These Salt & Pepper Wings are my take on a British Chinese takeaway favourite. They’re simple to make and utterly delicious; enjoy as a snack or as part of a homemade Chinese feast.
my version of salt & pepper wings
Like salt & pepper chips, these chicken wings aren’t a traditional Chinese recipe. However they were created by Chinese immigrants in their takeaways.
They can now be found in most Chinese restaurants and takeaways across the UK. They are more often than not dipped in batter and deep fried to get a crispy coating.
However my salt & pepper wings are slightly different as I chose to not batter them. To get the authentic takeaway crispness I think you really would need to deep dry them.
I think less people would try these wings if they were deep fried which is why I opted to crisp them in the air fryer instead. That isn’t to say I won’t try to create an air fryer version with a coating in the future!
Which salt & pepper seasoning is recommended to use?
Of course, I recommend that you use my homemade Chinese salt & pepper seasoning. I think it is extremely similar to my local Chinese takeaway which is why I can’t get enough of it!
I also think it is better to make your own because you know exactly what is in it. You can also adjust it to your preferences too.
If you do want to buy it instead, I’ve seen shops like Home Bargains sell it but I’m not sure if supermarkets do. You will be able to find it online if you can’t find it in any shops near to you.
If you aren’t in the UK, making your own will probably be your best option. You might also be able to find it online too.
how to cook the chicken wings
I haven’t included the specific instructions for cooking the wings in this recipe because I recommend cooking them in the air fryer and I have a whole post which goes into that in detail.
Air frying wings is definitely my go-to way to cook wings. It is so quick and gets them perfectly crisp.
For a recipe like this, it doesn’t matter if you have to cook the wings in batches because they are going to be reheated at the end in a pan with the vegetables and seasoning.
You can of course cook them in the oven if you prefer. Just make sure they are fully cooked before moving onto the next stage in this recipe.
Can you cook these salt & pepper wings entirely in the air fryer?
Although I recommend cooking the chicken wings in the air fryer, I really do think you need to finish off the wings in a wok or pan.
I tried cooking them entirely in the air fryer and they just didn’t turn out quite right. The vegetables just didn’t have the same taste as they did when they were cooked in the wok.
Adjust the seasoning to your liking
One great thing about making these wings yourself is you can adjust the seasoning to your preference. Some people like a stronger flavour while others prefer the seasoning to be more subtle.
As the salt & pepper seasoning does include quite a bit of salt, I would always recommend erring on the side of caution and using a smaller amount until you have used it a few times and know how much you like.
customise your wings
Salt & pepper wings vary across the country depending on your Chinese takeaway. Some takeaways call them salt & chilli wings instead but they are all essentially the same thing.
I’m not a fan of onions so I used spring onions instead of white onions. White onions are more common so you can absolutely use those if you prefer.
I add chillies as a garnish because I’m not looking for heat from my wings. If you like yours with a kick, you can add chillies with the rest of the vegetables so they are dispersed through the wings.
can you reheat these wings
You can absolutely reheat any leftover wings; however they are so addictive you are unlikely to have any left!
I would reheat them for 3-4 minutes in an air fryer until they are piping hot. You can of course eat them cold and they will still be tasty.
how to serve salt & pepper wings
You can serve these wings as a snack, lunch or part of a Chinese feast. You could go all out and serve them with my salt & pepper chips to create your own fakeaway.
Here are some dishes that would go well with these tasty wings:
- Chicken Chow Mein
- Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken
- Chicken & Pineapple
- Chicken Chow Fun
- Tenderstem Broccoli with Oyster Sauce & Garlic
You could also keep these wings lighter and serve them with my crunchy Asian slaw.
other recipes you might like
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Gochujang Chicken Rice Bowl
- Air Fryer Korean Wings
- Air Fryer Cajun Wings
Pin for later
Salt & Pepper Wings
These Salt & Pepper Wings are my take on a British Chinese takeaway favourite. They're simple to make and utterly delicious; enjoy as a snack or as part of a homemade Chinese feast.
Ingredients
- 500 g air fryer chicken wings
- ½ tbsp sunflower oil
- ½ red pepper diced
- 2 spring onions sliced
- ½ tbsp minced garlic
- 1-2 tsp Chinese salt & pepper seasoning
To garnish
- 1 chilli optional
- 1 spring onion sliced
Instructions
-
Air fry 500g chicken wings
-
Dice ½ red pepper and slice 3 spring onions. Set aside
-
Once the chicken wings are cooked, add ½ tbsp sunflower oil to a wok or large pan over a high heat
-
Add the red pepper and spring onions and stir fry for 2-3 minutes
-
Add the cooked chicken wings along with ½ tbsp minced garlic and 1-2 tsp salt & pepper seasoning
-
Stir fry for 3-4 minutes
-
Garnish with 1 red chilli and 1 spring onion before serving
Recipe Notes
Yes, this recipe does have a lot of salt in it. If you are worried you can use less seasoning when cooking.
Nutritional information is given as a guide only and may vary.
Karen says
Wow, these were so good and so easy to prepare. I love your salt and pepper seasoning!
Curly says
Thank you Karen!
Hazel says
I couldn’t believe how easy these were to make and they taste even better than the ones from the takeaway. I think we’ll be eating them every week.
Curly says
Thank you so much!
Chloe says
Yum, I do love a battered wing but can’t be bothered to make them often so this is a great alternative.
Curly says
Exactly, these are much easier to make and very tasty!