If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! – Mike H. It’s Peri Peri Chicken, and it hits all the perfect notes that your taste buds have been craving.
What is Peri Peri Chicken?
Peri Peri Chicken is a flavorful dish of chicken served with spicy peri peri sauce. The chicken can be marinated or served with the sauce, though I like to do both. If you’ve never enjoyed south African Peri Peri Chicken, it’s definitely a treat, especially with bone-in chicken. You can make this recipe with any cut of chicken, though - bone-in or boneless chicken breast, chicken thighs, wings, even a whole chicken. It’s an easy recipe, which I love. The sauce whips up in minutes. You can start it in the morning and marinate the chicken until later that evening, then bake or grill it up for an easy weeknight meal. Let’s talk about how to make peri peri chicken, shall we?
FOR THE PERI PERI CHICKEN Chicken. I’m using bone-in chicken - leg and thigh quarters, with some wings tossed in. You can use skinless, boneless chicken if you’d like. Spices. Paprika (smoked is great), garlic powder, salt and pepper. FOR THE PERI PERI MARINADE Chili Peppers. African Bird’s Eye peppers are traditional, but you can sub with red peppers available to you. Choose them based on your preferred heat level. Red bells with a couple Fresno peppers or bird’s eye peppers are a nice combination. Garlic. Smoked Paprika. Fresh Cilantro. Fresh Basil. Vegetable Oil. Lemon Juice. FOR SERVING: Chopped parsley, spicy chili flakes
First you’ll make the spicy peri peri sauce by mixing the ingredients together - minus the oil - in a blender or food processor. The sauce requires no cooking, so this can be done quickly and easily. Then you’ll drizzle in the olive oil while processing until the mixture thickens up. When it’s nice and thick to your liking, stir in the lemon juice and adjust for salt. Looks good, doesn’t it? I love this sauce. You can either bake or grill the chicken, whichever you prefer. For baking, you’ll need 35-40 minutes at 400 degrees F (204 C). For grilling, it’s 35-40 minutes with some flipping and moving the chicken around. I like to use my ThermoPop meat thermometer from ThermoWorks (I’m an affiliate). Works great! Cooking time can vary, so be sure to check your temperatures. Once cooked, toss the chicken with the remainder of the peri peri sauce and you’re good to go! Boom! Done! Your peri peri chicken is ready to serve. Garnish if you’d like and get to eating!
What Does Peri Peri Chicken Taste Like?
Peri Peri Chicken is highly flavorful and just a bit spicy from the peri peri sauce, though it is not an overpowering heat. You’ll enjoy a blooming warmth along with touches of chilies, garlic and herbs. Since we’re using a homemade peri peri sauce, you can make it as mild or as spicy as you’d like. It also goes by the names “Piri Piri Sauce"or “Pili Pili”. Some people might call this recipe “piri piri chicken” or even “pili pili chicken”. I don’t have access to African Bird’s Eye chili peppers, you can use other chilies to achieve a wonderful sauce. Use any red peppers of your choice. So yes, you CAN make this with bell peppers just as easily as you can with the hottest peppers in the world. Carolina Reaper peri peri sauce, anyone? See my Homemade Peri Peri Sauce recipe for more information. Don’t forget some extra sauce! NOTE: This recipe was updated on 4/22/24 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 9/21/18.
