Chicken Peri Peri Recipe with Smoky Chargrilled Flavor
A bold and zesty grilled chicken dish marinated in a traditional Portuguese-style Peri Peri sauce made with chilies, garlic, lemon, and herbs. Perfectly juicy and full of fiery flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes (plus marinating)
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
3–4 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces
4–6 red bird’s eye chilies (or to taste)
4 garlic cloves
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
½ cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Optional: 1 tsp honey or sugar
Instructions
-
Blend chilies, garlic, lemon juice/zest, vinegar, paprika, oregano, bay leaf, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth.
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Place chicken in a bowl or zip-top bag and pour marinade over it. Coat well.
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Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
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Remove chicken from fridge 30 minutes before grilling.
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Preheat grill to medium-high. Oil grates.
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Grill chicken skin-side down 5–7 minutes per side.
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Continue cooking 25–30 minutes, turning occasionally. Internal temp should be 165°F.
-
Rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Reserve a portion of marinade before adding raw chicken if you want to use it for basting or dipping. Can also be baked or pan-seared.