Oven Baked Lemon Pepper Wings (gluten-free)

When it comes to wings, you can never go wrong with one of the classics! With a small amount of ingredients and loads of taste, these wings won’t break the bank and are sure to satisfy.

I don’t know about you, but there have been so many times that I have purchased a bottle of lemon pepper season for $5, only to use it once and have it sit in the back of a cabinet until I forget it’s there. This recipe uses fresh ingredients, which tastes better and is cheaper than store-bought lemon pepper seasoning.

A leading brand of lemon pepper seasoning that can be purchased at the supermarket includes sugar, citric acid, calcium stearate, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, food coloring, etc. Sure, it’s easy, but so is squeezing a couple of lemons and grinding some pepper… just sayin 🤷‍♂️

Only five ingredients and an oven are all you need to make crispy oven-baked wings without the mess and added fatty calories that come with deep-frying.

I made these wings at the same time as the mango jalapeño wings, garlic parmesan wings, and some pizza, and they were all delicious. They also received a resounding 👍🏽 from the wife and kids! Needless to say, 6 pounds of wings were gone in a matter of 20 minutes 😳

A Brief History of Chicken Wings

It’s widely accepted that Buffalo wings were invented in 1964 by Teressa Bellissimo. At the time, Bellissimo was the co-owner of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. She made the wings for her son and his friends as a late-night snack. The wings were such a hit, they were added to the menu the very next day.

According to the National Chicken Council, in the 1980s, consumers started to prefer boneless-skinless breast meat, so the wings became an inexpensive by-product. Instead of throwing out the wings, restaurants realized they could sell the wings for cheap and still make a profit.

It didn’t take long for chicken wings to gain popularity and they quickly became a football fan’s favorite snack. The National Chicken Council predicted that 1.33 billion wings would be consumed by Americans during the 2017 Super Bowl.

Lemon Pepper Chicken Wing Ingredients

• 2 pounds (about 9 pieces) chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
• 2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground, divided
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 lemons, for juice

Ingredient Notes

• Wings are packaged in different ways. The cheapest option is to purchase them fresh, as entire pieces. If you purchase them as whole pieces, you will have to separate the wings into the flat and drummette sections. This will obviously take a little extra time but it isn’t difficult. The easier, but slightly more expensive option is to purchase the wings (fresh or frozen) already separated into the flat and drummette sections.

Recipe Notes

• Cooking times will vary depending on the oven and the amount of wings you’re making.
• For easy clean-up, use parchment paper on your non-stick baking sheet.
• You can prepare your wings ahead of time and make them later. Season the wings according to the recipe and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 6 hours. When you’re ready to cook them, follow the recipe directions.

Equipment Needed for Lemon Pepper Wings

• 1 medium-sized mixing bowl
• Tongs
• 1 non-stick baking sheet

How to Make Lemon Pepper Wings

1. Preheat your oven to 425° F.
2. Place wings on a non-stick baking sheet and season both sides with salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper.
   
3. Bake the wings at 425° F for 20 minutes.
4. Using tongs, flip all of the wings over and cook for an additional 25 minutes. The wings are done when they have reached a minimum internal temperature of 165° F.
   
5. Remove the wings from the oven and place them into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
6. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze out all of the juice from both of the lemons over the top of the wings.
7. Pour the remaining pepper on top of the wings and mix well.
   
8. Serve and enjoy those flavors!

How to Use This Chicken Wing Recipe

These wings are awesome alone or go well with any appetizer spread. If you’re doing a spread, check out my Mango Jalapeño, Crispy Oven-Baked, Hot Pepper Honey, Strawberry Habanero Jalapeño Hot Pepper, and Garlic Parmesan Wing Recipes!

Wings and pizza go together like peanut butter and jelly! Make it a meal with some delicious, Chewy, Cheesy, and oh so Easy Homemade Pepperoni Pizza!

The beauty of Flavor Ratios is that we blend flavor combinations according to OUR own preferences. All recipes you find on this site serve as a guide. Who am I, to limit the amount of pepper you put on your wings? That would be wrong, and honestly, it’d keep me awake at night knowing your appetizer could’ve been better!

Watch How to Make Lemon Pepper Wings

I love seeing all of your flavorful creations! Don’t hesitate to leave a review or comment and be sure to connect with me on Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube!

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