Honey Lemon Pepper Wings

These Honey Lemon Pepper Wings are a fast and simple way to enjoy chicken with an amazing flavor. Made with just three simple ingredients, everyone will love having these for a quick meal, a weekend snack, or a game day appetizer. Fast, simple, and delicious. 

When I think about smoked or grilled chicken wings, I love making this simple dish. Not only does it come together quickly, but when it comes to chicken wing recipes, this is one of the best.

I love using lemon pepper seasoning on this because it's a simple dry rub that is added after the wings are cooked and coated with honey. The sweet honey pairs perfectly with the flavor of lemon.

Speaking of perfectly cooked chicken, check out these Chicken Lollipops! And try our Sweet BBQ Sauce Recipe for wings that are sticky and full of flavor. 

Ingredients

• Chicken wings - Make sure that they're thawed and ready to put on the grill. 
• Honey or hot honey - Either will work fine, but one will turn these sweet wings into sweet hot wings quickly. Hot honey lemon pepper wings for the win. We like to use this Honey Sriracha Sauce.
• Lemon pepper seasoning - Added on top of the honey so that it sticks perfectly and adds a great balance of flavor. If you choose a blend without salt, you will want to add some.
  

How to Make Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings

Step One: Preheat the smoker. 

Step Two: Add the chicken wings to the hot smoker. 

Step Three: Cook thoroughly, turning the wings every few moments to cook them evenly. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the wings. For them to be considered fully cooked, they should be at 165 degrees. 

Tip: We like to cook them at a very high heat for a few minutes so the skin gets crispy. If you don't want to do that on the grill or smoker, you can broil them.

Step Four: Have the honey and lemon pepper seasoning ready to add to the cooked wings. 

Step Five: Brush on the honey (or just drizzle it on the wings in a large bowl) and then sprinkle on the lemon pepper seasoning. This is basically a super simple method to make a honey lemon pepper sauce.

Tip: You can add more seasoning as needed to taste. Some people like it more, and some like it less. It's totally up to you. In the same way, you can make either hot honey lemon pepper chicken wings or just sweet lemon pepper wings with this one recipe.

Storage

You can store these hot honey wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just let them cool down all the way, and then store them for up to 2 days in the fridge.

To reheat, you can warm leftovers back up in the oven or even pop them in the microwave for a few seconds of time. 

If you want to freeze these cooked wings, add them to a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 1 month. 

Variations 

• Seasonings - If you want to change up the flavor, change up the seasonings. Add paprika, smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, hot sauce, or anything else that you like the flavor of. 
• Citrus - Squeezing a little bit of fresh lemon juice on top of these wings once they're cooked is delicious. You can also add some lemon zest as well. Fresh lemon juice really adds a zing to these drummies and wingettes. 
• Sauce - If you're more of a fan of a BBQ sauce than a dry rub or a honey sauce, then use whatever you like. The cooking of the wings doesn't change, so that part is simple. The only variable is going to be what you want to coat the wings with. 
  

Common Questions 

How can I cook wings without using the smoker?

If you want wings but need an alternative option, you can use the oven to bake them or the air fryer basket and air fryer for frying the wings.

To get crispy skin, air frying is going to be the best option. But baked wings can be great as long as you cook them at a high enough heat. Using a wire rack can help the air circulate.

Just make sure to cook them in a single layer with space between. Do as many batches as needed to do this for crispy chicken wings. Crowding wings will make them soggy.

How many wings can I put on the grill? 

You don't want to overcrowd the wings, so be sure that you add them to the hot grill with space between. The same applies when putting them on a baking sheet for baking or putting them in a basket for air frying.

The reason that you don't want to overcrowd is that it gives the air the chance to circulate, and it also gives you the space needed to be able to flip them as they cook. 

Recipe

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Originally Published October 10, 2022. Revised and Republished March 11, 2026.