Crispy Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings in the best homemade sticky, sweet, & spicy sauce is a flavor explosion. There is no resisting this easy deep-fried chicken wing recipe. Fry up a batch, grab some wet naps, & enjoy.
Why this Sweet & Spicy Wing Recipe is Amazing: I have mastered the best way to get crunchy skin & juicy meat without any breading, coating, or batter - for the best gluten-free chicken wing ever!
If you love the lemon pepper wings from Wingstop or Buffalo Wild Wings, these wings are even better. These are deep-fried for restaurant quality wings made at home from scratch. You control the heat for the perfect bite every time.
Hot honey lemon pepper wings are an easy appetizer recipe that is also perfect as a snack or lunch. I love serving these with some air fryer fries for a complete meal. Ok, now we cook!
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Ingredients
Hot honey lemon pepper chicken wings are a simple recipe with yummy ingredients that are the star. They combine for a thick sauce that clings to every bite of chicken. These wings are a delight to all the senses.
These wings are made with a fantastic homemade hot honey recipe. Unlike most bottled hot honey, using my recipe has the addition of actual sliced hot peppers.
Here are important notes for some ingredients:
- Chicken Wings - defrosted bone-in drummettes & flats with the skin
- Salted Butter - the base of the sauce which adds richness & balances the heat & sugary ingredients
- Spices - salt, black pepper, and garlic powder
- Lemon Juice - fresh is best for tart & sour citrus flavor but bottled works for
- Hot Honey - Mike's or Trader Joe's store-bought or my homemade hot honey recipe which is what I used.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning - optional for an extra bold zesty kick
- Coarse Black Pepper - optional for texture & a fiery pungent bite.
See the recipe card for full list, quantities, & any substitutions/variations.
How to Make Wings with Hot Honey Sauce
This recipe begins by seasoning and deep frying the chicken wings. While they are hot, toss them in the sticky & sweet hot sauce. Together this saucy, crunchy, & spicy wings are tasty.
There are really only two steps in making chicken wings at home. You begin by frying the wings. Then toss them in the sauce. In less than 20 minutes these quick & easy chicken wings are ready to eat.
Here are the easy steps for making deep-fried wings with lemon pepper & honey sauce.
- How to Deep Fry Wings
- Make the Wing Sauce
- step 3 (then use these as H3 headers for steps below)
See the step-by-step instructions with photos below plus the recipe card at the end of the post.
1 - How to Deep Fry Wings
Start this recipe by deep-frying the chicken wings. I use a deep fryer for this step. See notes below on how to cook the wings without a deep fryer. If you want to crispiest wings, I recommend buying a deep fryer.
Preheat the deep fryer until the oil comes to heat, 375°. This is the best temperature for frying chicken. It ensures the meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature while also making the skin crispy without overcooking them. The wings will be tender & juicy.
Begin by patting dry all surfaces of the chicken pieces. You do not want to add wet chicken to the hot oil! Moisture will cause hot oil to splatter which is dangerous.
Combine the salt, pepper, & garlic powder in a small bowl. Mix the spices together and then liberally sprinkle them on the chicken. Coat all sides and surfaces of the chicken wings.
Fry the wings in 375° oil in the deep fryer for 8-10 minutes. The internal meat temperature should be 165° when ready.
Use tongs to remove the chicken wings from the oil. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels.
2 - How to Make Lemon Pepper Wing Sauce
Once the wings are done frying, time to make the wing sauce recipe. In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter. Make sure the bowl is large enough to add the cooked wings to later on. Microwave the butter for 20 seconds to melt.
To the bowl add the remaining sauce ingredients. Stir or whisk together.
Add the chicken wings to the bowl with the sauce which will cling to the meat & skin. Using tongs, toss the drums, flats, & wings so all sides are covered in the hot sticky sauce.
Serving, Storing, & Reheating
Once the wings are coated, pile them up on a plate or platter. Pour any remaining sauce over the top. You don't want to waste any tasty drops.
Sprinkle on the optional lemon pepper seasoning and/or coarse black epper if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Store wings for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to a month in the freezer. To warm up, reheat chicken wings is in the air fryer for best results so wings are not soggy or chewy.
If you do not have an air fryer, you can also reheat them in the oven. Preheat to 350° and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Warm leftover wings for 15-20 minutes.
