Enjoy a spicy, flavorful PERI PERI CHICKEN recipe you can make simply with just a few, fresh ingredients and easy-to-make homemade Peri Peri sauce!
What is Peri Peri Chicken?
Peri Peri Chicken is chicken marinated in Peri Peri sauce, either roasted or grilled.
It’s a spicy chicken dish that originated in Africa and is still enjoyed there today. It is more widely known as a Portuguese dish due to its origin with Portuguese settlers, but has become a South African staple!
Our Peri Peri chicken recipe is roasted to perfection, though peri peri chicken recipes are also often grilled over charcoal.
Why is it called Peri Peri or Piri Piri?
Peri Peri and Piri Piri actually have the same meaning. Piri Piri is the Portuguese name, while Peri Peri, the more commonly used name, is South African.
Peri Peri is named after the pepper used in Peri Peri sauce: the bird’s eye chili.
What is in Peri Peri Sauce?
To make your own Peri Peri sauce recipe, you’ll need these ingredients:
- Chili peppers
- Onion
- Salt
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
- Bell peppers
Follow our guide to easily make your own Peri Peri sauce recipe! Peri Peri sauce is easy to make, spicy, and delicious. You’ll love this Peri Peri chicken recipe even more if you make the Peri Peri sauce from scratch.
How to make Peri Peri Chicken
Our Peri Peri Chicken recipe is incredibly easy to make and full of flavor. I roast my chicken in the oven, basting it a few times in the process.
- Preheat the oven to 410°F. Oil a large roasting pan and place the lemon wedges in the bottom.
- Use kitchen scissors to cut the backbone from the chicken, then open it. Flip it over and press down on the breast with the palm of your hand to flatten it out.
- Rub a little oil all over the chicken. Place 3/4 cup of Peri Peri sauce into a small bowl, then use a basting brush to brush the chicken on both sides liberally with sauce.
- Sprinkle with some salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken breast side up in the prepared roasting pan, and roast for 30 minutes. Apply the remaining sauce (from the 3/4 cup) over the top. Turn the oven down to 350°F and roast for 20 minutes per pound or until the chicken reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer. Turn the tray in the oven so that it browns evenly, and baste twice more during the cooking.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting into pieces or slicing.
- Serve with rice, fries and/or slaw and some extra sauce.
What goes with Peri Peri Chicken?
Peri Peri Chicken goes well with rice, fries, or slaw.
I always add slaw to the side of my Peri Peri chicken recipe, as it can help to tone down the spiciness if needed. You could also try a fresh salad with a creamy dressing on the side, like this Fresh Vegetable Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing.
Want more chicken dinner recipes? Try these out:
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
- One Pot Chicken Orzo Pasta
- Sticky Harissa Chicken
- Chicken Saltimbocca Schnitzel
Want to make more homemade sauce recipes? Try these recipes:
This Peri Peri Chicken recipe will be a hit with your family and friends! Let us know how you like it in the comments below.
**** PIN Peri Peri Chicken Recipe to save for later ****
Enjoy a spicy, flavorful PERI PERI CHICKEN recipe you can make simply with just a few, fresh ingredients and easy-to-make homemade Peri Peri sauce!
- 4 lb whole chicken
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- 3/4 cup peri peri sauce
- Salt and pepper
-
Preheat the oven to 410°F. Oil a large roasting pan and place the lemon wedges in the bottom.
-
Use kitchen scissors to cut the backbone from the chicken, then open it. Flip it over and press down on the breast with the palm of your hand to flatten it out.
-
Rub a little oil all over the chicken. Place 3/4 cup of sauce into a small bowl, then use a basting brush to brush the chicken on both sides liberally with sauce. Sprinkle over some salt and pepper.
-
Place the chicken breast side up in the prepared roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes. Apply the remaining sauce (from the 3/4 cup) over the top. Turn the oven down to 350°F and roast for another 20 minutes per pound or until the chicken reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer. Turn the tray in the oven so it browns evenly, and baste twice more during the cooking.
-
Remove the chicken from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting into pieces or slicing.
-
Serve with rice, fries and/or slaw and some extra sauce.
Recipe Video
- Flattening out the chicken is optional but will help it to cook more evenly and more quickly.
- Use this Peri Peri Sauce recipe for great results
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