Description
These Honey Lemon Pepper Wings are a perfect game day snack with a crispy baked exterior and a tangy-sweet sauce made from honey, fresh lemon juice, and zesty pepper. Coated in a flavorful mix of potato starch and spices, these wings bake to golden perfection and are tossed in a luscious honey lemon pepper sauce that packs a punch of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings and Coating
- 2 pounds Chicken Wings (fresh)
- 1 cup Potato Starch (or cornstarch)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (or fresh garlic)
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder (or shallots)
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- Oil Spray (neutral oil), for spraying
Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce
- 1/2 cup Honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice (adjust to taste)
- 2 cloves Minced Garlic (adjust for milder taste)
- 2 tablespoons Butter (or olive oil for dairy-free)
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Pepper (adjust to spice tolerance)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (sea or kosher salt)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F. Pat the chicken wings dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring they crisp up nicely during baking.
- Prepare Coating: In a large bowl, mix together the potato starch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Toss the chicken wings in this dry mixture until they are evenly and thoroughly coated.
- Arrange Wings: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray it with oil. Arrange the coated wings in a single layer on the sheet, making sure they are not overcrowded. Lightly spritz the tops of the wings with oil spray to aid crisping.
- Bake Wings: Place the wings in the oven and reduce the temperature to 425°F. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning and crispiness.
- Make Sauce: While the wings are baking, combine honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, butter, salt, and ground pepper in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce is well blended, fragrant, and slightly bubbly.
- Toss Wings in Sauce: Remove the baked wings from the oven and immediately toss them in the warm honey lemon pepper sauce, coating each wing evenly.
- Serve: Serve the wings hot for a flavorful and crispy game day treat.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup and butter with olive oil.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, increase the ground pepper or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Make sure to pat the wings very dry before coating to achieve maximum crispiness.
- Using potato starch instead of cornstarch can yield a lighter, crunchier coating.
- Flip the wings halfway through baking to ensure both sides get crispy.
