this Peri Perry Chicken The recipe combines a delicious and spicy peri peri marinade with juicy chicken drumsticks and potatoes baked on a griddle. The perfect easy sheet pan meal packed with flavor and nutrition.
What is Chicken Peri Peri?
Peri Peri Chicken is chicken marinated in Peri Peri sauce. Peri Peri sauce is sometimes called Piri Piri sauce. Both are accurate. Peri Peri sauce is a traditional African hot sauce that was also introduced to Portugal, so it is often synonymous with Portuguese food. However, its origins do lie in African countries, often using a combination of African bird’s eye chilies, lemon, oil and sweet paprika.
Why make this recipe?
- a pot– that’s right! The entire recipe can be baked on one pan (minus the sauce). Minimal cleanup required!
- Meal preparation made easy – You can easily prepare peri peri sauce and marinate the chicken ahead of time, then pop it in the oven before cooking!
- Nutritious + delicious – Combining protein + veggies, this peri peri chicken is both a nutritious meal and packed with flavor.
Ingredients for Perry Perry Chicken
- chicken thighs – Boneless skinless chicken thighs are ideal, but you can also use bone-in chicken thighs or substitute chicken breasts
- garlic cloves – It’s best to use fresh garlic.
- red pepper – Traditionally you should use bird’s eye peppers, but you can also use serrano peppers or other red peppers. Be sure to remove the seeds if you don’t like it too spicy.
- lemon juice – Fresh lemon juice if you can!
- olive oil – Or replace it with a more neutral oil, such as avocado oil.
- chili – Sweet chili peppers are the best choice, but if that’s not available, you can use smoked chili peppers in a pinch.
- dried oregano – You can also use fresh oregano, you just need to double the amount.
- coconut sugar – or brown sugar. You can also substitute maple syrup or honey.
- salt+pepper – Watch the sodium content or feel free to reduce if you like.
- fingerling potatoes – or other diced potatoes or mini potatoes
- fresh parsley – for service.
How to Make Sheet Pan Peri Chicken
Step 1: Make the Marinade
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic cloves, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, paprika, oregano, coconut sugar, salt, and pepper to a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Add chicken thighs to a bowl and top with peri peri marinade. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes or in the refrigerator overnight.
Step Two: Baked Potatoes
While the chicken is marinating, add the potatoes to the pan and sprinkle them with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and push the potatoes to one side of the pan.
Step Three: Cook the Chicken
Place marinated chicken on other side of pan and bake for 15 minutes. Place in oven and broil chicken and potatoes for 3-5 minutes or until chicken is browned. Watch carefully to make sure nothing is burning. Remove pan from oven and combine chicken and potatoes. Sprinkle with some fresh chopped parsley and serve hot.
FAQ + Pro Tips
Yes, usually peri peri sauce has a bit of heat, but the spice level can be controlled based on the type of peppers you use and whether or not you sprinkle them on.
No! You can make a peri peri marinade and marinate the chicken, then cook it as desired. So if you want to roast a chicken or cook it on the stovetop, of course you can! To grill Peri Peri chicken, you need to heat your grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
No, you can certainly use chicken breast, or even a different protein like beef or tofu for a plant-based option. Please note that cooking times will vary.
Don’t worry! You can use different red peppers, such as Serrano or Fresno. That being said, you can also use more common hot peppers, like jalapenos, but the flavor and color may be a little different than typical peri peri sauce.
Storage instructions
refrigerator: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm on the stove top or in the microwave.
refrigerator: Chicken in Peri Peri Marinade can be easily frozen in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. Thaw, then bake recipe according to instructions.
More sheet pan chicken recipes:
Pan Peri Peri Chicken
This peri peri chicken recipe combines a delicious and spicy peri peri marinade with juicy chicken drumsticks and potatoes baked on a skillet. The perfect easy sheet pan meal packed with flavor and nutrition.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 40 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- yield: 4 number of copies 1x
- category: dinner
- method: bake
- gourmet food: Portuguese
- diet: gluten free
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 Bird’s Eye Chili Peppers (or Serrano Chili Peppers or Fresno Chili Peppers), seeds, if desired
- Juice, 1/2 lemon
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pounds of fingerling potatoes, cut in half lengthwise
- A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic cloves, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, paprika, oregano, coconut sugar, salt, and pepper to a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Add chicken thighs to a bowl and top with peri peri marinade. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes or in the refrigerator overnight.
- While the chicken is marinating, add the potatoes to the pan and sprinkle them with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and push the potatoes to one side of the pan.
- Place marinated chicken on other side of pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- Place in oven and broil chicken and potatoes for 3-5 minutes or until chicken is browned. Watch carefully to make sure nothing is burning.
- Remove pan from oven and combine chicken and potatoes. Sprinkle with some fresh chopped parsley and serve hot.