What to Serve with Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings : They are the best wings for game day, Super Bowl parties, birthdays, and events. Enjoy as a snack, appetizer, or as a meal.
If you are enjoying these as part of a meal, serve them with one of the many great recipes that go well with chicken wings. One of my favorites it Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries.
Hint: If making dozens of wings for a party or a crowd, serve them as soon as they are ready. Chicken wings are best when they are hot and crispy. So plate them up as soon as they are sauced. Then keep the wings coming as more are ready. Just don't forget to grab a few yourself before they are all gobbled up.
Substitutions & Variations
This is a simple recipe with just a few common ingredients. You likely have everything already on hand but in case you don't, here are a few substitutions you can make.
You can add a few more ingredients to really level up these wings too. Try a few variations to spice things up a bit.
- Extra Spicy - add 2 tablespoons of buffalo hot sauce or double the amount of hot honey to the sauce.
- Low-Sodium - use unsalted butter and cut the salt in half.
- Mild/Kid-Friendly - use plain honey instead of hot honey for mild lemon pepper wings.
- Dairy-Free - use margarine instead of butter
These wings are already gluten-free and made without flour or other grains. For a delicious mild wing recipe, try Garlic Butter Chicken Wings.
Cooking Wings Without a Deep Fryer
If you do not have a deep fryer, here are alternate ways to cook the chicken wings. You can bake, air fry, or grill these chicken wings. Keep in mind, these alternate cooking methods will take longer.
- Air Fryer - preheat to 375° & air fry for 17-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking.
- Oven - bake the wings at 400° for 30 minutes.
- Grill - grill the wings on your BBQ over indirect low heat for 20-30 minutes.
As with all the ways to cook chicken wings, make sure they are cooked through and safe to eat. Always make sure the internal temperature is 165°. See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Top Tip
Use fresh oil in your deep fryer if you can. The clean oil will crisp the chicken wings without leaving any residue behind. Clean oil also ensures no other "flavors" from previously cooked items transfer to your food.
FAQ
As mentioned, I prefer using a deep fryer. If you do not have one, you can dry chicken wings in a large pot of oil on the stove. You can also use an electric fryer. Make sure to use enough oil so the wings are submerged and not a shallow fry. The oil should be at 375° before adding the wings.
You should only deep fry chicken that is dry. This is why we pat it down so that there is no moisture on the surface. Wet wings will splatter and are VERY unsafe in hot oil. Always sauce the wings after cooking.
RECIPE NOTE: this recipe was originally published January 2023. It has been updated to include calorie and nutritional information, substitutions, additional photos, concise steps, similar recipes, and top tips for republishing in 2026.
Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
Equipment
- deep fryer
Ingredients
Deep-Fried Crispy Wings
- 1 pound chicken wings
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce
- ¼ cup hot honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- lemon pepper seasoning optional
Instructions
- Preheat the deep fryer until the oil comes to heat, 375°.
- While the oil is coming to heat, prepare the chicken wings. Pat dry the chicken pieces.Mix the salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a small bowl. Next, liberally sprinkle the spices on all the wings. Make sure to coat all sides and surfaces of the chicken wings.
- When the oil is hot and reached 375°, carefully add the chicken wings in the deep fryer basket. Submerge in the oil and fry for 8-10 minutes.
- The wings are ready when the skin is brown and crispy. Check that the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°. Using tongs, remove them from the deep fryer. Place wings on a plate lined with paper towels.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter. Microwave for 30 seconds to melt.
- To the bowl add the remaining sauce ingredients. This includes hot honey, lemon juice, and more black pepper. Stir or whisk together.
- Add the chicken wings to the bowl with the hot honey and more. Using tongs, toss the wings so all sides are covered with the sticky sweet wing sauce.
- Plate the spicy wings. Sprinkle on the optional lemon pepper seasoning if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for 30 days.
- Best to reheat in a hot air fryer 365°F for 5 minutes - or in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes. (extra crispy do 400°F in the air fryer)
Nutrition
More Spicy Chicken Recipes
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RJ says
I love hot and sticky wings so I had to try this recipe. I used bottled hot honey and it was still good. I also did not deep fry them and did them in the air fryer per the instructions.
Angela says
I am glad the recipe still worked out for you even with a few changes. I highly recommend trying my hot honey recipe also on the blog. It is so good and the added slices of spicy peppers are a bonus.