This homemade Salt and Pepper Chips are my easy take on the classic Chinese takeaway favourite. Made with oven chips, salt and pepper spice mix, and peppers, it’s a simple yet delicious way to enjoy this dish at home!
British takeaway style salt and pepper chips
I used to order salt and pepper chips from the Chinese takeaway and salt and pepper potatoes from Chopstix—they’re true British takeaway favorites in our house. But here’s the best part—did you know you can easily make them at home too? And its so much cheaper and budget friendly?
I even have a shortcut—use frozen chip shop-style fat chips and cook it in the air fryer or oven. Then briefly cook with a homemade salt and pepper seasoning , bell peppers and onion- easy right! While thin skinny fries work, they tend to get limp quickly and don’t hold up well.
The crispy edges and fluffy interiors of thick-cut oven chips are perfect for giving you that takeaway experience at home.
While it’s not an authentic Chinese dish, this is my version of British salt and pepper chips with a Chinese twist, just like the ones from the takeaway.
Why is it called Salt and Pepper Chips?
These thick-cut chips are tossed in a bold salt and pepper spice mix, giving them that irresistible flavour we all love from the Chinese takeaway. The seasoning blend includes salt, white pepper, Chinese five-spice, and sometimes even MSG—but don’t worry, I skip the MSG in this recipe. You’ll still get that delicious Chinese-inspired taste on your plate.
DIY Salt and Pepper Seasoning Mix – My Secret to Flavourful Chips
Making your own salt and pepper seasoning mix is super easy, and it’s the perfect way to add flavor to chips (and so much more!). Here’s what you’ll need:
1.5 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder
½ to 1 teaspoon white pepper (adjust to your taste)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional, but I love the extra flavor!)
Just mix everything together, and you’ve got a seasoning blend that takes your salt and pepper chips, stir-fries, and roasted veggies to the next level. If you make a big batch, store it in jars—it’s also a great little gift for fellow foodies.
I use this seasoning mix to make my protein rich Salt and pepper halloumi fries recipe too.
Ingredients
- Oven Chips – For convenience, I use frozen oven chips to speed up the process. But if you prefer, you can make your own from scratch with my Chunky Chips recipe.
- Mixed Peppers – I like to use both red and green bell peppers for a pop of color and sweetness. They're sliced, not diced, but feel free to slice them how you prefer!
- Onion – I prefer diced white onion for this recipe, but you can go with sliced onion if that’s what you like. Just keep in mind that slicing will change the cooking time.
- Garlic – I use 2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced. For convenience, you can also swap this out for store-bought garlic paste or garlic powder.
- Chinese 5 Spice Powder – This is the key ingredient that gives the dish its signature flavor. It’s a blend of five spices normally star anise, fennel, cinnamon, clove, and Sichuan pepper.
- Salt – I like to use sea salt for a burst of flavor. It gives the chips the perfect seasoning.
- Ground White Pepper – Another key ingredient for that distinctive flavor. While Chinese five-spice already has black pepper in it, I prefer white pepper here. If you don’t have white, black pepper will work just fine.
- Chilli – I like to add both green and red chilies for a bit of heat and a splash of color. You can adjust the amount depending on how spicy you like it.
- Spring Onions (Scallions) – I chop them in two different ways for added texture, but you can slice them however you prefer! They’re the perfect finishing touch to these chips.
How to Air fry Frozen Oven Chips?
Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes. Then add the oven chips to the air fryer basket.
Air fry for 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.Perfectly crisp on the outside with a fluffy interior air fryer chips ready!
Air Fryer Tip: I use the Instant Pot Vortex 6-in-1 Air Fryer for this recipe. This air fryer doesn't require a separate preheating step—it will notify you when it’s ready to cook.
How to make Salt and Pepper Chips? : step by step
- First cook the Oven Chips in the Air fryer or Oven.
- Heat oil in a pan or a wok over high heat. Add the onion, garlic and saute briefly.
- Add the peppers, chilli, and saute for 10-15 seconds.
- Now add the spices and chips. Toss everything together to coat the spices, for about a minute.
- Turn off the flame. Garnish with spring onions, chilli ( using if any), and serve.
Tips to make the best salt and pepper chips
- Prep Your Veggies: I always have everything sliced and ready before I start. The cooking process is super quick, so it helps to be prepared!
