Thanks to appetizing recipes like this hot honey lemon pepper wings recipe, you only need a few easy-to-find ingredients and a baking sheet.
This simple recipe yields crispy chicken wings coated with an irresistible hot and spicy lemon pepper sauce(with bold, tangy flavors and a mild kick of heat).
Every bite ensures a combination of complex flavors and textures.
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Why You'll Love This Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings?
This hot honey lemon pepper wing is a perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer. It is a must-add to your chicken recipes for your forthcoming game day, family gathering, or special location.
After trying multiple times, my family acknowledges this as one of the world's best hot and sweet chicken wings recipes. I appreciate this recipe's hassle-free procedure for making it (like this honey Sriracha shrimp).
On top of that, this recipe is highly customizable!
If you prefer the chicken wings hot and spicy, increase the volume of cayenne pepper or think of adding Sriracha sauce(like this honey Sriracha sauce). On the other hand, if you prefer this hot honey lemon pepper wings to have a subtle heat, skip the canned pepper altogether from the recipe(similar to this hot honey sauce).
To make this recipe as simple as possible, I have minimized the ingredients but never compromised with the overall taste of these hot and sweet lemon pepper wings.
The Ingredients
- Chicken wings. Pat dry the chicken wings before marinating. The moisture in the chicken determines the crispiness of the chicken wings. Hence, remove the moisture as much as possible.
- Baking powder. Baking powder makes the chicken wings crispy and golden brown. I prefer choosing an aluminum-free version.
- Honey. This gives the body to this spicy honey lemon pepper wings sauce and works as a binding agent that evenly coats chicken wings. I highly advise you to add honey without substituting it with other sweeteners.
- Hot sauce. I have used Frank's original hot sauce, but feel free to use the hot sauce you use regularly in the kitchen.
- Lemon juice. Apart from adding a bright, refreshing flavor, it also thickens and emulsifies the sauce.
- Ground black pepper. Freshly crushed black pepper provides an intense flavor.
- Garlic powder. Black pepper and garlic complement each other. And it works great in this hot honey lemon pepper chicken wings recipe.
How To Make Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings?
Prepping the Chicken wings
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Line a baking sheet over the kitchen counter with the parchment paper. And set aside.
Pat dry the chicken wings using a kitchen towel. Make sure they are completely dried. The drier they are, the crispier they will be.
Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients: baking powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and crushed black pepper.
Add the chicken wings. And toss until the chicken wings are evenly coated with the spice mix.
For Baking
Arrange the chicken wings on the baking sheet in a single layer without crowding or staking.
Bake for about 45 minutes or until the edges of the chicken wings turn golden brown and crispy. Cooking time varies between 45 minutes and one hour, depending on the size of the wings and the type of oven.
Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
On the other hand, you may also try these hot honey lemon pepper wings in the air fryer.
For the hot honey lemon pepper sauce
Now, in a large mixing bowl, add all the wet ingredients-honey, hot sauce, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt.
Whisk well until all the ingredients combine.
Add chicken wings to the bowl and toss them until the sauce coats the chicken wings evenly.
Serve it with spicy ranch or your favorite dipping sauce choice, and ENJOY!
Serving suggestions for hot honey lemon pepper wings
As a standalone dish. These hot honey lemon pepper chicken wings are great for serving as an appetizer or a main dish. Think of serving with an unbeatable combination of ranch. This jalapeno ranch is our family’s first preference.
With vegetables. Carrots, celery sticks, or iceberg lettuce balances the hot chicken wings.
Steamed vegetables. Steamed broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, and beets work well too.
With salad. Garden salad, coleslaw, cucumber salad(like this cucumber jalapeno salad), avocado salad, potato salad taste excellent, and spicy chicken wings.
Printable Recipe Card
Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
Ingredients
For Baking
- 2 lbs chicken wings halved at joints and wingtips discarded
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper crushed
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Prepping
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Pat dry the chicken wings thoroughly using a kitchen towel.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, add baking powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, salt, crushed black pepper.
- Add the chicken wings. And toss until the chicken wings are evenly coated with the spice mix.
- Arrange it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Baking
- Arrange the chicken wings in the baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake it for about 45 minutes or until the edges of the chicken wings turn golden brown and crispy.
- Remove it from the oven, and allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
Sauce
- Now, in a large mixing bowl, add honey, hot sauce, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt.
- Whisk well until all the ingredients combine together.
- Add chicken wings to the bowl and toss them until the sauce coats the chicken wings evenly.
- Serve it with spicy ranch or with your favorite choice of dipping sauce and ENJOY!
Notes
- Make a note that cooking time varies between 45 minutes to one hour depending on the size of the wings and the type of oven.
- Baking powder enhances the crispiness of the chicken wings.
- Lining with the parchment paper helps the chicken wings come out easily from the baking sheet.
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