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Our Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings are crispy with tons of flavor from our zesty lemon pepper seasoning. Whether you’re looking for Big Game recipes or prepping for a weekend wing craving, our Grilled Lemon Pepper Wing recipe is easy to make and will have everyone diving in for seconds!
Why This Recipe Works
- We use our homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning, which has a good amount of dried lemon zest for a bright flavor balanced with the pepper. Or you can use a store-bought version if you’re not up for making your own.
- We utilize our fail-proof trick for air-drying wings in the refrigerator (or use our baking powder hack) to get the wings nice and dry before grilling to ensure crispy wings!
- Grilling the chicken wings over direct heat will allow the chicken skin to get crispy. If you set up for two-zone grilling you have the option to move the wings over indirect heat to finish and avoid burning.
We have a lot of chicken wing recipes on our website inspired by flavors we have loved over the years. And there’s something about the simplicity of lemon pepper wings flavor and the crispy texture makes us salivate. Grilling them adds a lovely earthy flavor that can’t be replicated through deep frying or an air fryer.
Table of Contents
Ingredients + Substitutions For Lemon Pepper Wings
The ingredients are simple, so we recommend you make your own homemade lemon pepper seasoning to get the best flavor. All portions are in the recipe card.
- Chicken Wings – Use drums and flats. You could replicate this with chicken thighs or legs too, but that will require more seasoning and longer cook time. You can get more details on timing in our Grilled Chicken Lollipops and Grilled Chicken Thighs.
- Olive Oil – Use as a binder for the chicken wings and seasoning to stick.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning – The key is using dried lemon zest in your seasoning. You can use our homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning or you can use a store-bought version.
Preparation
Separate Drums and Flats (if needed) – If you purchase a whole wing with drums, flats, and the winglet connected, separate the drums and flats and discard the winglet or use it in a homemade stock. You can read our tutorial on how to cut whole chicken wings into flats and drumettes.
Dry Wings – The secret to crispy skin is to allow the wings to air dry. After separating the wings into pieces, pat them dry with a paper towel. Place a cookie drying rack into a sheet tray and then line up the wings. Place the sheet tray, uncovered, in the refrigerator for four hours. Having the chicken wings elevated on the drying rack allows air to flow around them to dry them out in the refrigerator.
Expert Tip
Your chicken wings need to be dry before grilling and seasoning. This will enhance the crispy skin. Be sure to air-dry your wings uncovered as we mention in our prep section.
If you are pressed for time, then add baking powder to your lemon pepper seasoning. This will help the wings get crispy without air drying in advance. This is similar to adding it to fried chicken.
How To Grill Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Tools Recommended: Long Tongs – To avoid burning off your arm hair.
- Preheat Grill: Prepare your grill for two-zone grilling using lump charcoal. Target a grill temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season Wings: Place the dried wings into a large bowl, add the olive oil and then generously season with the lemon seasoning.
- Grill Wings: Place the seasoned wings over the direct side of the grill, close the lid, and allow them to grill direct for 6 minutes or until you see the wings start to darken and crisp up. Rotate them with your tongs over direct heat to continue cooking each side of the wing for 6 minutes. Close the lid in between rotating the wings to minimize flare-ups. For wings that are crispy but not quite done, move them to the indirect side until they finish coming to the desired internal temperature.
- Remove: Remove the wings after 18 – 20 minutes or the internal temperature of the wings are between 170 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit using a good instant-read thermometer. We use the Thermoworks Thermapen One.
Pitmaster Note: Expect your grill to have hot spots. Rotate your wings around the hot spots as they grill and move the wings to the indirect side of the grill to avoid burning them until they are finished cooking.
Variations For Lemon Pepper Wings
- You can add a spicy kick to your grilled lemon pepper wings by adding 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your seasoning.
- For dipping sauces, we recommend our Homemade Buttermilk Ranch recipe. It’s refreshing and won’t overpower the lemon flavor like a creamy blue cheese.
- We do not recommend saucing the wings because it will bury the delicate flavor of the seasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no need to allow grilled lemon pepper wings to rest because we are cooking them well over the recommended 165 degrees F. Instead, allow them to rest only so they are cool enough to eat safely. 10 minutes, tops. The longer they rest, the quicker the skins will become soft and lose their crispiness. So dive right in!
Lemon pepper seasoning is made with dried lemon zest, coarse black pepper, kosher salt, and other seasonings. Many store-bought rubs will include garlic powder, onion powder, or other herbal flavors as well as ingredients to help them stay shelf stable. Ours is fresh with few ingredients.
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Wine Pairing Ideas
The grilled lemon pepper wings will have a dried citrus note and an earthy flavor because of the grill. We recommend a crisp Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Not only will this be a super refreshing pairing, but the flavors will typically mimic the lovely citrus flavors of the zesty lemon pepper seasoning.
More Chicken Wing Recipe Ideas
BBQ Chicken Recipes
Grilled Chicken Wings with Spicy Peanut Wing Sauce
BBQ Chicken Recipes
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wings (with Crispy Skin)
BBQ Chicken Recipes
Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings Recipe
Food Recipes
Grilled Wings with Buffalo Hot Honey Wing Sauce
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Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings, (Use both drums and flats)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ cup ranch dressing, (Or your favorite dipping sauce for wings)
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Prepare your grill for two-zone grilling using lump charcoal. Target a grill temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the dried wings into a large bowl, add the olive oil and then generously season with the lemon seasoning.
- Grill Wings: Place the seasoned wings over the direct side of the grill, close the lid, and allow them to grill direct for 6 minutes or until you see the wings start to darken and crisp up. Rotate them with your tongs over direct heat to continue cooking each side of the wing for 6 minutes. Close the lid in between rotating the wings to minimize flare-ups. For wings that are crispy but not quite done, move them to the indirect side until they finish coming to the desired internal temperature.
- Remove: Remove the wings after 18 – 20 minutes or the internal temperature of the wings are between 170 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit using a good instant-read thermometer. We use the Thermoworks Thermapen One.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This lemon pepper wing recipe is incredible. Keep it simple with great ingredients and great flavor.