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.
My rice recipe is officially Brazilian, and I suppose my wraps are technically Mexican. But it works so well with this Portuguese/South African peri peri chicken!
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
RECIPE – 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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Cristina A. says
HI! I want to make 2 whole chickens about 4 to 6 pounds cut in pieces! What temperature would I cook them if I put the pieces in two baking dishes at the same time in the oven?
Claire McEwen says
Hi Cristina,
I would keep the oven temperature the same at 200°C/390ºF and cook the thigh and leg pieces for 50-60 minutes. After 30 minutes I would add the chicken breast pieces to ensure all the chicken gets a nice crispy exterior but the breasts don’t overcook.
Hope that helps
Cx
Sidney says
Hi, I would like to make the chicken wings in the oven, I bought the peri peri sauce from Nandos, I was wondering if I could use that as a marinade? I would also like to try and do homemade marinades but since I have it at home, I was hoping I could try it.
Claire McEwen says
Hi Sidney,
I have never used the Nandos sauce, but having had a quick look online at it, I am sure it will work.
Hope that helps 😀
Marie says
If I use boneless breast how long should I cook it for also does it hff ave to have the skin or can it be skinless
Claire McEwen says
Hi Marie, When I cook Peri Peri chicken breasts in the oven I increase the temperature and decrease the time. So I will cook them at 450ºF/230ºC for 15-18 minutes. They are usually done after 15 minutes but really fat thick breasts can take a couple of extra minutes.
I’ve tried it with skin on and skin off and both cook in the same time so it is just personal preference there.
Hope that helps
Cx
Schippmom says
This was really good! I added a splash of balsamic vinegar as I had no orange juice, as well as a teaspoon of dried cilantro. Recipe was spot on!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so pleased you enjoyed it 😀
I am loving the adaptions too, I bet the vinegar added a great tang!
Carol H Dempsey says
Great Peri-Peri Chicken Recipe
I was in a hurry and it worked great in the oven.
I added some liquid smoke since it was raining and
I could not grill it which is what I usually do.
I had to adjust my oven up to 500 degrees which is
probably due to living below sea level.
Thanks and I did sign up for your newsletter~
CSD
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Carol,
So please you enjoyed the recipe.
I bet the liquid smoke added a wonderful flavor to the chicken.
Sammie says
I know that everyone in our household will love this Peri Peri Chicken And I love that it’s easily baked in the oven. Cannot wait to try this.
Becca says
My husband is British and recently moved to the US to be with me- leaving behind his previous Nando’s and butcher-shop peri peri. Looking forward to trying this recipe with him tonight! I tried it on my parents several weeks ago and it turned out great! Just one question: mine wasn’t very crispy- how can I get it to crisp up more on top? Thanks- and yumm!
Claire McEwen says
Hi Becca, so happy you and your parents enjoyed it. I hope your hubby does too 😀
If you want a crispier skin what I tend to do is to push off any marinade and then pat the skin dry with kitchen paper towel. This will help it crisp up a little more.
You could try it under the broiler but I haven’t tested that myself so not sure how it will work.
Becca says
Hi, Claire- I actually tried this again last night, and for some reason, it came out just about perfect! The previous time, I’d marinated it for about 8 hours, whereas this time I only marinated it for an hour. That’s the only difference I can think of. But, we LOVED it! It was just right in terms of crispiness on top. In his words, “I could definitely eat this again!” Thank you 🙂
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am happy to read this 😀 😀 😀
I am so glad it was perfect for you and you could recreate Nando’s for your husband.
Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment again.
Cx
Foodido says
It’s not South African. It was actually invented in Mozambique. The Portuguese then added their special touch (garlic, lemon, paprika and olive oil) which made it what it is today – delicious.
Claire McEwen says
Thank you, I didn’t know it originated in Mozambique! My SA friends have always told me it was a South African dish!
Love learning new facts about food 😀
Golden melon expert says
This is an absolute go to chicken recipe. Remind me of my aunt’s peri peri recipe. I couldn’t get in touch with her to ask her of it so, I ecided to look something up online. Thank you for this hon.
Claire McEwen says
You are welcome….so pleased you enjoy it 😀
Michele @ Queenbeebaker says
We are always looking for new chicken recipes. This looks SO delicious!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Michele
maria says
My family and I just love peri peri chicken when ordering out. I will follow up on your suggestion and make it on the BBQ… smokey, sweet and spicy!
Stunning photography! Thanks for sharing ♥
Claire McEwen says
You are welcome Maria, I do hope your family loves this 😀
maria says
My family and I just love peri peri chicken when ordering out. I will follow up on your suggestion and make it on the BBQ… smokey, sweet and spicy!
Stunning photography! Thanks for sharing ♥
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Maria, I hope your family love it 😀
Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says
This chicken has all the classic spices I love to season my chicken with. We are always looking for new chicken recipes to add to our weeknight dinners. I’m going to try this one tomorrow and serve it with risotto.
Claire McEwen says
Ooooh I bet it will be a great and different accompaniment to risotto 😀