If you're craving a dish that's crispy, fragrant, and simple to prepare, this Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe is exactly the one to try. It's perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something flavorful without fuss. The air fryer crisps up the chicken beautifully while keeping the inside juicy-plus, the mix of spices brings a cozy, smoky kick that's simply addictive.
Jump to:
Why You'll Make This on Repeat
I love how reliably crispy the chicken turns out every time in my air fryer, with that perfect balance of salt, pepper, and warming five spice. It's a crowd-pleaser without demanding exotic ingredients or hours in the kitchen.
- Reliable Texture: The cornflour coating crisps up gorgeously while keeping the chicken tender and juicy inside.
- Balanced, Cozy Flavor: Salt, black pepper, and Chinese five spice create warming notes that complement the fresh chillies and spring onions.
- Pantry-Friendly: You likely already have most spices on hand, making it easy to whip up without a special trip to the store.
- Weeknight Simple: With about 40 minutes total, including hands-on time, it fits beautifully into busy dinner plans.
Ingredient Highlights
When making this Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe, the quality of your chicken and the freshness of your spices will really shine through. Choosing skinless chicken thighs ensures juicy meat that crisps well with the cornflour, while fresh chillies and spring onions add vibrant contrast.
- Skinless Chicken Thighs: Juicier and more forgiving than breast meat-ideal for cooking in the air fryer without drying out.
- Cornflour (Cornstarch): Creates that signature light and glossy crust that air fryers are great at perfecting.
- Chinese Five Spice: Adds a subtle hint of warmth and complexity without overpowering the simple salt and pepper profile.
- Fresh Chillies: Serrano or Fresno chillies offer just the right amount of moderate heat and crunchy bite.
Quick Note: Exact measurements and timing details can be found in the printable recipe card at the end - keep that handy for easy reference.
Step-by-Step for Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe
Step 1 - Prep & Season
Start by mixing the cornflour, salt, black pepper, and Chinese five spice in a large bowl. Toss the quartered chicken thigh pieces thoroughly in the seasoning mix until every bite is coated in that powdery, fragrant layer. This coating is key to getting a crispy crust in the air fryer, so make sure the chicken is evenly dusted. If you skip this step or it's uneven, you'll notice a less crisp and less flavorful result.
Step 2 - Build Flavor
Arrange the seasoned chicken in a single layer inside your air fryer basket. I find working in batches often makes this much easier to achieve without overcrowding, which is crucial for even crisping. Give the chicken a generous squirt of spray oil to encourage that rich golden color. Then, air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes, shaking the basket twice during cooking to turn the pieces. Meanwhile, toss the chopped onion with garlic salt and black pepper and give that a quick spray of oil. After the chicken finishes, air fry the onion mix separately for 5 minutes to sweeten and soften it, then add the chillies, cooking for just 2 more minutes. This gradual layering builds the aroma and texture in layers.
Step 3 - Finish for Best Texture
Finally, return the chicken along with spring onions to the basket for a quick 1 to 2-minute toss in the air fryer. This brief final step melds all the flavors together and reheats the chicken so it's piping hot without drying. You'll notice the chicken coated in glossy, toasty edges coated with the fragrant onions and chillies-this final toss seals in flavor and texture perfectly.
Kitchen Notes I Rely On
Over the years, I've learned key pointers that help this Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe come out spot on every time. It's all about even coating, managing air fryer batches, and timing the chillies and spring onions just right so the flavors remain fresh and bright.
- Doneness Cue: Chicken should reach an internal temp of about 75°C (165°F) and have a golden crisp exterior.
- Temperature Trick: Preheat your air fryer if possible for more consistent crisping, especially when cooking in batches.
- Make-Ahead Move: You can season chicken a few hours ahead and store it in the fridge to deepen the flavor.
- Skip This Pitfall: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to prevent soggy spots and uneven cooking.
Serving & Sides
Finishing Touches
A quick sprinkle of extra spring onions or a squirt of fresh lemon juice right before serving brightens up the dish beautifully. I often like to add a few more diced chillies on top if we're craving a bit more heat. These finishing touches really bring the whole meal together and give that fresh, glossy feel you notice in great takeout versions.
Pairs Nicely With
This dish harmonizes wonderfully with steamed jasmine rice or simple garlic fried rice. For vegetables, I recommend quick stir-fried greens like bok choy or broccoli rabe to keep the texture crisp and the palate refreshed-perfect contrast against the savory, peppery chicken.
