Some dinners make everyone quiet for a moment, and this Crispy Dairy-Free Salt & Pepper Chicken is one of them. It’s quick, it’s full of flavour, and it feels like a proper fakeaway without the fuss. I’ve made it so many times that it’s now one of my most reliable family recipes. Before we get into the steps, if you fancy a little treat afterwards, my Nut-Free Biscoff Cheesecake is linked here on the blog. It’s honestly the easiest dessert when you want something sweet without any stress.

Because so many people ask how to get the coating truly crispy without dairy, I’ve added a helpful article from BBC Good Food all about spices and flavour pairing. It’s simple, practical, and helps build confidence when experimenting with seasoning: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/spice-guide.

This Crispy Dairy-Free Salt & Pepper Chicken really shines once you understand how the spices work together.

A plate of crispy dairy-free salt and pepper chicken served with peppers and onions, styled in a warm kitchen with the recipe title displayed above. — A simple fakeaway favourite: crispy dairy-free salt and pepper chicken.

Ingredients

500g chicken breast or thigh, cut into chunks
1 cup cornflour
Salt and pepper (generous amounts)
1 tsp Chinese five spice
1 tsp garlic granules
1 tsp onion granules
1 pepper (any colour), sliced
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Oil for frying
Optional chilli flakes

Method

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

Start by cutting the chicken into small pieces. First, pat them dry so the coating sticks properly. Next, place the pieces into a bowl and season them lightly. Meanwhile, set your cornflour aside so it’s ready.

Cutting the chicken into small pieces helps it cook quickly and evenly.

Step 2: Coat in Cornflour

Tip the cornflour into a shallow dish. Afterwards, mix in salt, pepper, five-spice, garlic granules, and onion granules. Then, coat each piece of chicken until fully covered. Once the flour clings evenly, place the coated pieces on a plate. While they rest, heat your oil.

A bowl of seasoned flour being mixed with garlic granules, onion granules and five spice — This simple seasoned flour is the secret to getting that perfect crispy coating.

Step 3: Fry Until Crispy

When the oil looks hot enough to shimmer, carefully add the chicken. Eventually, the coating will turn golden and crisp. Immediately remove each batch and set it aside. During this time, the kitchen will smell incredible. Occasionally, I double-dip the chicken into the seasoning for extra crunch. Ultimately, make sure every piece has that lovely crisp texture.

The image shows chicken pieces frying in a pan,until goldern and crispy

Step 4: Sauté the Veg

Before frying the veg, pour away most of the oil, leaving just a little behind. Add your peppers and onions. Finally, toss them around the pan until softened. Sometimes, I add a pinch more pepper here because it deepens the flavour. After, stir in the garlic until fragrant.

Sliced peppers and onions being sautéed in a hot pan, softening and turning golden as they cook for salt and pepper chicken — Softened peppers and onions bring that classic salt and pepper flavour.

Step 5: Bring Everything Together

Return the crispy chicken to the pan. Later, sprinkle over more salt, pepper, and optional chilli flakes. In the end, everything should be glossy, coated and smell just like your favourite takeaway. Otherwise, adjust the seasoning to suit your taste. Still, it’s a very forgiving recipe and always turns out well. Therefore, it’s ideal for busy evenings.

Crispy fried chicken pieces being added to a pan of sautéed peppers and onions to finish the salt and pepper chicken dish — Crispy chicken tossed with peppers and onions, everything comes together here.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Once everything is cooked and the chicken is coated beautifully, it’s time to serve. Sometimes, I pile it over fluffy rice so the juices soak in a little, but other times, I keep it simple with chips for a proper fakeaway feel. Before dishing up, I always taste a piece just to check the seasoning. A tiny pinch more salt or pepper can make all the difference. After the first mouthful, you’ll see why this dish disappears so quickly. Ultimately, it’s one of those meals that feels comforting without being heavy, and it works just as well for a quick weeknight dinner as it does for sharing with friends. In the end, it brings that perfect balance of crispy, spicy, and savoury to the table every single time.

A plate of crispy salt and pepper chicken served with peppers and onions in a warm kitchen setting — Crispy, dairy-free salt and pepper chicken ready to serve.

A Little Note Before You Head Off

I always think meals like this are the ones that end up becoming family favourites without you even realising. It’s quick to throw together, full of flavour, and feels like a proper treat after a long day. Once you’ve made it a couple of times, it becomes one of those recipes you can do almost on autopilot, and that’s exactly what makes it so reliable. Whether you serve it with rice, noodles or chips, it brings a perfect mix of crispiness and warmth that everyone seems to love.

Young child sitting at the table eating homemade crispy salt and pepper chicken pieces with chips and mixed vegetables.