Salt and pepper chicken is a Friday-night favourite — crispy chicken tossed with stir-fried peppers, onion and chilli in that moreish savoury seasoning. The air fryer crisps the chicken with a fraction of the oil. Here's how.
Key takeaways
Q: How do you make salt and pepper chicken in an air fryer?
A: Coat chicken in cornflour, air fry at 200°C (400°F) for about 18 minutes, then toss with stir-fried peppers, onion, chilli and the salt-and-pepper mix.
Q: What's in the seasoning?
A: White pepper, Chinese five-spice, salt and a little sugar.
The method
Toss bite-size chicken in cornflour for crunch and air fry until crisp and golden. Meanwhile soften sliced peppers, onion, chilli and spring onion. Toss the crisp chicken with the veg and the salt-and-pepper seasoning — white pepper, five-spice, salt and a pinch of sugar — for that takeaway flavour.
The recipe
Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
- 600g chicken, in chunks
- 3 tbsp cornflour
- Peppers, onion, chilli, spring onion
- White pepper, five-spice, salt
Method
- Coat chicken in cornflour; air fry at 200°C 18 min.
- Soften the peppers, onion and chilli.
- Toss everything with the seasoning.
- Finish with spring onion.
Tips
- Cornflour gives the crispy coating.
- White pepper and five-spice make the flavour.
- Toss at the end so the chicken stays crisp.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make salt and pepper chicken in an air fryer?
Coat chicken in cornflour and air fry at 200°C for about 18 minutes, then toss with stir-fried peppers, onion and chilli and a salt-and-pepper seasoning.
What's in salt and pepper seasoning?
White pepper, Chinese five-spice, salt and a little sugar — the savoury, slightly spiced mix behind the takeaway flavour.
How do you keep the chicken crispy?
Coat it in cornflour, air fry until properly crisp, and toss it with the veg and seasoning only at the very end so it doesn't go soft.