Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish that delivers crispy, tender bites without the excess oil of traditional frying. Made with simple ingredients like chicken, garlic, and bell peppers, it’s both healthy and satisfying.
Using an air fryer ensures a golden, crunchy texture while keeping the chicken juicy inside. The blend of salt, cracked pepper, and optional chili flakes adds a bold, savory kick with minimal effort.
Perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep, this recipe is a lighter take on a takeout favorite. It’s easy to customize and pairs well with rice, noodles, or fresh salad.
Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe
Crispy, juicy, and full of flavor, this Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken recipe is a quick and easy dinner option for any night!
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts), cut into 1-inch (2-cm) pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Oil spray
- For the Marinade:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 garlic cloves finely grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger finely grated
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar or regular sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- For the Spice Mix:
- 2 teaspoons white pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar or regular sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon five-spice powder
- Optional Garnish:
- Fresh basil leaves thinly sliced (or nori sheets) (*Footnote 1)
- Lemon wedges
- Sliced hot peppers such as jalapeno, Asian red long peppers, Bird’s eye chili, etc.
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken:
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken and marinade ingredients. Mix well.
- Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate it overnight for more flavor.
- Prepare the Spice Mix:
- In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the spice blend.
- Note: The recipe makes more spice mix than needed, so adjust according to your taste.
- Coat the Chicken with Cornstarch:
- When ready to cook, gradually add cornstarch to the marinated chicken, a few tablespoons at a time.
- Stir to coat all the chicken pieces evenly with cornstarch.
- Cook the Chicken:
- Place the chicken into the air fryer basket or on a tray, ensuring the pieces are not overlapping (cook in batches if necessary).
- Lightly spray the chicken with oil to ensure no dry cornstarch is visible.
- Air Fry the Chicken:
- Cook the chicken at 350°F (176°C) for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, remove the chicken, flip the pieces, and spray them with oil again.
- Increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken turns golden brown.
- Toss with Spice Mix:
- Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a large bowl.
- Sprinkle about half of the spice mix over the chicken and gently toss with tongs.
- Taste and add more spice mix if desired.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Add sliced basil to the chicken, garnish with chili peppers, and serve with lemon wedges on the side, if desired.
- Serve hot as an appetizer and enjoy!
