9 Slimming-friendly Salt and Pepper Fakeaway Ideas

The words '9 salt & pepper fakeaway ideas' are set against a bright orange speckled background, beneath the Pinch of Nom logo.

When you’re craving a salt and pepper takeaway, it’s easier than you might think to make a healthy alternative at home! From crispy chips to flavour-packed chicken, all 9 of these slimming-friendly salt and pepper fakeaway ideas will hit the spot.

With burgers, ribs and salads to scroll through, there’s something for every salt and pepper craving on this list. We’re talking about all the spice and crunch of your favourite dishes for far fewer calories than you’d expect. 

Ready to fire up your wok or air fryer? Let’s tuck in!

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Salt and Pepper Chicken

There’s no better recipe to kick off this list of salt and pepper fakeaways! Our version of Salt and Pepper Chicken brings all the famous flavours to the table, without lashings of oil or hidden nasties.

We’ve used a homemade spice blend and low-calorie cooking spray to keep things lighter. Remember, you can vary the spice as much as you like – just leave out some of the chilli if you prefer a milder dish.

A baking tray is filled with a freshly-baked batch of Pinch of Nom's Salt and Pepper Chicken fakeaway recipe.

Salt and Pepper Chicken Salad

Nothing has us looking forward to lunchtime as much as our Salt and Pepper Chicken Salad. Think about all the takeaway flavours you know and love, tossed into a fresh and crispy Asian-style salad bowl!

We like to use fresh and crispy shredded veggies, but there’s nothing to stop you swapping in your favourite greens (or adding some rice, if you fancy) – just be sure to adjust the calories if you’re keeping track.

Turn to pages 144-145 in your copy of Pinch of Nom: Express for the full recipe.

A table is set with Pinch of Nom's slimming-friendly Salt and Pepper Chicken Salad from the Express cookbook.

Salt and Pepper Chicken Nuggets

We honestly haven’t ordered Salt and Pepper Chicken Nuggets from a takeaway since we figured out how to make this healthier version! Toasting the sea salt in a dry pan is the key to achieving that authentic salt and pepper taste, so you don’t want to skip that step in the recipe.

Simply pop the breadcrumbed chicken chunks on a baking tray and your oven will turn them golden within 25-30 minutes.

We toss them together with colourful chopped green peppers, red peppers and chillies.

A street food style table is set with Pinch of Nom's Salt and Pepper Chicken Nuggets served on red and white striped paper, with dipping sauce to the side, and a wooden fork waiting to tuck in.

Salt and Pepper Chips

If you’ve always wondered how to make Salt and Pepper Chips at home (and make them healthier!), you’re in the right place. This is another one of those recipes that stopped us ordering from the Chinese takeaway as much!

It’s really easy to put the spice mix together with a short list of ingredients. Keep an eye out for Chinese 5-Spice next time you’re at the supermarket – it’s the key to getting the flavours right in salt and pepper fakeaways!

Will you crisp up your portion of chips in the oven or your air fryer?

A baking tray lined with greaseproof paper is filled with Pinch of Nom's Salt and Pepper Chips. The golden chips are mixed with finely diced red and green peppers and salt and pepper seasoning. A small pot of ketchup and a small pot of mayonnaise are served alongside the chips, and a hand holds one chip, dipping it into the ketchup.

Flava It! Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chips

With just a sprinkle of our Flava It! Air Fryer Salt & Pepper seasoning, you can recreate fiery, Chinese-inspired deliciousness in no time. 

Leave your air fryer to work its magic, and you’ll be tucking into golden, crunchy Salt and Pepper Chips that’ll give your local takeaway a run for its money.

That’s all the flavour you know and love, lower in fuss than ever!

Pinch of Nom's slimming-friendly Flava It! Salt and Pepper Chips are served in an air fryer basket, with a pink recipe mix sachet to one side.

Find out more about our Flava It! Fakeaway-Favourites Collection by tapping here (as well as salt and pepper seasoning, you’ll find sachets for Burger & Kebab, Chip Shop Curry Sauce and Crispy Southern Chicken inside).

Salt and Pepper Pork

A tasty break from chicken, this beautifully simple pork is one of our favourite salt and pepper fakeaways to serve over a bowl of rice and pak choi. 

Once you’ve toasted your salt flakes and combined them with the rest of the spice mix ingredients, you’ll coat the pork evenly and leave it to marinate. The longer you leave it, the tastier it’ll be – we usually leave ours overnight!

Pinch of Nom's slimming-friendly Salt and Pepper Pork is plated up at the centre of a table with chopsticks ready to tuck in, and a separate side portion of rice and pak choi.

Salt and Pepper Ribs

There’s no rushing these mouthwatering Salt and Pepper Ribs, but the good news is they’re well worth the wait! Once they’re coated with a medley of store cupboard staples and diet coke (yes, really – diet coke!), you’ll leave them to oven-bake until tender and succulent.

Hours later, they’re pan-fried on a bed of vibrant veggies with dried chilli flakes and toasted sea salt before serving. One word: heavenly!

A white marble table is set with a large yellow plate of Pinch of Nom's Salt and Pepper Ribs. The ribs look juicy and golden, served with chopped peppers and onions, and garnished with a slice of fresh lime. Two smaller plates are also on the table, and a portion of ribs has been served onto each one.

Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Burgers

If you’re as obsessed with salt and pepper flavours as we are, you need to give these Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Burgers a try. Why choose between a Chinese-inspired dinner and a burger when you can have both?

Pile them high for 343 calories per portion – homemade Asian-style slaw included!

Don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer at home, you can crisp up your Salt and Pepper Chicken Burgers in the oven too!

A dinner plate is resting on a chopping board, where two Salt and Pepper Chicken Burgers are being assembled. On toasted burger buns, panko breadcrumb coated chicken fillets are topped with green and red peppers, on a bed of Asian-style slaw.

Salt and Pepper Tofu

There’s no need to miss out on the salt and pepper fakeaway fun if you’re following a plant-based diet! Our Salt and Pepper Tofu is so flavourful and satisfying, you’d never miss the meat.

Our top tip? Drain and press your tofu between absorbent kitchen towels for at least 40 minutes. It’s worth the wait for that perfect springy texture!

A table is set with a plate of Pinch of Nom's slimming-friendly Salt and Pepper Tofu and a side bowl of fakeaway fried rice.

Let us know which salt and pepper fakeaway you make first

Don’t forget to stop by and say hello in our Facebook group. We’d love to see photos of any salt and pepper creations you cook up, or just have a chat about what you’ve been cooking.

We’ve got almost 1 million lovely community members waiting to encourage you on your slimming journey, or answer any recipe questions you might have.

You can also look for inspo in our Gallery – head over and have a nosy at what everyone else has been sharing lately. You’ll need to sign up to a free website account to upload and share your own photos (we’ve got a step-by-step guide on how to do that just here).

If you liked this article, there’s more where that came from. Explore our blog to browse for recipe ideas, kitchen equipment recommendations, money-saving tips and more.

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