Air fryer peri peri chicken is an easy and delicious dish. The chicken is coated in a spicy peri peri sauce, then cooked in the air fryer. The chicken skin gets crispy while the inside stays juicy and delicious.
I've been in love with peri peri sauce for a long time. It's a delicious way to add flavor to chicken or fish.
Peri peri packs a little punch. A citrusy, vinegary, spicy heat that is full of flavor and depth.
And when you marinade chicken in it? Perfection. This air fryer peri peri chicken is the best of both worlds to me.
Big on flavor from the peri peri sauce. But the crispy
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Peri peri sauce
What is peri peri sauce?
Peri peri sauce is a sauce made with spicy peppers (traditionally African Bird's Eye Chilis). It's blended with other ingredients including garlic, vinegar, and citrus.
Peri peri sauce can be used to flavor chicken, fish, other meat, or even vegetables. This peri peri salmon is a favorite.
It's spicy and delicious. I always keep some in my house.
Where can you buy peri peri sauce?
You can buy peri peri sauce at most grocery stores. Nando's is the popular brand. Trader Joe's also has their own version of peri peri sauce!
Want to know the differences between the two? We break it down in this post comparing Trader Joe's Peri Peri sauce to Nando's Peri Peri Sauce.
Customization ideas
You can customize this recipe by choosing which type of peri peri sauce to use and what spicy level.
You can also add some additional herbs and spices to the chicken if you wish. And want a little more citrus flavor? Add some fresh lime or lemon juice.
While you could add honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar for a bit of sweetness, I usually don't as it does cause some burning in the air fryer for the length of time that bone-in, skin-in chicken thighs need to cook.
What to serve with the chicken
I love serving the peri peri chicken with air fryer tomatoes and onions, air fryer lemon asparagus, air fryer parmesan tomatoes, or air fryer green beans and bacon.
Recipe tips
- I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check doneness of chicken. Chicken thighs are best cooked to a temperature of at least 175 degrees F, but ideally 185 degrees F for the best texture.
- This recipe makes a spicy chicken, but it can be altered depending on how spicy your peri peri sauce is.
How to make air fryer peri peri chicken
Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt to a small bowl.
Stir to combine.
Pat chicken thighs with paper towels and remove any excess skin. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken thighs and rub into all surfaces.
Add the peri peri sauce to the bowl and then coat the chicken thighs with the sauce.
Let chicken thighs marinate for 5 minutes. Preheat the air fryer during those 5 minutes.
Add chicken thighs to air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Flip, then cook an additional 10-15 minutes until chicken thighs are cooked through.
Plate and enjoy!
More recipes using peri peri
Recipes to love
Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in about 2 lbs
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup peri peri sauce
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and remove any excess skin. Place in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, add smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Stir to combine. Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken thighs and rub into all surfaces.
- Add the peri peri sauce to the bowl and rub into all sides of the chicken thighs.
- Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F while chicken thighs marinade for 5 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs in the air fryer basket, skin side down. Cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 10-15 minutes until chicken thighs are cooked through (check with a meat thermometer).
- Remove from air fryer basket, and enjoy!
Notes
- I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to check doneness of chicken. Chicken thighs are best cooked to a temperature of at least 175 degrees F, but ideally 185 degrees F for the best texture.
- This recipe makes a spicy chicken, but it can be altered depending on how spicy your peri peri sauce is.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
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