Spicy Baked Peri Peri Chicken Recipe with Fiery Tangy Goodness

Baked peri peri chicken brings a fiery twist to classic poultry dishes that dance with bold, zesty flavors.

African and Portuguese culinary traditions blend seamlessly in this mouthwatering preparation, creating a symphony of spicy and tangy notes.

The vibrant marinade revamps ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal bursting with complexity and depth.

Intense red peppers and aromatic spices infuse each succulent bite with remarkable character and warmth.

Home cooks can easily replicate restaurant-quality results with minimal kitchen expertise and straightforward techniques.

Crispy exterior and juicy interior make this recipe a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for adventurous food enthusiasts.

Sizzling, spice-laden aromas will fill your kitchen, promising a culinary experience that tantalizes every sense.

Spicy, Saucy, and Oven-Roasted Just Right

• Ignite Flavor Explosion: Peri peri sauce transforms ordinary chicken into a zesty, mouth-watering dish that bursts with bold, spicy-sweet African-Portuguese inspired taste.
• Simplify Gourmet Cooking: This recipe requires minimal prep work, basic ingredients, and straightforward techniques, making restaurant-quality chicken accessible to home cooks of all skill levels.
• Maximize Juicy Perfection: Basting the chicken every 15-20 minutes ensures tender, moist meat with a glossy, caramelized sauce that locks in incredible flavor and prevents dryness.
• Versatile Meal Solution: Perfect for weekend dinners, casual gatherings, or meal prep, this chicken pairs wonderfully with various side dishes and can be adapted to different dietary preferences.

All the Ingredients You’ll Need for Fiery Flavor

Main Ingredients:

• Whole Chicken: Succulent protein base that becomes the star of this spicy dish, preferably fresh and plump with good skin coverage.

• Peri Peri Sauce, Honey/Sugar: Signature spicy-sweet marinade that adds bold flavor and helps create a caramelized exterior, choose a good quality peri peri sauce for authentic taste.

• Salt: Essential flavor enhancer that helps intensify the overall taste of the chicken, use kosher or sea salt for best results.

How to Bake Peri Peri Chicken Until Juicy

Step 1: Warm Up the Kitchen Volcano

Crank your oven to a toasty 400°F (200°C), letting it heat up while you prep your spicy star.

Step 2: Create the Magical Marinade

• Peri peri sauce
• Honey
• Olive oil
• Cracked black pepper

Step 3: Dress the Chicken in Flavor

Massage the chicken with salt and pepper, then lovingly coat every inch with the peri peri marinade. Make sure to sneak some sauce under the skin for maximum deliciousness.

Step 4: Bake to Sizzling Perfection

Place the chicken in a roasting pan and slide into the preheated oven. Baste the chicken every 20 minutes to keep it juicy and vibrant.

Step 5: Check for Chicken Doneness

After 45-55 minutes, verify the chicken is cooked by checking if juices run clear when pierced. Internal temperature should reach 165°F.

Step 6: Let the Chicken Rest

Remove from oven and tent with foil. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes to lock in those mouthwatering juices.

Step 7: Slice and Serve

Cut the chicken into gorgeous pieces and serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy your spicy culinary creation!

Tips for Bold Heat Without Drying Out the Meat

• Sauce Saturation: Massage the peri peri sauce thoroughly under the chicken skin to ensure deep flavor penetration and maximum moisture.
• Basting Brilliance: Regularly baste the chicken every 15-20 minutes to keep the meat juicy and develop a rich, caramelized exterior.
• Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 75°C/165°F for safe and perfectly cooked meat.
• Skin Perfection: Pat the chicken skin dry before seasoning to help achieve a crispy, golden-brown finish during baking.
• Resting Ritual: Always let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring tender and succulent meat.

Storage Tips to Maintain Texture and Taste

• Refrigeration: Store leftover peri peri chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheating Oven: Warm chicken in a preheated 350°F oven. Cover with foil to prevent drying and heat for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drizzle extra peri peri sauce to restore moisture.
• Microwave Option: Reheat individual portions on medium power for 1-2 minutes. Add a splash of water or sauce to keep the meat juicy and prevent toughness. Check temperature to ensure even heating.

Best Sides to Cool Down the Heat

• Pair with Zesty Portuguese White Wine: Complement the spicy peri peri flavors with a crisp Vinho Verde, which cuts through the heat and enhances the chicken's tangy profile.
• Serve Alongside Cool Cucumber Salad: Balance the fiery peri peri sauce with a refreshing cucumber salad dressed in yogurt and mint, creating a cooling contrast to the spicy chicken.
• Match with Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges: Create a harmonious side dish that echoes the caramelized sweetness from the honey in the sauce, while providing a hearty and complementary texture to the chicken.
• Recommend Citrus-Infused Cocktail: Prepare a light gin and tonic with a splash of lime or a Brazilian caipirinha to mirror the bright, zesty notes of the peri peri marinade and cleanse the palate between bites.

Flavor Adjustments for Every Heat Preference

• Spicy Lime Roast: Replace peri peri sauce with a zesty lime marinade using lime juice, garlic, cilantro, and chili flakes for a tangy, bright flavor profile.
• Herb-Infused Mediterranean: Use rosemary, thyme, and oregano instead of peri peri sauce, adding olive oil and lemon zest for a Mediterranean-inspired chicken that's aromatic and light.
• Smoky Paprika Glaze: Swap peri peri sauce with a smoky paprika and honey glaze, incorporating smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a touch of brown sugar for deep, rich flavors.
• Coconut Curry Fusion: Transform the dish by using a coconut milk-based curry sauce with ginger, turmeric, and mild curry powder, creating a creamy and warming alternative to the original recipe.

Baked Peri Peri Chicken Recipe

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4.6 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent peri peri chicken brings Portuguese-inspired spice to your dinner table. Fiery marinades and crisp edges promise a zesty culinary adventure you’ll savor with each mouthwatering bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 whole chicken (butterflied)

Sauce Components:

• 1 cup peri-peri sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar/honey

Seasoning:

• Salt to taste

Note: Measurements are provided in both standard (metric) and American units where applicable.

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to a sizzling 200ºC/400ºF, ensuring a hot environment for the chicken.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the vibrant peri peri sauce and sweet honey until well combined.
3. Generously season the chicken with salt, creating a flavor foundation for the dish.
4. Transfer the seasoned chicken to an oven-proof dish, arranging it for even cooking.
5. Drizzle the peri peri sauce mixture over the chicken, using a spoon to carefully spread the sauce, ensuring it coats the entire surface and sneaks underneath the breast skin.
6. Carefully rotate the chicken to guarantee complete sauce coverage, maximizing flavor penetration.
7. Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, maintaining moisture by basting every 15-20 minutes.
8. Check doneness by piercing the thickest part of the chicken – clear juices indicate perfectly cooked meat.
9. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven and tent with foil, allowing it to rest and redistribute internal juices for 10 minutes.
10. Carve the chicken into succulent slices and plate alongside your favorite roasted potatoes or complementary side dishes.

Notes

• Preheat the oven to the correct temperature for even and crispy chicken cooking.
• Create a flavorful marinade by mixing peri peri sauce with a touch of sweetness from sugar or honey.
• Generously season chicken with salt and thoroughly coat with the spicy-sweet sauce, ensuring coverage under the skin for maximum flavor infusion.
• Baste the chicken every 15-20 minutes to keep the meat moist and develop a rich, caramelized exterior.
• Check chicken doneness by ensuring clear juices when cut, indicating perfectly cooked meat.
• Let the chicken rest after baking to allow juices to redistribute, resulting in tender and succulent meat.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: African

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 370
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 3 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg