Hey there, wing enthusiast! Get ready to wing it with these zero-net carb lemon pepper wings! We're talkin' homemade seasoning, baked to perfection in the oven. These wings are clutch for game day, but who says you need an excuse to indulge in some delicious wing goodness?
Whether you're chowing down solo or sharing with friends, these wings will have you covered as the perfect appetizer, snack, or even a full-on meal. So spread your wings and dig in!
Welcome to the party where we've got some juicy lemon pepper wings waiting for you! These babies are brimming with lemon pepper goodness, and guess what? They won't break the bank!
Plus, who doesn't love a meal that's fun to eat? These wings are so versatile, you can enjoy them solo or dip them in your favorite wing sauce. So sit back, relax, and let's get clucking!
You may know that I love all things lemon. Try these dinner recipes that also use fresh lemons Lemon Garlic Pasta, Lemon Pepper Chicken and Asparagus Foil Packets, and Red Snapper with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce!
Why You'll Love These Lemon Pepper Wings
This recipe uses homemade lemon pepper seasoning. Lemon zest is the key ingredient and when combined with crushed peppercorns creates a fantastic BOLD flavor! You'll remove the zest from fresh lemons and dry it out in the oven. Then you'll grind it with black peppercorns with a spice grinder.
Sure, you could use the pre-made lemon pepper seasoning and they would turn out fine. But for this recipe, I encourage you to take a little extra time to prepare the homemade seasoning. It is so worth it.
I always have enough lemon pepper seasoning left over for later and I've used it on pork chops as well. These wings are quite addictive!
Keto Chicken Wings
All of the ingredients in this recipe are keto-approved. At 0 net carbs per serving, this is a great high protein, low carb meal.
Get ready to lick those fingers clean, my friend, because these baked keto chicken wings are off-the-charts delicious!
Key Ingredients Needed
Only 5 ingredients are needed for these Lemon Pepper Wings; some you probably already have on hand.
- Wings - you'll need about 4 pounds - remove the pesky tips.
- Lemons - fresh lemon zest is abundant with flavor! It's worth the time to make it from scratch.
- Black peppercorns - you'll grind fresh crushed peppercorns with the dried lemon zest!
Need another game day recipe to serve with these wings? Try my Hearty Keto Chili Recipe. A meat lover's dream meal!
How to Make Them
Here's a short summary of the recipe steps. See the recipe card for full instructions!
Step 1: Bake the lemon zest - This can be done a day or two in advance. Remove the zest from each lemon with a citrus zester and spread it in on parchment paper on a baking sheet. You'll bake it for about 45 minutes on the lowest oven temp.
Step 2: Make the lemon pepper seasoning - Add dried lemon zest, salt, and crushed peppercorns to a spice grinder and blend.
Step 3: Toss the chicken wings with olive oil and 1-2 tablespoons of lemon-pepper seasoning in a large bowl.
Step 4: Arrange seasoned chicken wings in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. Flip the wings and bake for another 20-25 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the wings from oven and serve with sliced celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing, if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thawed is the preferred method. But if the wings are frozen, you can thaw them in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or in a bowl of cold water. Here are 3 methods to thaw frozen chicken wings.
For plain baked chicken wings, the dipping sauce options are vast! It depends on whether you want creamy, spicy, sweet, or vinegar based. Some popular choices are ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, garlic aioli, sriracha mayo, chipotle sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc., etc., etc.!
Tater tots, fries, coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, mac and cheese, or a green salad. Celery sticks, carrot sticks, and bell pepper slices. Ice cold tea, water, or cold beer.
What to do with leftover lemons after zesting
One large lemon can have 2-3 tablespoons of juice. Since we only use the zest for this recipe, save the juice and use it in your tea or add to your water. Or make a single serving lemonade!
Recipe Tips
Dry the chicken wings thoroughly: Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels before seasoning and baking them. This will help the skin to crisp up in the oven.
Turn the wings halfway through: To ensure even cooking, flip the chicken wings over halfway through the cooking process.
Broil for extra crispiness: For extra crispy wings, broil them for a couple of minutes at the end of the cooking time, being careful not to burn them.
Let them rest: Allow the chicken wings to rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the juices redistribute throughout the meat and prevent them from becoming dry.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover baked chicken wings in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids. Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.
Are you new to keto and not exactly sure which foods are allowed? May I suggest this handy 16 Foods to East on a Ketogentic Diet from Healthline.
More Chicken Recipes to Try
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If you tried this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear from you.
Recipe
Lemon Pepper Wings
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Chicken wings, tips removed and patted dry
- 4-5 Large lemons, zested
- 3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black peppercorns, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to warm (lowest setting). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Wash the lemons and pat them dry. Remove zest from each lemon with a citrus zester. A good zester will remove all the yellow and none of the bitter white layer.
- Evenly spread out the zest on the sheet pan, and place it on the middle rack in the oven. After 20 minutes, remove pan from oven and toss to make sure zest is drying evenly. Return the pan to the oven for about 25-30 minutes until thoroughly dried, then remove from the oven.
- Increase the oven temperature to 425°F. Add the dried lemon zest to a spice grinder, coffee grinder, or small food processor. Add the salt and black peppercorns. Grind ingredients until thoroughly blended. Taste test and add additional salt and pepper if needed.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with olive oil and 1-2 tablespoons of lemon-pepper seasoning.
- Place the wings in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet without overcrowding them. (If desired, line with parchment paper for easy clean up, and use a wire rack on top of the baking sheet for extra crispy wings). Bake for 20-25 minutes. Turn wings over and bake another 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Serve with sliced celery and your favorite dipping sauce, if desired. Ranch or blue cheese are great options!
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and was updated in 2023.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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