Portuguese BBQ Peri Peri Chicken (Homemade Nandos Recipe)

User Reviews

5

44 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    1 hr 20 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 25 mins

  • Servings

    6

  • Calories

    533 kcal

  • Course

    Dinner

  • Cuisine

    Portuguese

Portuguese BBQ Peri Peri Chicken (Homemade Nandos Recipe)

This Portuguese BBQ Peri Peri Chicken features a homemade marinade combining vegetable oil, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, onion powder, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and variable heat from Sriracha to achieve the signature spicy and tangy flavor. The marinated butterflied chicken is then oven-roasted to develop a flavorful crust and juicy interior.

Description

This recipe creates a marinade that balances savory, spicy, and tangy elements to replicate the famous Nandos peri peri flavor. The marinade uses vegetable oil and BBQ sauce as a base, boosted by Worcestershire sauce and garlic for depth, with lemon juice adding brightness. Onion powder and yellow mustard contribute subtle pungency, while salt and pepper season the chicken. Heat comes from Sriracha, adjustable to personal taste or omitted for a milder flavor.

The chicken is thoroughly coated with the marinade, including under the skin, and ideally marinated overnight or at least two hours to let the flavors penetrate. Roasting in a hot oven at 470°F cooks the chicken quickly, yielding crisp skin infused with the spicy marinade and moist meat inside. Letting the chicken rest slightly at room temperature before cooking helps even cooking.

Serve this chicken alongside optional buttered corn on the cob or with traditional sides. Adjust marinade spiciness by varying Sriracha amounts; start low and increase while tasting. Note that intense marinade flavor will mellow during cooking without dilution.

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Ingredients

Servings

For The Marinade:

  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • cup BBQ sauce
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice fresh squeezed, optional
  • 2-4 teaspoons sriracha
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper to taste, optional, cracked

Chicken:

  • 3-4 pounds chicken Butterflied is preferred, whole
  • 1 pinch salt to season
  • 1 pinch black pepper to season

Corn (OPTIONAL):

  • 6 corn cobs
  • 3 teaspoons butter optional

Instructions

  1. Mix all of the marinade ingredients (except for the Sriracha) together until well combined. Mix in 2-4 teaspoons of Sriracha, taste test, and work up from there until reaching your desired level of heat (or leave it out all together if you don't want any spice at all).
  2. Using ¾ of the marinade, coat the chicken evenly on the outside, as well as under the skin where possible (the breast especially), until fully coated in sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate over night if time allows. (I recommend a minimum marinade time of two hours for this chicken. The longer you leave it, the better the flavours.)

FOR THE OVEN:

  1. When ready to cook, arrange oven shelf to the middle of the oven, and preheat to 470°F | 245°C.
  2. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it sit on a bench top for 20 minutes, or just enough time to take the chill out of the chicken. (I find 20 minutes plenty of time. Don't leave it any longer than half an hour at room temperature.)
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in an oven proof pan or well seasoned skillet over medium heat. When pan is hot, place the chicken, breast-side down into the pan, and sear for a good 5-6 minutes, until the skin becomes golden browned. Flip and sear on the other side for a further 5 minutes.
  4. Add 2 more tablespoons of vegetable oil to the remaining marinade, and pour half of it over the chicken. Use a basting brush to coat evenly.
  5. Place the chicken in the preheated oven, and cook for 20 minutes. Reduce heat down to 400°F (200°C) and roast for a further 35-40 minutes, or until cooked right through to the centre and juices run clear.
  6. (If serving with the corn: completely wrap each cob in foil large enough to cover them, and add the corn foil packets to the same pan as the chicken, half way through cooking time (after 30 minutes). If your pan is too small, arrange them on another pan. They only need 30-35 minutes of cooking time.) Once corn is done, dollop with ½ teaspoon of butter per cob (optional).
  7. Once the chicken is done, baste with the pan drippings and serve with any remaining UNTOUCHED marinade to use as a dipping sauce.
  8. Serve with the corn!

FOR THE BBQ:

  1. Place chicken on well-greased grill over medium heat, skin-side down, for 10-12 minutes, until the skin begins to have a nice char on it. Add 2 more tablespoons of vegetable oil to the remaining marinade. Flip and baste with a small amount of sauce (not too much or it will burn on your grill plates). Close barbecue lid and cook for 40-45 minutes, flipping once or twice while cooking, until chicken is completely cooked through and juices run clear.
  2. Follow corn foil instructions above. Place corn foil packets on the grill halfway through chicken cook time (after 30 minutes), turning the corn every 5 minutes or so to ensure an even char.

Notes

  • Sriracha is used here for global availability, but authentic peri peri or piri piri sauce is preferred if accessible.
  • Marinate the chicken at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, for best flavor penetration.
  • The cooking time excludes marinating time and depends on oven and chicken size.
  • For mild spice start with 2 teaspoons of Sriracha; increase gradually up to 1-2 tablespoons for heat; 3-4 tablespoons will make it very hot.
  • Do not dilute the marinade with water, as it will naturally dilute during roasting from pan drippings.
  • Bring chicken to room temperature for about 20 minutes before cooking to ensure even roasting.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 533kcal (27%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 24g (48%) Fat 38g (58%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 14g (82%) Monounsaturated Fat 12g (60%) Trans Fat 0.3g (15%) Cholesterol 87mg (29%) Sodium 1.207mg (0%) Potassium 582mg (12%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 12g (24%) Vitamin A 429IU (9%) Vitamin C 12mg (13%) Calcium 39mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 533 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 533kcal 27%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 24g 48%
Fat 38g 58%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 14g 82%
Monounsaturated Fat 12g 60%
Trans Fat 0.3g 15%
Cholesterol 87mg 29%
Sodium 1.207mg 0%
Potassium 582mg 12%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 12g 24%
Vitamin A 429IU 9%
Vitamin C 12mg 13%
Calcium 39mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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