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Home » Appetizers » Lemon Chicken Wings

Published: July 23, 2015 Last Modified: July 17, 2019 By Sara 46 Comments

Lemon Chicken Wings

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Lemon Chicken Wings Recipe | Baked Chicken Wings #chicken #chickenwings #lemon #appetizer #dinner #dinneratthezoo

These baked lemon chicken wings are brined, then roasted to crispy perfection. An easy dinner or appetizer option!

Chicken wings don’t have to be fried in order to be ultra crispy. This version uses a lemon and herb brine which adds tons of flavor and creates a super crispy wing.

Lemon Chicken Wings Recipe | Baked Chicken Wings #chicken #chickenwings #lemon #appetizer #dinner #dinneratthezoo Lemon Chicken Wings Recipe | Baked Chicken Wings #chicken #chickenwings #lemon #appetizer #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A basket of baked lemon chicken wings with a side of ranch.

Chicken. We eat a lot of it. The girls love chicken so I know that it’s usually a safe choice for dinner. I however crave more variety. When I was at the grocery store I spotted some nice looking chicken wings. On a whim, I decided to forgo our usual breast/thigh combo and buy wings instead, hoping that the girls would approve. Not only did they approve of my crispy lemon chicken wings, they loved them! This recipe is now part of our regular dinner rotation and the girls happily eat it every time.

How do you make lemon chicken wings?

These crispy lemon chicken wings are baked not fried, but you’d never know it because they come out of the oven super crispy. I use a simple lemon, honey and rosemary brine to flavor the chicken and it’s the ingredients in this brine that make the wings deep golden brown, almost caramelized.

Baked chicken wings with lemon wedges in a serving basket.

So here’s the deal: make the brine, drop the chicken wings in, come back a few hours later then roast at high heat and serve. I recommend my ranch dip on the side but you can certainly eat them plain too. I buy the party wings where they’re cut into two pieces, my girls eat all of the drumettes and leave the other pieces behind for me and my husband.

Lemon chicken wings on small plates.

If you’ve never tried brining chicken before, now is definitely the time to start. It adds so much flavor and moisture to the meat. That being said, it is possible to over brine your meat, so it’s important to stick to the time guidelines in the recipe. These crispy lemon chicken wings are a great choice for dinner and they also make a fun party appetizer. Who needs a deep fryer when you can bake your wings and get the same result?!

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More chicken recipes

  • Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
  • Honey Mustard Chicken
  • Monterey Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
  • Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
These super crispy lemon chicken wings are baked not fried, the secret is in the special brine.
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5 from 2 votes

Lemon Chicken Wings

These crispy lemon chicken wings are baked not fried and are perfect served as a main course or appetizer. 
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 169kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 pounds party style chicken wings or whole chicken wings that have been halved crosswise
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 lemon juiced plus the squeezed lemon pieces
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 8 cups water
  • cooking spray
  • 4-6 lemon wedges for serving
  • Ranch dip for serving optional

Instructions

  • Bring one cup of water to a boil (I use the microwave) and pour the water into a very large bowl. Add the salt and honey to the water and stir until the salt has dissolved. Add the garlic, bay leaf, rosemary and peppercorns to the bowl. Add the lemon juice and the squeezed lemon pieces. Pour 7 cups of very cold water over everything and stir until combined. Place the chicken wings in the brine, cover the bowl and put it into the refrigerator. Chill for at least 2 hours but no more than 8 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Remove the chicken wings from the brine and pat dry with a paper towel. Place the wings in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes or until wings are a deep golden brown. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and ranch dip if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 435mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g
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Filed Under: Appetizers, Comfort Food, Dinner, Everyday Meals

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    Comments

    1. Shirley says

      February 13, 2022 at 7:13 am

      Can I use frozen wings pieces or should they be defrosted before putting them in the brine?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 15, 2022 at 11:01 am

        Yes they should be defrosted first!

        Reply
    2. Debbie says

      April 23, 2019 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      I make these all the time! It’s become a family favorite! A good beer and these are delicious!

      Reply
    3. Rick says

      July 1, 2018 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      These actually came out nice and crispy, great flavor too. This is going in my rotation.

      Reply
    4. KELLY MCCORMICK says

      February 8, 2018 at 1:06 pm

      Do you think these could be grilled on the BBQ as well?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 8, 2018 at 9:44 pm

        Yes I think that would work fine!

        Reply
    5. Meg @ With Salt and Wit says

      July 28, 2015 at 6:40 pm

      My hubby lovesssss wings while I prefer boneless…something about having to rip the meat off the bone and get my face dirty. Such a girly girl I am 😉 But I am loving the flavor of these! May just have to try them out for a fun Friday night dinner!

      Reply
    6. Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar says

      July 28, 2015 at 9:08 am

      These are the most beautiful chicken wings I have ever seen, LOL! Love that these are flavored with lemon and crispy wings are my fave! Gotta try these soon for my lemon-obsessed family!

      Reply
    7. Matt @ Plating Pixels says

      July 27, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      Wow Sara I just finished eating some leftover drumsticks I made, but now I want a do-over so I can have these! I’m intrigued by the brine plus crispy oven goodness. Looking forward to trying this!

      Reply
    8. Andi @ The Weary Chef says

      July 27, 2015 at 5:39 pm

      WOW, Sara. These are really gorgeous! I have never made chicken wings, and I’m sure mine wouldn’t be this pretty if I tried. Great job!!

      Reply
    9. Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says

      July 27, 2015 at 2:08 pm

      Love wings, especially when they are crispy! Looking forward to trying this one!

      Reply
    10. Claire says

      July 27, 2015 at 9:23 am

      These look SO SO good! There is a good chance I’m going to try this out tonight…

      Reply
    11. Sabrina says

      July 25, 2015 at 5:45 pm

      Yum! These wings look so delicious!! AND crispy!

      Reply
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