These zippy Asian lemon chicken wings have just 3 ingredients and cook in 15 minutes. With the aid of the air fryer, they turn into the most succulent, golden brown chicken wings life could ask for.
Serve these chicken wings alongside Japanese edamame, quickie miso-mirin clams, or scallion pancakes for easy finger food.
You can never have enough wings
You can never have enough recipes for chicken wings.
While we may love deep-fried wings the most, these air-fried ones come very close.
We’re sacrificing some crispiness for the sake of simplicity.
With just 3 ingredients, these turn into the most succulent, juicy wings with a shiny, golden brown coat.
How do you season Lemon Chicken Wings?
The American way to season lemon chicken wings uses some combination of:
- lemon juice
- salt
- pepper and/or lemon pepper seasoning.
The Asian way to season lemon chicken wings (as defined in this recipe) involves just 3 ingredients:
- Lemon zest
- Thai Fish Sauce
- White Pepper
The Thai fish sauce has some sugar in it that help turn the wings golden brown.
If you use a non-sugared fish sauce, add a pinch of sugar.
Extra credit seasoning
If you have it in you to add a 4th ingredient, fresh minced garlic or garlic powder would be particularly appropriate.
Combine all the above ingredients with the chicken wings and marinate.
How long should you marinate the wings?
The longer the better.
If you just marinate it for 5 minutes or so, only the outside of the wings will be seasoned. The inside will taste like nothing, and you might start thinking this is not such a good recipe.
One of the reasons KFC fried chicken is so good is because the meat is seasoned all the way through to the bone.
Marinate for a minimum of a half an hour, overnight would be better, and up to 2 days would be just dandy.
How do you cook Lemon Chicken Wings?
The Philips air fryer makes quick work of these chicken wings. It takes just 15 minutes for small wings and requires no additional oil.
If you are baking these in an oven, it could take anywhere for 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the size.
How many wings can you cook in an Air Fryer?
The 2.75 qt Philips air fryer holds 8 small wings/drummettes (about 1 lb) comfortably, without touching each other.
This isn’t a chicken coop, so they would like some room.
Can you stack wings in an air fryer?
You can do anything you want in your air fryer, but if you want the most golden brown wings you could imagine, avoid stacking them.
The chicken wings need room to fly fry.
Can you put frozen wings in an air fryer?
You can! It just takes longer to cook.
The problem, though, is they won’t be marinated with the seasoning.
If you don’t mind un-seasoned food, you can start the wings at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes in the air fryer to defrost.
Remove, toss with the marinade, and put back in the air fryer to cook per the recipe.
Do you have to flip food in an air fryer?
You do need to flip food that is breaded.
These chicken wings though get pretty evenly brown without flipping.
Is the air fryer worth it?
An air fryer is expensive, but it also cooks these wings in just 15 minutes when they would take 45 minutes in the oven.
Here are 7 things you should know BEFORE buying an air fryer.
Add some zip, zest, and fish sauce to your chicken wings with this easy recipe.
Tips to make it better @home
- If using a fish sauce that does not have sugar in it, add a pinch of sugar to the marinade for better browning.
- Add 1/2 tsp of garlic powder of fresh minced garlic. If you use fresh garlic, take as much of it off the chicken after marinating to avoid burned bits in the oven.
- If you have more than 1 lb of wings to cook, cook in separate 1 lb batches. Remove the cooked wings to a 200 degree oven on a racked sheet pan to stay warm (and crispy).
- If you feel the need to flip, you can do so 1/2 way through cooking, but it is not entirely necessary.
- If using a conventional oven, spread on an oiled rack over a sheet pan. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for about 40-60 minutes until the temperature reaches 160 degrees in the thickest part of the wing.
More easy chicken recipes
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Very Easy 6-Ingredient Shanghai Chicken
Easy Thai Basil Chicken + Torrontes #winePW
Asian Lemon Chicken Wings - Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken wings
- 1 Tb fish sauce
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 ea zest of 1 lemon about 1 tsp
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together. Let marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 2 days.
- Spread out on air fryer tray without touching each other, if possible. Cook for 8 minutes at 375, then 7 minutes at 400. The wings should be uniform, shiny, dark golden brown.
Notes
- If using a fish sauce that does not have sugar in it, add a pinch of sugar to the marinade for better browning.
- Add 1/2 tsp of garlic powder of fresh minced garlic. If you use fresh garlic, take as much of it off the chicken after marinating to avoid burned bits in the oven.
- If you have more than 1 lb of wings to cook, cook in separate 1 lb batches. Remove the cooked wings to a 200 degree oven on a racked sheet pan to stay warm (and crispy).
- If you feel the need to flip, you can do so 1/2 way through cooking, but it is not entirely necessary.
- If using a conventional oven, spread on an oiled rack over a sheet pan. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for about 40-60 minutes until the temperature reaches 160 degrees in the thickest part of the wing.
Nutrition
Do you love chicken wings? Spread the Asian ♥ and please share!
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