Peri Peri Chicken Wings

Peri Peri Chicken Wings is a spicy and flavorful dish made by marinating chicken wings in a sauce that features Peri Peri (also known as Piri Piri or Bird’s Eye Chili)—a small chili pepper that packs quite a punch.

The key to their distinctive taste is the Peri Peri sauce, which usually includes ingredients like:

Bird’s eye chili (for heat)

Garlic

Lemon or lime juice

Vinegar

Paprika or smoked paprikaOil (often olive or vegetable oil)

Salt and herbs like oregano or thyme

The wings are coated in this marinade and then grilled, baked, or fried until crispy and slightly charred. The result: juicy chicken with a fiery, zesty, and tangy flavor that’s become popular worldwide—especially in Portuguese, Mozambican, and South African cuisines.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Marinating Time 1

Total Time 1 35

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Snack

Cuisine African, International, Portuguese

Servings servings

Calories 458 kcal

Ingredients

For the wings:

2.2 lbs chicken wings trimmed and separated
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

For the Peri Peri marinade:

4–6 fresh bird’s eye chilies (adjust to spice tolerance)
4 cloves garlic
1 small red bell pepper (adds color and mild sweetness)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Optional garnishes:

Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Extra lemon wedges

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Instructions

Make the Peri Peri sauce:

In a blender or food processor, combine chilies, garlic, red bell pepper, lemon juice, vinegar, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and olive oil.
Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust salt, lemon, or spice level as you like.

Marinate the wings:

Pat the wings dry with paper towels.
Place them in a bowl, toss with a little olive oil and salt.
Pour about two-thirds of the Peri Peri sauce over them, keeping some aside for later.
Mix well so each wing is coated. Cover and marinate for at least 1–2 hours (overnight is even better).

Cook the wings:

You can grill, bake, or air-fry them — any method works great!
Grilling: Preheat to medium-high, grill wings 5–7 mins per side until charred and cooked through.
Baking: Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Arrange wings on a parchment-lined tray and bake 35–40 mins, turning halfway.
Air fryer: Cook at 190°C (375°F) for 20–25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.

Finish and serve:

Brush or toss the hot cooked wings with the remaining Peri Peri sauce.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro.
Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Start Cooking

Disclaimer

Some parts of recipe maybe AI-generated.

Nutrition

Calories: 458kcal (23%)Carbohydrates: 8g (3%)Protein: 26g (52%)Fat: 36g (55%)Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 104mg (35%)Sodium: 396mg (17%)Potassium: 447mg (13%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 1709IU (34%)Vitamin C: 93mg (113%)Calcium: 42mg (4%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

Disclaimer

Nutritional information for this recipe is an approximation and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Keyword chicken, comfort food, grilled, spicy