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+ servings

Crispy Lemon Pepper Wings

Golden, crispy, and dripping with buttery lemon-herb goodness—these pan-fried lemon pepper wings are restaurant-worthy but made right in your own kitchen. The secret? A bold seasoning blend split between the wings and the flour (no bland bites here), a buttery homemade sauce made with Kerrygold Garlic Herb Butter, and a cooling rack drain method to keep every wing crispy to the last bite. For more recipes like this click here!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 5 people

Ingredients
  

For the Wings:

For the Lemon Butter Sauce (Melissa Jo’s Famous Version!):

  • 2 sticks 16 tbsp Kerrygold Garlic & Herb Butter
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • tbsp jarlic minced garlic from a jar
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions
 

Prep & Season the Wings

  • Pat the wings very dry with paper towels to remove all moisture. For best results, let them come to room temperature before seasoning.
  • In a small bowl, mix:
  • 1 tbsp Tony’s Creole
  • 1 tbsp lemon pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
  • Toss the wings in the seasoning blend until fully coated, then let them rest at room temp for 20–30 minutes to allow the seasoning to absorb.

Season the Flour

  • In a shallow bowl, whisk together:
  • 1 tbsp Tony’s Creole
  • 1 tbsp lemon pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
  • Then add the 1½ cups of flour and combine well.

Dredge the Wings

  • Coat each wing in the seasoned flour, pressing lightly so it sticks. Shake off any excess and set aside.

Heat the Oil

  • Pour about 1 inch of oil (~30 oz) into a cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan. Heat over medium-high until it reaches 350°F (or until a pinch of flour sizzles when added).
  • 🔥 Frying Tip: Once you add the wings, reduce the heat slightly to medium or medium-low. You want a rolling bubble, not wild popping. Adjust the heat between batches to maintain a steady fry.

Fry the Wings

  • Work in batches and don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry each batch for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temp hits 165°F.

Drain the Wings

  • Transfer fried wings to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain.
  • Skip paper towels—this method keeps ‘em crispy!

Make the Lemon Butter Sauce

  • In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the 2 sticks of Kerrygold Garlic & Herb Butter. Then add:
  • Lemon zest
  • Lemon juice
  • Black pepper
  • Parmesan
  • Jarlic
  • Parsley
  • Salt
  • Whisk until fully combined.

Toss & Serve

  • Place wings in a large bowl and pour half the lemon butter sauce over them. Toss to coat. Plate the wings with lemon wedges and serve the extra sauce on the side for dipping.
Keyword lemon pepper wings
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