- Use Chunky Chips: I’ve found that chunky chips work best for holding all the seasoning. Thin skinny fries don't hold up well and go limp quickly.
- Cook over hight heat: We just need to cook the veggies over high heat until crispy and toss the chips. By cooking in lower heat, they tend to be soft.
- White Pepper for Authenticity: White pepper is key to nailing the flavor. If you use black pepper, the taste will be different, and the chips might look darker too.
- Serve Fresh: These chips are definitely best when eaten right away. If you need to reheat, pop them back in the air fryer or oven, but they won’t be as crispy as when they’re freshly made.
Serving suggestions
Serve with sweet chilli sauce and a spicier dip for chips. They are also delicious as a side dish for 15 minutes Veg fried rice or Indo-Chinese Vegetable noodles.
Some of the popular Indo Chinese takeaway style dishes you may like
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can! I personally use chunky, thick-cut oven chips for the best results. My favorites are Sainsbury's or Tesco's homestyle straight-cut chips—they’re affordable and taste great. You’ll find them in 1kg or 2.5kg bags in the freezer section. They work well baked or air fried!
Cook the chunky oven chips for 12 minutes at 400°F/200°C, shaking halfway through. If you want to make your own chunky chips from scratch, I’ve got a separate recipe for air fryer chunky chips that you can try!
Can I make salt and pepper chips in advance?
You can! But I don't recommend making them too far in advance since these chips are best enjoyed fresh. Reheating can make the chips and veggies a bit soft. Instead, if I were you, I would prep the veggies and spice mix a day before and then cook the chips fresh when ready to serve. It’s quick—takes under 30 minutes from start to finish!
If you have leftovers (though that’s rare in my house!), store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place them in the air fryer at 180°C for 3-4 minutes until they’re thoroughly heated.
This dish is a popular UK Chinese takeaway staple, originally brought over by Chinese immigrants who settled in Liverpool in the 1960s and opened up chip shops. It's now a classic, loved for its fusion of British chips with Chinese-inspired flavors!
A serving of salt and pepper chips typically has about 170 calories. Keep in mind, that can vary depending on how much oil or seasoning you use.
More easy Chips recipes for you
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Quick & Easy Chinese salt and pepper chips recipe below
Ingredients
- 400 g Oven Chips
- 1 teaspoon Vegetable Oil
- ½ White onion sliced
- ½ red bell pepper sliced
- ½ green pepper sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1½ teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper / black pepper
- 1 red or green chilli
To serve
- 1 spring onion scallion
- 1 red chilli sliced
Instructions
Cook chips in the oven
- Preheat oven to 428°F (220°C). Spread out the chips on a baking tray or use oven proof mesh tray and bake for 14-15 minutes.
Cook chips in the air fryer
- Alternatively, Air fry the frozen chips. Preheat the Air fryer at 400°F / 202°C for 3 minutes. Place the chips in the air fryer basket and air fry at 400°F (202°C) for 10-12 minutes.
How to make salt and pepper chips?
- Heat oil in a frying pan or wok. Add the onion, garlic and saute briefly.
- Add the red pepper, chilli and saute for 10-15 seconds.
- Now add the chinese five spice, salt pepper, air fried or oven baked chips. Toss well to coat the spices, for about a minute.
- Turn off the flame. Garnish with spring onions, chilli ( using if any) and serve.
Jambo says
Can I use pre bought seasoning which has the main flavour and add what I would call balance to the dish.
Sandhya's Kitchen says
Absolutely! Most of my recipes, including this Chinese salt and pepper chips are easy to customise and you should be able to do it.
Toni says
I loved how flavorful this is!! It quickly becomes one of the most requested snack at my house!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Can't beat Chinese chips and these look gorgeous and so easy to do!
Savita says
It is such an easy recipe to prepare, loved how this turned out so crisp and delicious.
Jac says
Oh my gosh these salt and pepper chips look awesome! So going to prepare these for my family's movie night.
Gina says
Authentic or not I love the Chinese spin! The crispy chips with the softened peppers are a great combination texturally and the spice is perfect!
Sandhya's Kitchen says
Its delicious and has all the flavors of Takeaway Chinese Salt Pepper Chips.