Air-Fried Peri Peri Chicken: A Spicy, Crispy Treat

Air fryer peri peri chicken is a delicious and easy dish to make. The chicken is coated in a spicy peri peri sauce and then cooked in the air fryer, resulting in a crispy skin and juicy inside. The dish is full of flavour and can be served with a variety of sides, such as air fryer frozen chips, potato wedges, or a nice portion of air fryer jacket potatoes. The chicken can be made even more succulent by using chicken thighs or chicken strips.

Choosing your chicken

When it comes to choosing your chicken for this recipe, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, decide on the type of chicken you want to use. You can use chicken breasts for a leaner option, or chicken thighs, drumsticks, or wings for a juicier, more succulent option. You could also use chicken tenders or strips for something super simple and pre-prepared. Even chicken legs or wings are great if you're feeding a crowd on a budget.

Once you've decided on the type of chicken, you'll need to consider the amount. As a guide, aim for around 2 lbs of chicken for this recipe. This will give you about 4-6 chicken pieces, depending on their size. You can always adjust the recipe accordingly if you're cooking for a larger crowd.

When selecting your chicken from the grocery store, look for pieces that are firm to the touch and have a fresh smell. Avoid any chicken with discoloured flesh or an off-putting odour. Try to choose chicken with the skin on, as this will help keep the meat juicy and add flavour during the cooking process.

If you have the option, choose free-range or organic chicken, as this tends to have better flavour and texture. It's also important to note that the chicken should be at room temperature before you start cooking. So, take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes beforehand to let it come up to temperature.

Lastly, for the best results, pat the chicken dry with paper towels before adding any seasonings or sauces. This will help ensure a crispy skin and even cooking.

Making the marinade

If you want to make your own marinade, you will need the following ingredients: garlic, olive oil or avocado oil, lemon juice, red chillies, smoked paprika, cilantro, basil, and salt to taste. Simply place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. You can also add some red wine vinegar and black pepper to taste if you like.

Once you have made the marinade, you will need to rub it over the chicken. Get the marinade under the skin as well, for extra flavour. It is recommended to leave the chicken to marinate in the fridge overnight, or for at least an hour.

If you are short on time, you can use a store-bought peri peri sauce such as Nando's. You can also add some extra spices to the chicken if you wish, such as smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt.

Applying the marinade

To apply the marinade, start by placing your chicken in a bowl or plastic bag. If you're using chicken with skin on, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and remove any excess skin.

Next, add your chosen peri peri sauce to the bowl or bag. You can also make your own sauce by blending garlic cloves, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, thyme, red chili peppers, salt, and black pepper. Ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated in the sauce. Massage the sauce into the chicken, getting under the skin if possible.

Once the chicken is coated, cover it and place it in the refrigerator to marinate. The length of time you leave it to marinate will depend on your preference and how intense you want the flavour to be. A minimum of 5 minutes is recommended, but you can leave it for up to an hour or even overnight for a stronger flavour.

After marinating, the chicken is ready to be placed in the air fryer and cooked.

Air frying the chicken

Firstly, you'll want to preheat your air fryer. While it's heating up, pat your chicken thighs with paper towels and remove any excess skin. Place the chicken in a large bowl. In a separate, smaller bowl, combine your spices: smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken and rub it into all surfaces.

Next, add your peri peri sauce to the bowl and coat the chicken with it. Leave the chicken to marinate for around 5 minutes.

Now your chicken is ready for the air fryer. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket, skin-side down. For chicken thighs, air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 10-15 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit, but 185 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.

If you're using chicken breasts, the process is similar. Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes, then flip and cook for another 9 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken breasts should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you're using chicken drumsticks, wings, or legs, air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then flip and check the temperature at 20 minutes. Again, the internal temperature should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's important not to overcrowd your air fryer basket. If you need to, give the basket a good shake at least every 5 minutes during cooking.

Once your chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for around 10 minutes. Then, it's ready to serve!

Serving suggestions

There are many ways to serve peri peri chicken. Here are some suggestions:

• Air fryer tomatoes and onions
• Air fryer lemon asparagus
• Air fryer parmesan tomatoes
• Air fryer green beans and bacon
• Air fryer jacket potatoes
• Air fryer mashed potatoes
• Rice
• Coleslaw
• Garlic and herb dip
• Roasted peppers
• Air fryer roasted tomatoes
• Spicy rice
• Hasselback potatoes
• Air fryer frozen chips
• Air fryer potato wedges
• Flatbreads
• Salad
• Chunky chips
• Tortilla wrap
• Pasta
• No-yeast flatbreads
• Air fryer flatbread pizza
• Peri peri chicken pasta

Frequently asked questions