Grilled Lemon Pepper Wings

Indulge in the ultimate flavor fusion with this grilled lemon pepper wings recipe, a crowd-pleaser that combines the tangy zest of lemon with the bold kick of pepper on succulently grilled chicken. This easy-to-follow recipe guarantees a deliciously crispy exterior and juicy interior, making it the perfect dish for your next barbecue or family gathering.

Why This Recipe Works

Wing Perfection: I know I am not the only one with a weakness for wings! Especially super flavorful ones like these grilled lemon pepper wings! The flavor is built by first coating these wings in a lemon pepper seasoning, then smoking them to crispy perfection and tossing them in a flavorful honey lemon pepper wing sauce! These grilled wings are going to be your new favorite!

Grilled Not Fried: The beauty of these wings is that they are packed with flavor and have the quintessential crispy skin that wings need, without being fried! The secret is to first smoke them at medium heat to infuse flavor and then crank up the heat to get them crispy. These crispy grilled lemon pepper wings make the best appetizer or family meal, especially during grill season!

Supplies Needed

• Smoker or Grill

Ingredients

• Chicken Wings: You can use whole or split wings, it is totally up to you! Sometimes these are labeled as party wings in the meat section.
• Olive Oil: A little bit of olive oil will help the seasoning to stick.
• Lemon Pepper Seasoning: You can use a homemade lemon pepper seasoning or your favorite store-bought version!
• Lemon Pepper Sauce: You can technically buy a lemon pepper wing sauce from the store but I recommend making a homemade lemon pepper sauce for the best flavor!

How To Make Grilled Lemon Pepper Wings

1. Preheat Smoker & Prep: Preheat the smoker to 225 F. Prepare the lemon pepper seasoning if making it homemade. Then set aside.
2. Dry Wings: Remove the wings from the packaging and pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
3. Season: Place the wings in a large bowl and toss in the olive oil to even coat the wings. Then add in the lemon pepper seasoning and toss the wings again until evenly seasoned.
4. Smoke: Smoke the wings at 225 F for 25-30 minutes to get some smoke flavor. Increase the temperature of the grill to 425-450 F and continue to cook at a higher heat to render the fat and crisp the skin. The wings are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 180 F.
5. Make the Sauce: While the wings are smoking, make the honey lemon pepper sauce if desired. Once the sauce is done, remove it and serve over the crispy grilled lemon pepper wings. Garnish with parsley if desired and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

Grilled lemon pepper wings can be served on their own as an appetizer, or feel free to serve them with a full spread for a larger meal!

Pair them with other flavors of grilled wings like Thai curry chicken wings and spicy firecracker wings! Add some veggies to the mix with a roasted crudite platter and grilled garden veggie salad. For some extra sides, try some crispy jicama fries or loaded smoked potatoes!

Tips For Grilling Wings

If you are new to grilling wings, definitely take a look at my tips for grilling chicken wings! The main goal when grilling chicken wings is to get a bit of that smoky flavor infused into the chicken, with crispy skin and a tender, juicy interior!

For the crispiest skin, be sure to pat the chicken wings nice and dry before seasoning them. When smoking them first for 25-30 minutes, they will get even more dry before getting grilled at a higher heat to crisp up!

These grilled lemon pepper wings will have loads of flavor without the sauce since they are already seasoned, but the sauce adds lots of extra flavor. Be sure to add the sauce right before serving so the skin doesn’t get soggy!

More Recipes To Try

• Grilled Chicken Spiedini
• BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
• Jalapeño Popper Chicken
• Baked BBQ Chicken Wings
• Hot Honey Hawaiian Wings