Crispy, sweet, and zesty! These honey lemon pepper wings are easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for game day or family night.
Crispy, golden perfection meets sweet, citrusy heat in these irresistible Honey Lemon Pepper Wings. They’re sticky, zesty, and full of bold flavor—perfect for game day or an easy weeknight indulgence.
We are serious chicken wing fans in our house. I mean, we’ve got about a dozen chicken wing recipes on the site. From adobo chicken wings to baked teriyaki chicken wings to our reader favorite crispy air fryer chicken wings, there’s always some wing action happening in our kitchen!
And these honey lemon pepper wings come out of the oven crackling and fragrant, their glaze shimmering with honey and a punch of lemon. They’ve got that delicious mix of crispy skin, juicy meat, and that addictive balance of tangy and sweet.
I can’t wait for you all to try these wings and let us know if you love them as much as we do!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
Oh chicken wings. How do we love thee? Let me count the ways…
- They’re easy enough for busy weeknights but special enough for entertaining.
- The glaze uses simple pantry ingredients.
- They’re baked and turn out crisp and flavorful.
- Cleanup is minimal because there’s no deep fryer needed!
- They are the ultimate Game Day appetizer.
Ingredient notes
You’ll just need a few basic ingredients for this recipe, but you’ll notice that you will be using some of the ingredients twice: once for the seasoning and another for the sauce.
- Chicken wings – Pat them dry before seasoning to help them crisp up nicely.
- Cornstarch – adds another layer to crisp up beautifully.
- Honey – use a good-quality wildflower or clover honey for natural sweetness and sticky shine.
- Lemon juice and zest – fresh is key for bright, tangy flavor.
- Salt, paprika, and garlic powder – simple seasonings that are essential for balance and depth of flavor.
- Black pepper – use freshly cracked for bold aroma and heat.
Step-by-step instructions
You’ll find the full list of ingredients along with measurements, and more detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos to help you along the way!
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the seasoning.
- Dredge each wing into the seasoning flour and coat completely.
- Shake off excess seasoning flour then place onto a wire rack fitted over a baking sheet.
4. In a separate large bowl, add the sauce ingredients.
5. Whisk together the sauce ingredients, saving about 1/3 of the sauce for later.
6. Lightly dip the wings into the sauce.
7. Bake at 425°F for 40 minutes, then remove.
8. While they are baking, stir the sauce occasionally.
9. Brush the reserve sauce over the wings. Then bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Chicken is done when a thermometer inserted into the chicken meat reads 165°F.
Marlynn’s Tip
Recipe Tips
- Use chopsticks or tongs to dip the wings in the sauce before baking.
- You can use arrowroot starch instead of cornstarch.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure they’re very dry before baking and use a wire rack so air circulates evenly.
Yes. Cook at 400°F for about 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway.
Yes. Bake them, refrigerate, then reheat in the oven and toss with glaze before serving.
Keep in an airtight container up to 3 days and reheat at 375°F until warm and crisp.
Serving suggestions
We love making these honey lemon pepper wings for family dinners, but they also shine at game-day parties, family game nights, and movie marathons.
Serve with crisp celery sticks and our homemade creamy dairy-free ranch sauce or buffalo ranch sauce.
They also make a great side for dairy-free mac and cheese, along with herby potatoes, or charred corn salad.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
• Riesling – its fruity sweetness balances the peppery heat and complements the honey glaze.
• Chardonnay – a lightly oaked bottle enhances the buttery lemon flavor without overpowering it.
More chicken wing recipes
Chicken Recipes
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Filipino Recipes
Filipino Adobo Chicken Wings
Chicken Recipes
Honey Bourbon Wings
Chicken Recipes
Salt and Pepper Wings
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs chicken wings
Seasoning
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- zest of one lemon
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the seasoning ingredients (cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, lemon zest, and pepper).
- Dredge each wing directly into the seasoning. Shake off excess. Then place the wings on the prepared lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake at 425°F for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, make the sauce.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients (honey, melted butter, lemon juice, zest, salt and pepper). Reserve about 1/3 of the sauce in a separate small bowl for later.
- After 40 minutes of baking, remove the wings from the oven and using tongs or chopsticks (the wings will be hot!), carefully coat with the sauce in the larger mixing bowl.
- Bake wings for another 10 minutes.
- Brush the remaining sauce over the wings. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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