Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken

A super easy and fast air fryer salt and pepper chicken recipe that creates extra crispy chicken bites coated in a delicious pepper salt without making a mess. It takes no time to put together and tastes just as good as deep-fried! {Gluten-Free}

Since I posted the original salt and pepper chicken recipe, I have been asked by readers if the dish can be made in an air fryer. It took me so long to start experimenting with it, and now I regret that I didn’t do it earlier! Once I tried making salt and pepper chicken in an air fryer, I found the process so simple and the result great! I won’t be going back to the stovetop method anytime soon.

Why air fryer salt and pepper chicken

Salt and pepper chicken is a famous Taiwanese snack, featuring crispy chicken bites coated in a savory pepper salt and garnished with crispy basil and chili pepper. It used to be my favorite snack to order when I would meet up with friends for bubble tea.

Traditionally the chicken is marinated and deep fried. However I found it so much easier to make in an air fryer and the result is just as great.

It comes in handy especially when you make the dish in the summer. The air fryer doesn’t heat up my kitchen at all, when I found it torturous to stand in front of the hot stove for more than 10 minutes.

Ingredients for air fryer salt and pepper chicken

Making air fryer salt and pepper chicken is so easy and you will find that most of the ingredients are already in your pantry. 

The fresh ginger and garlic in the marinade are important, as they make the chicken extra fragrant.

The key ingredient to making the pepper salt is white pepper. It has a brighter tone that really stands out. A touch of five spice powder adds warm flavor to the chicken, making it richer and more savory. I also love to serve my air fryer salt and pepper chicken with a squeeze of lemon.

Traditional salt and pepper chicken uses deep fried crispy basil leaves to add another dimension of flavor to the dish, but it does require some extra effort to cook them. I’ve found that dried nori sheets have a similar texture and an equally interesting taste. Or you can simply serve the chicken with fresh basil like I did in the recipe, which tastes great as well.

How to make air fryer salt and pepper chicken

Making air fryer salt and pepper chicken couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is:

• Marinate the chicken in a few simple ingredients
• Coat the chicken with cornstarch right before cooking
• Add the chicken to your air fryer basket and spray with oil
• Cook at 350°F (176°C) for 10 minutes
• Raise the air fryer temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 5 minutes
• Toss the air fried chicken with the salt and pepper spice mix

One word about the type of air fryer you use

I use a Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven currently. We upgraded to it when our old one from 5 years ago gave out.

I ended up getting an air fryer toaster oven because:

1. It has more basket space so I can cook more food at one time
2. The basket is stainless steel. I found most air fryers use nonstick coatings which I try to avoid.
3. The air fryer has a beautiful design that looks great on my kitchen counter. 

I have to admit that I rarely turn on my big oven since I got the air fryer toaster oven. It heats up and cooks so much faster, and does not heat up my room. 

Depending on the type of air fryer you use, you might find the cooking time varies lightly. My air fryer is quite powerful and sometimes it needs less time. When you’re using an air fryer recipe, always check on your food a few times during cooking, and slightly adjust the cooking time according to the best result.

That’s all! This air fryer chicken is such a great appetizer for your dinner, or a snack for movie night. I hope you enjoy this one!