Crispy seasoned chicken thighs are tossed with onions and peppers in this Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe. Made with less than 10 ingredients, this recipe is better than Chinese takeout!
Copycat Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken
We’re pretty big fans of Chinese takeout, as you may have guessed by the number of Chinese takeout-inspired recipes on this blog, like sweet and sour chicken and General Tso’s chicken.
Today’s recipe is another of our favorite takeout dishes – salt and pepper chicken.
Instead of tiny pieces of chicken like you’d get at most Chinese restaurants, I opted to use quartered chicken thighs. The bigger pieces mean more tender, juicy chicken and they still get just as crispy. You may be surprised at just how easy it is to make this recipe at home!
Why You’ll Love This Salt and Pepper Chicken Recipe
You’ll never need to order takeout again, once you make this recipe at home!
- Tender, flavorful, and crispy chicken. Chicken thighs are tossed with cornstarch and a simple blend of seasoning to create juicy, tender pieces of chicken with an earthy, peppery flavor.
- Less than 10 ingredients. Even including the salt, pepper, and vegetable oil, this easy salt and pepper chicken recipe requires less than 10 ingredients.
- Better than takeout. No more dry, overcooked chicken from the local restaurant. This salt and pepper chicken tastes even better than what you could order at your local Chinese restaurant. And it doesn’t take much longer than waiting for delivery either!
What You’ll Need
This Chinese takeout copycat is made with just a handful of ingredients, the majority of which are pantry staples. See the recipe card below for measurements.
- Cornstarch – Helps the chicken get nice and crispy.
- Salt & pepper
- Chinese five spice – Chinese five spice is a blend of spices including star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. You can find it in the spice section of most grocery stores.
- Chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs offer the most flavor and moist, tender chicken.
- Vegetable oil – For frying.
- Veggies – Onion, red bell pepper, and serrano chili peppers add flavor, color, and texture to this salt and pepper chicken recipe.
- Garlic
- Fresh chives – For garnish.
How to Make Salt and Pepper Chicken
Here’s an overview of how to make salt and pepper chicken. Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions.
- Season the chicken. Combine the cornstarch and seasonings. Toss the chicken thighs to coat in the batter.
- Cook the chicken. Heat the oil over high heat in a large frying pan. Fry the chicken in a single layer for 5-7 minutes, until crispy and cooked through. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Cook the veggies. Leave 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan and return to medium-high heat. Add the diced veggies and fry for 2-3 minutes, until the onion is slightly softened, stirring constantly. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Combine. Return the chicken to the pan and toss to combine. Cook over medium for a few minutes, until the chicken is hot again. Enjoy.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you make your salt and pepper chicken.
- Control the spice level. Adjust the amount of serrano chili peppers according to your desired level of spiciness. You can omit them completely for a more mild version.
- You may need to fry the chicken in batches depending on the size of your pan. You want to ensure they’re in a single layer and not touching so that they get crispy on all sides.
- Avoid overcooking the chicken. Fry the chicken until it’s just fully cooked, as you’ll be returning it to the heat later and don’t want to dry it out.
- Can I use chicken breast? Yes, though keep in mind you’ll need to adjust the cooking time and it may be a bit drier than the thighs.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your salt and pepper chicken with steamed white rice or fried rice for a complete meal. You can also add some stir-fried veggies or fried potatoes as a side.
To keep with the Chinese takeout theme, serve some crab rangoon or egg rolls as an appetizer.
I also like to squeeze some lime juice over the chicken just before serving, for added freshness.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Store leftover salt and pepper chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, until the chicken is heated through.
More Chinese Takeout-Inspired Recipes
- Chicken Fried Rice
- Instant Pot Orange Chicken
- Bourbon Chicken
- Dynamite Shrimp
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
Salt and Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Cornstarch
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Chinese Five Spice
- 6 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Thighs Quartered
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil For Frying
- 1 Large Onion Large Diced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper Diced
- 2 Serrano Chili Peppers Chopped
- 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
- Chopped Fresh Chives For Garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and Chinese five spice. Add the quartered chicken thighs to the bowl and toss to coat the chicken evenly with the flour mixture.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the chicken for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy and cooked through. You may need to fry the chicken in batches depending on the size of your pan.
- Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the fried chicken from the pan and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Discard all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan and return it to medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and serrano chili peppers to the pan. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until the onion is slightly softened, stirring constantly.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss everything together, ensuring the chicken and vegetables are well combined. Cook over medium heat for a few more minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Garnish the Salt and Pepper Chicken with chopped fresh chives or scallions.
Last Step:
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1 thought on “Salt and Pepper Chicken”
Looking forward to making this one day this week