Honey Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe

Calendar icon Published: Sep 8th 2022 by Chigoziri Nwachuku
Clock icon Last updated: Jul 7th 2025
Read time: 4 mins
Cuisine:
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Front View of Honey Lemon Pepper Wings

These Honey Lemon Pepper Wings are the ultimate game day snack—sweet, tangy, spicy, and irresistibly crispy. Baked instead of fried, they’re lighter without sacrificing flavor. Each wing is coated in a buttery honey lemon pepper glaze that balances heat, citrus, and sweetness in every bite. Perfect for parties, meal prep, or a fun weeknight dinner.

  • Baked, not fried—crispy with less oil
  • Sweet and savory glaze with a zesty citrus twist
  • Diabetic-friendly, gluten-free, and low-fiber
  • Easy to prep and perfect for feeding a crowd

  • Pat wings dry thoroughly before seasoning—this ensures maximum crispiness
  • Don’t skip the baking powder—it helps mimic a fried texture in the oven
  • Toss in sauce just before serving to keep wings from getting soggy

  • Serve with lemon wedges and extra honey lemon pepper sauce for dipping
  • Pair with coleslaw, sweet potato fries, or celery sticks
  • Enjoy as a main dish or party platter

If serving someone with diabetes, you can:

  • Reduce the honey or
  • Substitute with a sugar-free alternative like allulose or monk fruit syrup to lower the glycemic impact.

  • Make it spicier: Add extra hot sauce or cayenne pepper
  • Use maple syrup instead of honey for a different twist
  • Air fry instead of baking for faster results with similar crispiness
  • Gluten-free adjustment: Ensure baking powder and seasonings are certified gluten-free

  • Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days
  • Reheat: Use an oven or air fryer to re-crisp
  • Repurpose: Shred meat for wraps, salads, or rice bowls

For the Wings:

  • Chicken Wings – Split and trimmed
  • Baking Powder – Key to crisp skin
  • Black Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder – Flavorful dry rub

 

For the Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce:

  • Butter (melted) – Carries flavor and adds richness
  • Lemon Juice – Fresh acidity for balance
  • Hot Sauce – Adds heat (adjust to taste)
  • Honey – Sticky sweetness to bind the glaze
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning – The star of the sauce

 

For Serving:

  • Lemon (quartered) – Optional garnish

How do you make lemon pepper honey wings?

Toss your wings with seasonings and baking powder. The baking powder helps the wings get crispy, so add some. Then, put the branches in the oven to bake. Meanwhile, mix melted butter, honey, lemon juice, hot sauce, and lemon pepper seasoning to make your honey lemon pepper sauce. Once the wings are done baking, pour some of the sauce on top of the wings, tossing to coat. 

Are lemon pepper wings dry or wet?

The lemon pepper wings are wet since sauce is poured over them.

How do you make honey pepper sauce for wings?

To make honey pepper sauce for wings, combine melted butter, honey, lemon juice, hot sauce, and lemon pepper seasoning.

What do honey pepper lemon wings taste like?

They're sweet, savory, and spicy, with a hint of lemon for tartness.

Why use baking powder on wings?

It helps draw out moisture and makes the skin crisp up while baking.

Can I air fry these instead?

Yes! Air fry at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway through.

Rate
Average: 5 (4 votes)
Total rating includes sum of all comments and anonymous votes.

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Time & Serves

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Serves
8 persons

Ingredients

For Wings:
  • 2 pounds Chicken Wings

  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder

  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

  • 1 teaspoon Paprika

  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder

For Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons Butter, melted and hot

  • Juice of 1/2 a Lemon

  • 1 tablespoon Hot Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons Honey

  • 2 teaspoons Lemon Pepper Seasoning

For assembly:
  • 1 Lemon, quartered (Optional)

Instructions

For Wings:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper

To a large bowl, add chicken wings. Using a paper towel, pat chicken wings dry.

Raw chicken wings in a mixing bowl

In a small bowl, add baking powder, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well.

baking powder, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl

Sprinkle garlic powder on top of chicken wings, and toss wings well. 

Chicken with garlic powder mixture

On a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet, add chicken wings, and bake for 50 minutes, turning halfway through using a pair of tongs.

Honey lemon pepper Chicken wings in a baking sheet
For Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce;

In a small bowl, add melted butter, lemon juice, hot sauce, honey and lemon pepper seasoning. Using a whisk, whisk until combined.

Mix lemon pepper sauce
For Assembly:

Place the wings in a bowl, pouring part of the sauce on top. Toss to coat and serve with lemon slices and the rest of the Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce.

Serve honey Lemon Pepper Sauce
Chigoziri Nwachuku
Author:
Nutritional Recipe Writer

More posts by Chigoziri Nwachuku

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