Chicken Piri Piri
on Mar 06, 2019, Updated Jan 18, 2025
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This chicken recipe is simple to make, but with flavors that go deep and long.
What is Chicken Piri Piri?
Chicken Piri Piri is a dish that was created in Africa when Portuguese settlers arrived and started playing with a marinade made with local bird’s eye chili peppers, which are called “piri-piri” in Swahili (it actually translates to “pepper pepper”). There are many versions of the dish, with a lot of variation, but always a hot pepper. I cheated a bit and used jalapenos, which are my go-to hot pepper, and very easy to find. The dish can be found in Africa, Portugal, and now, hopefully, in your kitchen.
How to Spatchcock or Butterfly a Chicken
Here’s the drill with butterflying—or spatchcocking—a bird. You cut the backbone out of the chicken with kitchen shears, then turn the bird over and press down on the breastbone until the bird lies somewhat flat. It’s not hard, but a) you do need sharp kitchen shears, and b) you have to be comfortable using them on poultry. If either of these things poses a problem, ask the butcher to do it for you (and that’s what I do).
Why spatchcock a chicken?
It cooks more quickly and a bit more evenly and also allows some nice overall browning. Another somewhat arbitrary reason I discovered is that if you are using all of the racks in your oven, a spatchcocked chicken takes up less headroom. Fun fact.
The longer you marinate the chicken, the deeper the flavor. Four jalapeños may seem like a lot, but once you remove the seeds and ribs and roast them, you will be left with a soft level of nice smoky heat but hardly a tongue-burning level of spiciness. Either use plastic gloves when handling the jalapeños or wash your hands right afterward with plenty of warm water and soap. You only have to touch your eyes or lips once with jalapeño hands to know why.
If you don’t have hot paprika you can substitute regular paprika and a couple of generous pinches of cayenne pepper.
Serve this chicken with rice, either plain or maybe yellow rice, and a green salad. Beer would be a great companion. And should there be any leftovers, they make a hell of a chicken salad.
More Chicken Recipes
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Paprikash
- Crispy Chicken Strips with Apricot Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Island Chicken Bites
- Chicken Marsala
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Chicken Piri Piri
Ingredients
- 4 jalapeño peppers
- 1 (3 1/2- to 4-pound) chicken
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons hot paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. If the chicken is already butterflied, move to the next step. If not, cut the backbone out of the chicken with kitchen shears, then turn the bird over and press down on the breastbone until the bird lies somewhat flat.
- Cut the jalapenos in half and remove the seeds and stems. Spread the jalapenos on a baking sheet. Roast for about 15 minutes, until shriveled. Let the jalapenos cool, then remove the ribs and seeds. Combine the jalapenos, oil, vinegar, paprika, oregano, garlic, and salt in a food processor or blender until it forms a paste.
- Transfer the chicken to a glass or non-reactive dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken and flip it a few times so that the marinade coats the chicken well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 12 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F, and let the chicken come to room temperature while the oven heats up. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it skin side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast for about 1 hour until the juices run clear when a sharp knife is inserted into the meaty part of the thigh. Let sit for about 15 minutes on a cutting board, then cut into pieces and serve hot.
