Peri Peri Chicken with Perinaise features in the Fast Food section of The Healthy Mix V.
Portuguese Peri Peri Chicken has been one of my most popular website recipes as it is perfect for those who are wanting to lose a little holiday season weight; it is low carb, gluten free, preservative free, dairy free, sugar free —and with a hint of chilli, it’ll get your metabolism working.
Because it is so easy to make, it also helps you to avoid takeaway.
If you love a cheeky Nando’s run but want something healthier at home (and cheaper, let’s be honest), this Thermomix Peri Peri Chicken with homemade Perinaise will hit the spot.
This one’s got everything you want — spicy, tangy, juicy chicken with a good char on the outside, plus that creamy, addictive sauce you’ll want to put on everything. It’s made from scratch in the Thermomix, so you know exactly what’s going into it. No mystery oils or numbers here.
Whether you’re doing meal prep, feeding the family, or just need something quick and packed with flavour — this recipe is going to be on repeat.
What is Peri Peri Chicken?
Peri Peri Chicken (also called Piri Piri) is a Portuguese-African dish made famous by flame-grilled chicken joints like Nando’s. It’s known for its smoky heat and bright, zingy marinade made with chillies, garlic, vinegar and citrus.
This Thermomix version keeps all the bold flavour but ditches the processed ingredients. You can adjust the chilli level to suit your household — we’ve tested it from mild to proper hot.
Why You’ll Love This Thermomix Peri Peri Chicken
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Better than takeaway – Fresher, cleaner and packed with flavour.
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Budget-friendly – Uses pantry staples and chicken thighs or drumsticks.
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Meal prep legend – Marinate ahead and cook when you’re ready.
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Family friendly – Control the heat and let the kids dip into that creamy perinaise.
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Low carb, gluten free, dairy free – Fits a range of dietary needs straight from the base recipe.
What You Need
Here’s what goes into this flavour bomb:
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Chicken – Thighs, drumsticks, wings or breast — whatever you’ve got.
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Peri Peri Marinade – Made in the Thermomix with fresh garlic, onion, lemon, vinegar, chillies and a blend of herbs and spices.
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Perinaise – A quick homemade mayo mixed with the peri peri sauce. Ridiculously good.
How to Cook Peri Peri Chicken in the Thermomix
This recipe is all about maximum flavour with minimal effort. The marinade comes together in seconds in the Thermomix — blitz it, pour it over the chicken, and let it do its thing.
You can:
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Grill it for that smoky finish.
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Bake it for easy weeknight dinners.
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Air fry for crispy skin lovers.
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Or throw it on the BBQ for full-on chargrilled perfection.
The longer you marinate, the better the flavour. But even 30 minutes will give you great results.
Don’t Skip the Perinaise
If you’ve ever dipped chips into Nando’s Perinaise and thought “I could eat a whole tub of this” — good news. You can now make your own.
It’s creamy, spicy, tangy and seriously addictive. Use it as a dip, drizzle or burger sauce. You’ll be making extra.
What to Serve With Peri Peri Chicken
Pair it with:
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Rice – Classic, cauliflower or the Skinnymixers Mexican Rice Salad in the SkinnyEntertaining cookbook.
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Simple salad – Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, lemon
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Roast veg – Broccolini, corn on the cob, charred capsicum or Corn Ribs
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Wraps or burgers – Stuff it all in a wrap with lettuce and perinaise
Leftovers?
Keep any leftover chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days. Use it in wraps, sandwiches or slice it cold over salad. The perinaise also keeps well and actually tastes better the next day.
More Skinnymixers Fakeaway Favourites
If this hits the spot, try:
Ready to Try It?
Grab the recipe below and make sure you don’t skimp on the marinade time. And if you’re sharing photos, tag us on Facebook or Instagram — we love seeing your creations.
Ingredients
- 1 - 1.5 kg chicken thighs - or whatever chicken you want
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 large brown onion - peeled, quartered
- 50 g lemon juice
- 20 g olive oil
- 15 g sweet paprika
- 10 g fresh ginger - cut into coins
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder - this is mild, increase for spicer peri peri
- 3/4 - 1 tbsp salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- fresh lemon & parsley for serving
Instructions
- Please note - this recipe requires 8 hours marinating time.
- Add all ingredients, except chicken, and blend for 1 min/speed 5/MC on.
- Coat chicken well and marinate in the fridge for a recommended 8 hours.
- You can then fry, grill, bake or BBQ your chicken until cooked. Garnish with chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Notes
Use your sharp blade for this recipe
Nutrition
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