Air Fryer Salt & Pepper Chicken

By Editor On Mar 2, 2025

Want takeout-style flavor at home? This Air Fryer Salt & Pepper Chicken is the healthier option you’ve been looking for.

Here’s a recipe that’s about to become your air fryer’s best friend. Salt & Pepper Chicken gets a crispy makeover in this version. Imagine juicy pieces of chicken cooked to perfection in the air fryer before being tossed in a quick stir fry with veggies and spices! It’s peppery, a little sweet, a little spicy, and packed with flavor.

The secret twist? A pinch of garam masala—an unexpected but game-changing addition for that bold, aromatic kick. (Don’t have garam masala? We’ve got you covered with a homemade recipe.) This dish is proof that simple ingredients can create something spectacular.

Jump to section: Air Fryer Salt & Pepper chicken

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Air Fryer Salt & Pepper Chicken hits all the right notes:

Crispy Without the Frying: The air fryer works its magic to make the chicken pieces crispy without the mess and excess oil that comes with deep frying.
Quick Stir Fry Finish: A quick toss with veggies,spices, and sauces turns this into a restaurant-style dish in minutes.
Perfect for Weeknights: It’s quick, easy, and guaranteed to please.

Ingredients Overview

This recipe uses simple ingredients, but they come together for some seriously bold flavors.

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts work well here—juicy and easy to crisp up.
Veggies: A mix of colorful bell peppers and onions for crunch and sweetness.
Spices: Garam masala is the hero here, but you can also use five spice powder for a traditional touch.
Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, and a pinch of sugar balance out the flavors perfectly.
The Stir Fry Sauce: A mix of soy sauce and a hint of honey for a sweet and savory glaze.

Richa’s Top Tips

Marinate for Delicious Flavor: Let the chicken sit with salt, black pepper, and garam masala before air frying to infuse the spices deeply.
Cut Uniform Pieces: Chop chicken into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking in the air fryer.
Don’t Crowd the Basket: Cook in batches if needed—overcrowding prevents the chicken from getting crispy.
Perfect Veggie Stir Fry: Keep the heat high when stir-frying the bell peppers and onions to get them all crunchy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cut of chicken is best for this recipe?

Boneless chicken thighs are ideal because they stay juicy, but chicken breasts work well too—just keep an eye on the cooking time.

Can I make this dish vegetarian?

Yes! Swap the chicken for tofu or paneer and follow the same steps for air frying and stir frying. However, paneer and tofu cook much faster than chicken, so be sure to adjust the cook time accordingly.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a skillet or air fryer to bring back some of the crispiness.

The air fryer uses rapid hot air to mimic deep frying, giving you crispy chicken with just a fraction of the oil. It’s also a fantastic way to cook evenly and avoid the mess of traditional frying. If you are planning to invest in an air fryer or want to find out more about how it works, check out my article, Everything You Need To Know About Air Fryers.

Crispy, bold, and well seasoned, this air fryer salt & Pepper Chicken is proof that healthy cooking doesn’t have to be boring. Whether it’s for a weeknight meal or a party appetizer, this recipe guarantees flavor-packed bites that’ll have everyone asking for more.

Tag @my_foodstory on IG when you try it out—I’d love to see your crispy chicken creations! 🍗✨

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Air frying chicken

Pre-heat air fryer at 180C.
Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl & give it a good mix till all ingredients are combined well. Set aside for at least 30 minutes.

450 gms boneless chicken thigh, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons crushed black pepper, 1 beaten egg, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, ¼ cup corn flour
Grease the air fryer basket & place the chicken pieces. Brush the chicken pieces with oil & do not overcrowd the airfryer basket as they will not get fried well. Air fry them in batches if needed.

1-2 teaspoons cooking oil
Take the fried chicken pieces out of the airfryer & set aside on a plate.
Repeat for all chicken pieces.

Stir frying chicken

Heat oil in a flat bottomed pan on high heat. Add garlic, ginger and celery. Fry on high heat for 45 seconds till they are fragrant.

2 tablespoons cooking oil, 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped garlic, 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped ginger, 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped celery
Add onions, capsicum and saute on high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add soy sauce, vinegar, black pepper and fried chicken pieces.

½ cup sliced onions, ¼ cup capsicum, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon black pepper
Toss to combine well, saute for 1-2 minutes, add spring onion greens and serve hot.

¼ cup spring onion greens

Boneless chicken thighs is used in the recipe as they are tender and juicy & works best for the recipe. Alternatively it may be replaced with boneless chicken breasts.
Freshly ground black pepper is used in the recipe as it gives a distinct flavour to the dish.
Prep all ingredients for stir fry in advance as this is a really quick recipe and stir frying takes very few minutes.
Use any neutral flavoured cooking oil as per your preference, i generally use sunflower oil, canola oil or rice bran oil.

Calories: 348kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 713mg, Potassium: 301mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 871IU, Vitamin C: 31mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 1mg

This article was researched and written by Harita Odedra.

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