Attention all chicken wing lovers! You have to try these super easy oven baked wings!
I come from a huge football loving family so game days were always a big deal at my house. (Plus Charlie’s a huge football fanatic too so I’m envisioning a lot of game day snacks and treats in my future…😉) So I better start stocking up on all of those recipes now right?! And one game day snack that never gets old is wings. But not just any wings, oh no, specifically these lemon garlic chicken wings! They’re crispy on the outside yet tender and moist in the center AND they have the BEST lemon flavor to keep your taste buds coming back for more!
Ingredients for lemon garlic chicken wings
- Chicken wings: Look for wings that have the “wing” and “drumette” already separated. (They take much less time to cook and are much easier to prepare!)
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice works the best for this recipe. (You can use bottled juice if you’re in a pinch but it has a very different flavor profile than fresh juice. It’s a little sweeter in my opinion.)
- Lemon zest: Helps to really bring out that lemon flavor!
- Avocado oil: Makes your wings nice and crispy! (I LOVE using avocado oil for wing recipes because it makes them super crispy due to it’s high smoking point. A high smoke point simply means that the oil can cook ingredients at a higher temperature without burning so easily, ie. HELLO CRISPINESS!)
- Garlic: Who doesn’t love a little garlic with lemon right?!
- Seasonings- paprika, salt & pepper: Every recipe needs a little salt and pepper to help bring out those flavors!
What makes these wings healthier?
Well for starters, they’re BAKED instead of FRIED! (Which means no oily residue while eating them.😉) There’s also no butter, no flour and no breading on these wings too so they’re perfect for anyone who’s gluten free or dairy free!
How to make lemon garlic chicken wings in the oven
This is by far my favorite way to cook chicken wings because they’re super crispy on the outside while still moist and tender in the center. Here’s the method I use every time:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray and large rimmed baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place a large wired rack on the pan and set it aside.
- Mix the lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, garlic, paprika and salt and pepper together in a bowl. Set it aside. Then pat your chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place them in a large plastic bag. Add your lemon mixture to the bag and shake it to completely coat the wings. (You can also let the chicken wings marinate for 30 minutes – 1 hour in the bag too.)
- Next, spray your wired rack with non-stick cooking spray and place the wings on your rack. (Make sure to spread the wings out far enough so they’re not touching each other.) Bake the wings for 30-35 minutes.
- Once done, squeeze a little extra lemon over the top right before serving.
Tips for making the best lemon & garlic chicken wings
- Always spray your wired rack with non-stick cooking spray! If you don’t your wings WILL stick to the rack!
- For extra flavor: Reserve ¼ cup of your mariande BEFORE adding it to the bag with your chicken. Brush this reserved marinade over your wings right after they’re done cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan! Your chicken wings won’t crisp up as much if the pan is over crowded. Make sure they’re spread out evenly on the rack.
Why you’ll love this chicken wing recipe!
- Better for you! Most chicken wing recipes call for frying your wings ina ton of oil…but not this one! A little avocado oil goes a long way here!
- Perfectly cooked! Crispy on the outside yet tender and moist in the middle! Who could say no to that right?!
- Exploding with lemon flavor! Lemon juice AND zest are used in the marinade to really amp up it’s flavor! (Serve them with extra lemon wedges on the side for even more lemony goodness!)
Need them gluten free? Great news, they already are!
Need them dairy free? Great news, they already are!
More recipes you might like:
- Baked Cajun Chicken Wings with Avocado Lime Sauce
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings
- Spicy Mango BBQ Chicken Wings
- Baked Balsamic Chicken with Caprese Salsa
- Apple & Brie Stuffed Chicken
[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]
Crispy Lemon Garlic Chicken Wings
Perfectly crispy on the oustide, tender in the middle and bursting with fresh lemon and garlic flavor! These are the best and easiest lemon chicken wings you'll ever make! (And perfect for a game day appetizer too!)
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. chicken wings
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Place a large wired rack on top of the pan and set it aside while you prepare your wings.
- Next, mix the lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper together in a bowl and set it aside. Pat your chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place them in a large plastic bag. Add your lemon mixture to the bag and shake it until the wings are completely coated.
- Next, spray your wired rack with non-stick cooking spray and place your wings on the rack. (Make sure the wings are spread out enough so they aren't touching each other.) Bake your wings for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. (If they aren't crispy enough after baking, try broiling them for 3-5 more minutes.)
- Once they're done, squeeze a little extra lemon over the top and serve them immediately!
Good… let the wings sit in the seasoning for at least 5 – 10 minutes…. sprinkle salt; paprika on top; flip the wings midway of baking…. I also put it to broil for 4 minutes at the end to crisp up.
Hi Christina, I’m so glad you liked them! Broiling them at the end was a great idea too!