This Oven Baked Peri Peri Chicken is packed with flavour. The chicken is coated in delicious marinade before being oven baked to a crispy juicy perfection. Get your favourite Nando’s chicken at home
“Awesome recipe. Everyone loved the chicken and asked for the recipe. I directed them to your site. Will be making this again”
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What is Peri Peri Chicken? And is it Peri Peri or Piri Piri?
Peri peri chicken is a South African/Portuguese dish, made famous by the Nando’s chain of restaurants.
Both countries are credited with the invention of the dish, but food historians think it was invented by Portuguese settlers in South Africa.
And the name, is it peri peri or piri piri? Piri Piri is the traditional Portuguese spelling whilst Peri Peri is more commonly used in South Africa.
What cut of chicken is best for homemade peri peri chicken?
I bought a mixed selection of chicken pieces, but you could use all drumsticks or the chicken quarters you can buy on the deli counter.
This marinade would also work with skinless or skin on chicken thighs, in fact chicken breasts would work too, but you would need to reduce the cooking time to ensure the chicken didn’t dry out.
More often than not chicken thighs are my cut of choice. They are cheap to buy, easy to eat and always stay nice and juicy!!
Is Peri Peri Chicken Spicy?
Peri peri chicken can be spicy or mild. The beauty of this recipe is the starting mixture is packed with flavor so you won’t miss the spice. But if you are a chili lover then just up the red pepper flakes or add some cayenne pepper.
Or if you are serving a mixed crowd add some chopped fresh chillies to the table and let people pep up their own meal.
What to serve with Peri Peri Chicken?
I love to serve this peri peri chicken with a big bowl of garlic rice some cooling coleslaw, and some soft flour wraps.
If you are a Peri peri fan then try my Peri Peri Chicken Burger.
Enjoy x
For more oven baked chicken recipes check out:
- Easy Garlic Chicken Parcels
- Garlic Greek Chicken
- Dill Pickle Stuffed Chicken
- Easy Cheesy Baked Fajita Chicken
- Baked Chicken with Tomatoes
- See all Oven Baked Chicken Recipes
Pin this Oven Baked Peri Peri Chicken to your Pinterest Dinner Board – Pin it here
Oven Baked Peri Peri Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 lemon (Juice and zest)
- 1 orange (juice only)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (more if you like it spicy)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2.2 lb Chicken pieces – skin on
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley to serve
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/390ºF.
- Place the minced garlic, lemon juice, orange juice and olive oil into bowl and mix to combine.
- Add the lemon zest, sweet paprika, black pepper, chilli flakes and oregano and mix well.
- Pour the marinate into a plastic bowl or large ziplock bag.
- Add the chicken pieces and leave to marinate for at least an hour but overnight will give you a great flavour.
- Lay the chicken out in a baking dish, sprinkle over the salt and cook in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Carefully baste the chicken with the pan juices and served sprinkled with fresh parsley.
Nutrition
Recipe Waffle
I love Peri Peri chicken. The sweet spicy fresh marinade makes the chicken zing.
I, and I suspect a lot of people, first ate it in Nando’s, but this is my own version, it is a bit lighter and fresher tasting, but it has the same lemony chilli kick of the chain restaurant.
For ease on weeknights I oven bake this, but it is delicious on the BBQ as you got extra charring and that flame grilled taste.
This is one of the most popular recipes on Sprinkles and Sprouts and although my photography has improved significantly since I first posted this recipe in 2015, I still love these original photos….they just pop with flavour and yum!
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Carol Borchardt says
I’m all over this flavor combination! We don’t have a Nando’s here that I know of but I tried Peri Peri Chicken at a different restaurant and have been itching to recreate it ever since! Love that you used legs and thighs–they’re so budget-friendly!
Claire McEwen says
They are so much better value than chicken breast aren’t they. And I think so much nicer!
Hope you love it Carol.
Jessica Pinney says
Wow! That chicken looks gorgeous! I’ve heard of Peri Peri chicken before but never knew what all it entailed. Thanks for sharing so that I could learn.
Claire McEwen says
You are welcome Jessica, I hope you enjoy it 😀
Rachel says
I wish I could just pick a piece of this chicken off of my computer screen! It looks sooo good! Serving it with garlic rice sounds even better!
Claire McEwen says
It is sooo good with the rice! But also perfect the following day for lunch 😀
Anne Lawton says
I have never heard of Peri Peri Chicken, it sounds delicious! I love sweet and spicy together, I can’t wait to try this out!
