and serve: Place the cooked wings in a clean bowl, pour on the sauce, and toss until coated. Serve immediately with extra sauce for dipping.

Air Fryer Recommendations

You can use any air fryer with enough capacity to hold the wings in a single layer. Countertop basket-style or oven-style air fryers both work; larger models let you cook more wings at once. If your model is smaller, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding so air can circulate freely.

Oven-Baked Option

If you prefer baking, omit the cornstarch for best results and place seasoned wings on a wire rack set over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 425°F for about 25 minutes, flip, then bake another 25–30 minutes until golden and crispy. They won’t be quite as crisp as air-fried wings but will still be tasty.

Tips for the Best Wings

Dry thoroughly: Pat wings completely dry after washing to help the skin crisp up.
Buy whole wings to save: Whole wings are often cheaper; you can split them at home into drums and flats.
Avoid overcrowding: Leave space between pieces so hot air circulates and crisps them evenly.
Flip frequently: Turning the wings every 5 minutes helps ensure even browning and avoids burning.
Adjust time by appliance: Cook times vary by air fryer model; use the flipping intervals to check doneness.

Storage and Reheating

Leftover wings keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for several minutes to help restore crispness.

Recommended Tools

Mixing bowls: For seasoning, cornstarch, and tossing the wings.
Food-safe gloves: Optional but helpful when handling raw chicken.
Baking sheet and wire rack: Useful for prepping and for oven-baked wings.
Parchment paper: Speeds cleanup.
Small saucepan or skillet: For making the sauce.
Tongs: Easier to flip and toss wings without losing sauce.

More Wing Recipes

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
Buffalo Chicken Wings

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Let’s get air frying!

Air Fryer Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Crispy air fryer wings tossed in a hot honey lemon pepper sauce — bold, sticky, and bright.

Ingredients

To Clean the Chicken:

1 lb fresh chicken wings, split into drums and flats
1 lime, sliced
2 cups cold water
2 cups white vinegar

Seasoning Blend:

2 tsp smoked paprika
1½ tsp salt
1½ tsp onion powder
1½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp lemon pepper
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp hot chili powder
1 cup cornstarch
Nonstick cooking spray

Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce:

¼ cup unsalted butter
1 cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot)
1 cup honey
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning

Instructions

Washing and Drying

Add wings to a bowl with lime slices, water, and vinegar. Mix to clean, then drain.
Place wings on paper towels and pat completely dry.

Preparing the Wings

Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and set aside.
Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Combine the seasoning blend in a small bowl.
Sprinkle 1½ tablespoons of the seasoning over the wings and toss to coat.
Mix the remaining seasoning into the cornstarch. Dip wings into the seasoned cornstarch and place on the wire rack.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange wings in a single layer. Cook for 25 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes. After 10 minutes, spray the tops lightly with cooking spray. While wings cook, prepare the sauce.

Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add hot sauce and honey, stirring to combine.
Stir in lemon juice and lemon pepper, bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and whisk until smooth.
Place cooked wings in a clean bowl, pour on sauce, and toss until coated. Reserve extra sauce for dipping and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information (per serving)

Calories: 906 • Total Fat: 40g • Saturated Fat: 17g • Cholesterol: 123mg • Sodium: 1650mg • Carbohydrates: 117g • Fiber: 3g • Sugar: 72g • Protein: 21g

BON APPÉTIT!

Love, Dedra