Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Crispy on the outside, juicy in the center, and flavored with a savory, zesty lemon garlic seasoning, these air fryer chicken wings are the perfect appetizer, side dish, or main course.
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What can I expect?
Traditionally, wings are breaded and deep fried to create the crispy exterior we love, but there’s no need with this recipe! Instead, we use an air fryer to achieve perfectly crispy skin without the need for breading. The end result is flavorful chicken that is crisp, naturally greasy, and full of flavor and protein to satisfy your tastebuds and keep you full. One bite and you’ll never go back to overpriced restaurant wings again!
Are Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Healthy?
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Let’s take a look at the main ingredients:
- Chicken wings
- Avocado oil
Avocado oil is a natural, nutritious food source with its own list of health benefits. And we all know the white meat cuts of the chicken are healthy.
But what about chicken wings? And the chicken skin? Aren’t they fatty and unhealthy?
Neutral Eating has a practical stance on dark meat and chicken skin:
If you’re going to eat meat, make full use of the animal. Eating the whole animal is sustainable, nutritious, and humane.
Both dark meat and chicken skin are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, protein, and natural fat energy. And the stuff is delicious. Doing right by the animal means you get to eat it all. Enjoy the dark meat. Enjoy the skin! Learn more about the Neutral Eating Food Philosophy here.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Tips
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1. Make it a meal
Turn this appetizer into a complete meal with healthy sides like veggie sticks, lemon Parmesan salad, hidden veggie pasta, or low-carb macaroni and cheese.
2. Bake them instead
No air fryer? No problem! Bake your wings in the oven instead. To do so, arrange them in a single layer on a greased baking sheet, and place them in the oven, rotating them roughly every 20 minutes until they’re cooked through. They won’t be quite as crispy, but they’ll still taste incredible! (Do you own a convection oven? Turn the convection fan on.)
3. Use different seasonings
Not a fan of lemon pepper? Swap out the spices with any you like best!
5. Rest the chicken wings
It can be tempting to dig in right away, but you’ll want to set your wings aside for at least 5 minutes after removing them from the air fryer. This helps redistribute the juices, ensuring they stay tender and juicy.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
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Ingredients
- 1½ lbs – chicken wings
- 1 Tbsp – avocado oil
- 2 tsp – lemon pepper
- 1½ tsp – lemon zest
- 1 clove – garlic minced or half tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat wings dry.
- Toss wings with oil, lemon pepper, lemon zest, and garlic.
- Place wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Set the air fryer to 410 F. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip and add a meat thermometer. Cook another 8-10 minutes until the internal temperature is 165 F.
- Enjoy your crispy and tangy chicken wings.
- Optional: add your favorite dipping sauce or sprinkle fresh lemon juice for an extra kick.
Notes
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Please let us know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #neutraleating
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Recipes in the image above
1. Crispy Skin Chicken and Mushrooms (cast iron)
2. Lemon Garlic Chicken (sheet pan)
3. Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl copycat
