Lemon Garlic Chicken Wings

I simply love chicken wings, in part because there’s no easier way to please a Game Day crowd. Whether prepared with a spicy buffalo sauce or fried to golden perfection, nothing quite gets a crowd feasting like these bite-sized delights. Today’s wings are prepared with a lemon-garlic marinade that’s equal parts savory and zesty and then baked to tender perfection with a crispy panko coating. Easy to prepare and easy to love, this chicken wing recipe is sure to be a hit at your next game-day party.

However, the great thing about these chicken wings is just how incredibly easy they are to prepare since they use only easy-to-find, simple ingredients. All you need are the wings, lemon and olive oil, salt and pepper, along with a handful of fresh ingredients. And before you ask – yes, they can be marinated a day ahead of time. And yes, this recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd, and can easily be doubled or tripled to serve more people – everything converts at a one-to-one ratio.

Now, without further introduction, let’s make some wings. Read on for a printable recipe card, a complete recipe overview, and an ingredient checklist to ensure you have everything you’ll need to prepare this recipe.

Recipe Overview – What to Expect

If you’ve read this far, you’ve likely already decided that these chicken wings will make for a delightful addition to your game day spread, or serve as a delicious weekend meal. Either way, you may still have a few questions. You might be wondering what this recipe is like in terms of taste and texture. Or maybe you want to know how hard it is to make? Or perhaps what it pairs well with?

For the answer to those questions and more, read on.

Taste and Texture
These chicken wings combine zest from the fresh lemon juice with savory richness from the Parmesan, while the garlic marinade brings umami depth, all of which is tied together by some background crunch from the panko topping. In the end, you’ll have baked a wing that’s tender, juicy, and flavorful, with a crisped panko exterior.

Difficulty Level
Beginner friendly. I’ll say that this recipe is both simple and approachable enough for beginner home chefs to prepare without worry. For starters, this recipe requires only minimal prep work and can be made using only basic kitchen tools. What’s more, its basic steps are easy to follow, all while delivering delicious results.

Preparation Process

This recipe can be divided into three steps; marinating, coating, and baking.

• Marinate: To start things off, we prep the marinade, which is a combination of lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. We then let the chicken sit in the marinade for at least an hour. However, you can of course let the wings sit in the marinade overnight for best results.
• Coat: After marinating, it’s time for coating. A generous sprinkle of panko is all we’re looking for here, with a drizzle of olive oil and a dusting of grating cheese.
• Bake: After coating, we bake at 375°F for 45–50 minutes until golden and crispy. Look for an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure they’re fully cooked.

Pairings

1. Dips: The go-to dips, for me, would be a creamy garlic aioli, ranch dressing, or a zesty lemon-herb yogurt dip. A good Buffalo Sauce would also be delicious, but these are wings, so you already knew that.
2. Sides: Hardy onion rings and yes, this onion ring recipe is one of my favorites ever, and I link to it every time there’s an excuse to. Moving right along, a nice Caesar salad with plenty of blue cheese or goat cheese, garlic breadsticks, homemade fries, or fried paneer cheese would all pair deliciously. You might also consider opting for a creamy mac and cheese.
3. Drinks: Lemonade or a dry white wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc would be my go-to options.

Perfect for Any Game Day Party

This recipe is all about game day. Whether it’s a game day gathering, a casual dinner, or an appetizer for a party, these Lemon and Parmesan Chicken Wings are sure to impress. Their combination of zesty, cheesy, and crispy goodness makes them a crowd-pleaser every time.

Ingredient Checklist – Everything You’ll Need

As promised, this recipe requires only basic ingredients, that are readily available at your local grocery store. With that in mind, here’s everything you’ll need.

