Nandos Peri Peri Chicken Recipe

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Why not make your favourite Nando's Chicken at home! This easy Peri Peri Chicken has all the flavour you know and love from Nando's but much cheaper. It's simple to make and cooks in 40 minutes - you can even cook it on the BBQ too. Spice up your meals times with this flaming hot chicken!

Peri Peri Chicken in a baking dish and on a plate with corn, rice, sauces and bread.

We love recreating our favourite restaurant meals at home. Not only are they cheaper to make yourself, but healthier too because you can control exact what does in to it. Nando's has soared in popularity in recent years, and it's no wonder with their deliciously spicy chicken. Serve with some rice, bread and salad for a homemade version of Nandos.

Jump to:

Why should you try it?
Step by step
What is Peri Peri?
The marinade
Does it need marinating first?
How spicy is it?
What chicken to use
How to serve
Extra tips
More chicken recipes
Recipe

Why should you try it?

Cheaper and healthier version of Nandos
Cooks in just 40 minutes
An easy Peri Peri marinade
Great for batch cooking

Step by step

One: Put all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Collage of a marinade being mixed in a small bowl.

Two: Put the chicken in to a large bowl and add the marinade. Mix well. Put in the fridge for 30-60 minutes so the chicken marinates.

A bowl of chicken thighs coated in a marinade.

Three: Put in a baking dish or onto a baking sheet.

Marinated chicken thighs in a baking dish.

Four: Put in a preheated oven at 220°C/425°F/Gas 7 and bake for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (reached an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F). Use a meat thermometer like this Thermapen .^(aff)

Watch our web story for a quick how-to on making this Peri Peri Chicken.

What is Peri Peri?

Peri Peri is actually a chilli, and it's also known as the African bird's eye chilli. We think of peri peri as the actual sauce or seasoning, but the chillies are mixed with garlic, salt, paprika and herb to make the seasoning and then mixed in to olive oil, lemon and vinegar to make the sauce. Some people call it Piri Piri, but Peri Peri is what we are more used to in the UK.

Most people think that Nando's is Portuguese, because of the chicken symbol that is associated with Portugal I guess, but it is actually South African, and that is where all their chillies are grown.

The marinade

This recipe really is all about the homemade Peri Peri marinade and it couldn't be more simple. We took some lemon juice and olive oil and mixed it with chilli flakes, paprika, garlic, oregano, parsley and basil and seasoned with salt and pepper. So easy, but packs a serious flavour punch.

Does it need marinating first?

You don't have to, but I would say it certainly helps. Leave it for a couple of hours if you can, but at least 30 minutes before cooking at least. The longer you can marinade it, the better it will taste, so go overnight if possible.

Cooked chicken thighs in a spicy marinade with a pair of tongues.

How spicy is it?

Peri Peri chicken has a proper kick to it, but that's the whole point of it really. It has plenty of flavour too, so it isn't just about the spice. But the spice is important. I am guessing if you don't like spicy food, then you wouldn't have found your way to this recipe.

If you are making it for people that don't love spicy food, then you could either use less chillies in the recipe, or make sure you have a creamy and cooling dip on the side to take some of the edge off.

A chicken thigh, corn cob and rice on a plate in front of a baking dish full of chicken.

What chicken to use

We used chicken thighs (skin on and bone in) in this recipe, as they are nice and juicy. But, you could use drumsticks, breast or even do a whole chicken with this seasoning on. Cooking times will vary depending on what kind of chicken you are using though, so make sure to use a thermometer to check it is cooked.

How to serve

Anyone that has been to Nando's will know just how many sides they have on offer, and we do like a side dish. I would go with a classic fries, corn and slaw combo to compliment this chicken. Why not try our Garlic Potato Wedges, Mexican Coleslaw and Grilled Corn with Herb Butter. If you want to serve it with rice, like we have, then try our Easy Spanish Rice.

This recipe uses 2 teaspoon of chilli flakes. If you don't like a lot of spice, reduce it to 1 teaspoon
Make your own Nando's sauce by taking all the same seasonings in this recipe again and mixing it with some lemon juice, more oil and some vinegar until the desired consistency.
We used chicken thighs, but you can use drumsticks, breasts or even a whole chicken.
Try to marinade it overnight if you can, but at least 30 minutes in the fridge if you don't have a lot of time.
To make sure the chicken has reached the desired internal temperature, we used this Thermapen .^(aff)

More chicken recipes

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Easy Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Tomato, Chili and Basil Marinated Chicken

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Recipe

▢ 8 Chicken thighs

Marinade

▢ 1 Lemon (juice only)
▢ 2 tablespoon Olive oil
▢ 2 teaspoon Paprika
▢ 2 teaspoon Chilli flakes (less if you don't like too spicy, but I didn't find it too spicy)
▢ 2 cloves Garlic crushed
▢ 2 teaspoon Dried oregano
▢ 2 teaspoon Dried basil
▢ 2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
▢ 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper

Put all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Put the chicken in to a large bowl and add the marinade. Mix well. Put in the fridge for 30-60 minutes so the chicken marinates.
Put in a baking dish or onto a baking sheet.
Put in a preheated oven at 220°C/425°F/Gas 7 and bake for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (reached an internal temperature of 74°C/165°F)

This recipe uses 2 teaspoon of chilli flakes. If you don't like a lot of spice, reduce it to 1 teaspoon
Make your own Nando's sauce by taking all the same seasonings in this recipe again and mixing it with some lemon juice, more oil and some vinegar until the desired consistency.
We used chicken thighs, but you can use drumsticks, breasts or even a whole chicken.
Try to marinade it overnight if you can, but at least 30 minutes in the fridge if you don't have a lot of time.
To make sure the chicken has reached the desired internal temperature, we used a meat thermometer.

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.