Simple Plating Upgrades
For a weeknight dinner, I keep it casual with a scattering of sesame seeds and a wedge of lime on the side. But if you're serving for guests, try a neat bed of steamed greens and a side of dipping sauce-like a quick soy-lime chili sauce-for a more polished presentation that still feels approachable.
Make-Ahead & Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The texture remains fairly close to freshly cooked, though the crust softens a bit. To revive crispness, reheat carefully-though it's still delicious cold in salads, too.
Freezer Tips
This chicken freezes reasonably well if you layer it on a baking tray initially to flash freeze, then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag to avoid clumping. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and gently reheat in the air fryer for best texture retention. Avoid microwaving frozen chicken straight-it tends to dry out more quickly.
Reheating Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe Without Drying Out
For the crispiest results, reheat in your air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway through. This method refreshes the crust without drying the meat. If you're short on time, the microwave works best covered loosely to retain moisture, but follow with a quick air-fry blast if you can for crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though chicken thighs are more forgiving and stay juicy, breast can work if you monitor closely to avoid drying out. Reduce the cooking time slightly and check internal temperature often.
Spray oil helps achieve an even golden crust and prevents sticking. However, if your air fryer basket is non-stick or well-seasoned, you can reduce it slightly but not omit entirely for best results.
Absolutely! Mixing the cornflour with spices ahead saves prep time and allows the flavors to meld. Store in an airtight container for weeks without loss of flavor.
Simple soy sauce with a squeeze of lime, chili garlic sauce, or even a mild mayo-based dip pairs wonderfully and complements the salt and pepper flavors nicely.
Final Thoughts
This Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe has become a go-to for me whenever I want a fuss-free meal that feels special. It's the kind of recipe that's easy to tweak-add more spice if you like heat, or swap out veggies to suit your mood. You'll enjoy how straightforward it is to get a takeaway-quality dish right in your own kitchen, and I hope it soon becomes a favorite on your rotation too.
PrintPrintable Recipe
Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe
This Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken recipe features crispy, flavorful chicken thigh pieces coated in a seasoned cornflour mix and cooked to perfection in an air fryer. Enhanced with a vibrant mix of onions, spring onions, and fresh chillies, this dish offers a spicy kick and aromatic taste, making it an ideal quick and delicious dinner option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-inspired
Ingredients
Chicken
- 5 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch in USA)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon Chinese five spice
- 500 g (1.1 lb) skinless chicken thigh fillets, quartered
- Spray oil (about 20 squirts altogether)
Also
- 1 large onion, peeled and chopped into large chunks
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 red chilli pepper (serrano or fresno), finely diced
- 1 green chilli pepper (serrano or fresno), finely diced
- 3 spring onions (scallions), roughly chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the coating: Mix the cornflour, salt, black pepper, and Chinese five spice together in a large bowl to create a flavorful coating for the chicken.
- Coat the chicken: Add the quartered chicken thigh fillets to the bowl and toss thoroughly to evenly coat each piece with the seasoned cornflour mixture.
- Air fry chicken: Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray the chicken with spray oil. Air fry at 200C (400F) for 20 minutes, shaking the basket twice during cooking to ensure even crisping. Once done, remove the chicken and place in a bowl.
- Air fry onions: Add the chopped onion, garlic salt, and black pepper to the empty air fryer basket. Toss together and spray with spray oil. Air fry for 5 minutes at 200C (400F) to soften and lightly caramelize the onions.
- Add chillies and spring onions: Add the finely diced red and green chillies to the onions in the basket. Toss and air fry for an additional 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Combine and heat through: Finally, add the roughly chopped spring onions and the fried chicken pieces back into the air fryer basket. Toss all ingredients together and air fry for 1-2 more minutes until everything is hot and well combined.
- Serve: Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favourite sides for a spicy and crispy meal.
Notes
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs, but thighs provide juicier results.
- If you don't have spray oil, lightly brush the chicken and vegetables with a neutral cooking oil before air frying.
- Adjust the quantity of chillies according to your preferred spice level.
- Work in batches if your air fryer basket is small to avoid overcrowding, which ensures better crisping.
- The Chinese five spice adds distinctive flavor but can be omitted or substituted with equal parts ground cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorn.
- Serve with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.
Leave a Reply