• 24 chicken wings (tips removed)
  • Substitution: You can use drumettes, thighs, or wingettes if you prefer without changing the taste or texture of the recipe.
  • Substitution 2: Boneless chicken tenders can be used for a similar flavor, though you’ll lose the crispy wing texture.
• 7-8 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about the juice of 2 lemons)
  • Tip: As with most marinades, I do recommend using fresh lemon juice for the best flavor and aroma. That said, bottled lemon juice will get the job done just fine if fresh isn’t available.
  • Substitution: Lime juice can be used if preferred. You can also use a splash of vinegar. I’d opt for either white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar.
• ½ teaspoon salt
  • Tip: While plain table salt is all you need, feel free to opt for sea salt or kosher salt for a slightly briny flavor.
  • Tip 2: Adjust to taste.
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Tip: Once again, fresher is better. Freshly ground black pepper will give a more lively flavor, while also helping to enhance the recipe’s aromatics. That said, pre-ground will work just fine.
  • Tip 2: Extra points for grinding the pepper in a mortar and pestle.
• 4 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
  • Tip: Extra-virgin olive oil offers the best flavor, and I really do ‘not’ recommend using a different oil for this recipe.
  • Substitution: That said, if you cannot use olive oil, I’d recommend a flavor-neutral oil such as vegetable or canola oil, or perhaps Avocado oil.
• 5 cloves fresh garlic
  • Tip: If you prefer a milder flavor, or want to bring out the garlic’s natural ‘savory sweetness,’ roast the garlic before adding it to the marinade.
  • Substitution: ½ teaspoon of garlic powder can be used in a pinch, but fresh garlic works best.
• Fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese (for grating)
  • Tip: Adjust to taste. I do recommend using fresh, as pre-ground leaks away moisture, and that means leaking away flavor. Also, it is a truism that lower quality cheeses tend to be used for pre-ground even if only because it isn’t ‘just’ cheese.
• Panko bread crumbs (for dusting over the wings)
  • Substitution: Regular breadcrumbs can be used if preferred, or if panko isn’t available. You could also get creative with crushed croutons.
• Parchment paper (for lining the baking sheet)
  • Tip: My number one kitchen hack ever is learning to love parchment paper. Nothing prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier than parchment paper.

How to Select the Best Chicken: What to Look For

Okay, it should go without saying that a good chicken wing recipe starts with good chicken wings, right? So, when shopping for chicken wings, you want to be sure that you’re getting the best chicken available at your local market. But how do you know if the chicken you're picking is fresh, flavorful, and worth the asking price? Well, that’s exactly what I’m about to tell you.

1. Check the Color – The Three-Color Rule
   • Pink. The chicken should have a pink hue that’s slightly visible through the skin. If the chicken meat has a vibrant pink hue beneath the skin, that indicates freshness. Tasty.
   • Yellow. By contrast, avoid chicken with a yellowish tint. Yellowing meat suggests that the chicken is approaching the end of its shelf life. Not tasty.
   • Grey. Do not buy chicken that appears gray or dull, as this color indicates decay or spoilage. Yuck.
2. Inspect the Skin – Blemishes, Feathers, and Damage.
   • You want the chicken skin to be free of blemishes, gashes, bruises, or discoloration. All of these can indicate either poor handling or decay.
   • Meanwhile, feathers or feather fragments can indicate a less thorough cleaning process, though doesn’t necessarily reflect on the meat’s quality. In this instance, if the chicken has no other indications of poor quality, that’s on you to make a judgment call.
   • The skin should be tight. If the chicken has loose or torn skin, this is a quick indication of poor handling or spoiling meat.
3. Perform the Bone Test (for whole chickens)
   • Look for pliable. Gently press on the chicken’s breastbone area. A soft or pliable breastbone is a sign of a fresher bird, while a rigid bone indicates the onset of decay.
4. Test the Texture
   • Malleable yet firm. If buying fresh chicken, it should feel malleable yet firm, as opposed to not stiff or rigid. As with the breastbone, rigid meat indicates the onset of decay.
5. Inspect Frozen Chicken
   • Frozen chicken should be rock solid with no signs of frost or freezer burn. Frost or burn can indicate improper storage. It can also indicate that the chicken has been thawed and refrozen, which negatively impacts quality.

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And those are my Lemon Garlic Chicken Wings for game day. If you enjoyed today’s recipe, or have any suggestions for this or future content, let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from you.

Happy Cooking!

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