Claire McEwen says
I hope you love it Anne 😀
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Well, we have one of our chicken dinners for the week. It sounds fantastic and like you we prefer chicken thighs, they are so forgiving. We had a piri piri mix one time and I don’t know where it is. I think you added a liquid to it. I can’t wait to try it.
Claire McEwen says
I find that chicken thighs are often on special as well! So winner winner chicken dinner!
I hope you love it as much as we do Marisa 😀
Ben Myhre says
Thighs are BY FAR my favorite cut of meat and this dish looks pretty dang good. In fact, I have a family pack of thighs in my freezer and I might have something to do with them now.
Claire McEwen says
They are just so much juicer and packed with flavor aren’t they!
i hope your family love this 😀
Cindy says
I’ve had this in portuguese restaurants for so many years and always wondered how to make it. I think I’ve seen it spelled pirri pirri on menus? going to try making my own this weekend and will let you know, tysm
Claire McEwen says
Oh I have never seen it spelt like that, it is so interesting how words and language develop is it!
lauren says
We eat a ton of chicken, can’t wait to try this! I’ve heard of Peri Peri Chicken before but have never tried it. The marinade sounds sooo flavorful!
Claire McEwen says
It is wonderful and so packed with flavor!
I hope you enjoy it 😀
Jenni LeBaron says
This Peri-Peri chicken looks wonderful! So many layers of flavor!
Claire McEwen says
It really is such a great dish Jenni, my boys love it and everyone always asks for the recipe 😀
Anna says
I always wondered about which one is correct, peri-peri or piri-piri, so thanks for explaining that! 🙂 And I absolutely adore Nando’s peri-peri sauce, but yours looks and sounds much better!
Claire McEwen says
You are welcome, I love looking into food history 😉
Thank you so much, I love nandos but it is always nice to be able to make it home where you know exactly what has gone into it!
Kitty says
I have to try this! I actually wasn’t impressed by Nando’s. I thought the sauces tasted processed. But a scratch recipe I can get behind.
Claire McEwen says
I do hope you enjoy it then Kitty 😀
Joanie says
The flavors in the marinade are fabulous! I usually use boneless skinless chicken breasts and my family loves it. Great recipe!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you so much for coming back to comment.
I love that it works with chicken breasts 😀
Deanna says
I am loving the spice mixture that you have in this Peri Peri chicken!!! It looks and sounds amazing!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Deanna, it is a firm favorite in our house 😀
Zeeshan Mohammed says
Awesome recipe. Everyone loved the chicken and asked for the recipe. I directed them to your site. Will be makeing this again
Claire McEwen says
Oh thank you so much for coming back to comment! I am so happy to hear your family loved it 😀
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
Legs and thighs are always my first choice for chicken — they just seem meatier and more tender. The flavors in your Peri Peri sound mouthwatering and I love that you can make the whole thing in the oven.
Claire McEwen says
I agree completely Lisa!
It is meatier and just seems to stay juicer!
I love a good oven cooked meal 😀
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
The flavors in that marinade sound amazing. I would definitely try your recommended overnight marinating for the most flavor (and take you up on the suggestion for a kick of cayenne too.) We don’t have a Nando’s here so I had to Google that one. Looks great, and this recipe looks amazing!
Claire McEwen says
If you have the time I do think overnight marinating is best for so many dishes. It just gives so much flavour.
I didn’t realise Nando weren’t a global brand! I’m even happier that I did a copycat recipe now 😀
Denise says
I never heard of Peri Peri chicken, but it sure looks scrumptious! The flavors sound amazing. I must make this recipe to try!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I hope you try it soon Denise, it is such a great dish packed with flavour 😀
Tina says
Saving this and making it this weekend! I love that I have options for spicy levels!
Claire McEwen says
I hope you enjoy it Tina 😀
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Peri Peri chicken is a big favourite in our house and this looks absolutely delicious! Love the idea of serving it with some garlic rice.
Claire McEwen says
Oh I hope you try this soon then 😀
the first time I saw the combo with rice I was confused but it just works so well.
Patty says
I’ve never been at Nando’s but I certainly don’t need to, I know I’d prefer your recipe, that chicken looks and sounds so good, love the heat!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Patty.
It is packed with flavour and everyone always enjoys the meal 😀