Baked Peri Peri Chicken is a flavorful and juicy chicken dish, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of heat in their meals. The chicken is marinated with a homemade peri peri sauce made from bird’s eye chillies, garlic, vinegar, and herbs, giving it an irresistible spicy kick. The chicken is then baked to tender perfection, ensuring every bite is full of flavor.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Peri Peri Sauce:

• 1 cup peri peri sauce (homemade or store-bought)

• 2 tsp sugar or honey

For the Chicken:

• 1 whole chicken (butterflied)

• Salt, to taste

• Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

For the Baking:

• 4-5 fresh rosemary sprigs

• 6-8 raw garlic cloves

• 1-2 tbsp olive oil for baking

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).

2. Prepare the Chicken: Butterfly the chicken by cutting along both sides of the backbone. Turn the chicken over and press down to flatten it. Season generously with salt.

3. Prepare the Peri Peri Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the peri peri sauce and sugar or honey together.

4. Marinate the Chicken: Pour the peri peri sauce over the chicken, making sure to smear it over and under the skin on the breast for maximum flavor.

5. Bake the Chicken: Place the chicken in an oven-proof dish. Add raw garlic cloves around the chicken and place rosemary sprigs on top. Bake for 45-60 minutes, basting with sauce every 15-20 minutes. The chicken is ready when the juices run clear when cut.

6. Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before carving and serving.

Nutrients (Per Serving)

• Calories: 398

• Carbohydrates: 7g

• Protein: 30g

• Fat: 26g

  • Saturated Fat: 7g

  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g

  • Monounsaturated Fat: 16g

• Cholesterol: 120mg

• Sodium: 503mg

• Potassium: 436mg

• Fiber: 1g

• Sugar: 4g

• Vitamin A: 440 IU

• Vitamin C: 40.2mg

• Calcium: 33mg

• Iron: 1.8mg

The Peri Peri Sauce: A Flavorful Base

The star of this dish is the peri peri sauce. Made from bird’s eye chilies, which provide intense heat and flavor, the sauce is further enhanced with garlic, vinegar, and a combination of herbs. The sauce can either be homemade or store-bought, depending on your preference and time. Adding sugar or honey to the sauce helps to balance out the heat with a touch of sweetness, giving it a well-rounded flavor that coats the chicken beautifully.

For those who prefer to make the sauce from scratch, it’s simple and quick to prepare. The key is to blend the ingredients to create a smooth and flavorful marinade that will soak into the chicken, ensuring a spicy, aromatic bite with every mouthful.

Butterflying the Chicken: Even Cooking and Crispy Skin

Butterflying the chicken (also known as spatchcocking) involves removing the backbone so that the chicken can be spread out flat. This method allows the chicken to cook more evenly, ensuring that the meat is tender and juicy while achieving perfectly crispy skin. By pressing down on the chicken to flatten it, you allow for more surface area to absorb the flavors of the peri peri sauce, ensuring that every part of the chicken is seasoned well.

Butterflying the chicken also helps it cook faster, as the heat circulates more evenly around the bird. This technique is especially helpful when you’re roasting or baking the chicken, resulting in a more consistent and enjoyable texture.

Marinating for Maximum Flavor

Once the chicken is butterflied, it’s time to marinate it in the peri peri sauce. Pour the sauce generously over the chicken, making sure to coat both the skin and the meat underneath, especially on the breast. The peri peri sauce penetrates the meat, ensuring that the flavors infuse deeply into the chicken.

For the best results, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to an hour before baking. If you have the time, marinating it overnight allows the flavors to develop further, making the chicken even more flavorful. The longer the chicken sits in the sauce, the more pronounced the spicy, tangy flavors will be.

Baking the Chicken: Tender and Juicy

Once the chicken is marinated, it’s time to bake. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and place the chicken in an oven-proof dish. Add raw garlic cloves around the chicken and place fresh rosemary sprigs on top to infuse the dish with additional flavor as it bakes. The garlic cloves will soften and caramelize during baking, adding a mellow sweetness that contrasts with the spicy heat of the peri peri sauce.

Bake the chicken for 45-60 minutes, basting every 15-20 minutes with the peri peri sauce to keep it moist and ensure an even coating of flavor. The chicken is ready when the juices run clear and the skin is golden and crispy. For a more intense flavor, feel free to increase the temperature at the end for a few minutes to crisp up the skin even more.

Resting and Serving

Once the chicken is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. Resting the chicken allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat tender and juicy when you carve it.

When it’s time to carve, cut the chicken into pieces and serve. The crispy skin, spicy peri peri sauce, and tender meat make for a mouthwatering meal that’s sure to impress. Serve the chicken with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, rice, or a fresh salad. The spicy, savory flavors of the peri peri chicken are complemented beautifully by cool, refreshing sides that help balance out the heat.

Conclusion: A Flavorful, Spicy Dish

Baked Peri Peri Chicken is a flavorful and satisfying meal that offers the perfect combination of heat, tenderness, and rich, savory flavors. Whether you’re a fan of spicy food or simply looking for a new way to cook chicken, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. The combination of the marinated chicken, roasted garlic, fresh rosemary, and the spicy peri peri sauce creates a meal that’s bold, aromatic, and utterly delicious.

Serve this chicken with your favorite sides, and you have a complete meal that’s perfect for any occasion, from casual weeknight dinners to special gatherings.