Enjoy peri peri chicken at home with this Homemade Nando's Chicken Thighs recipe. A simple, easy to prepare marinade for super juicy chicken, ready to be topped with your favorite Nando's sauce. Serve alongside french fries, pitas, or this Nando’s Copycat Rice for the full restaurant experience.

a platter of seasoned chicken thighs with nandos sauce in the background.

The first time we had Nando’s was several years ago at a mall near Chicago. The restaurant originated in South Africa, is more common in England, but here in the states there are less of them. It’s a shame because it’s absolutely delicious.

They are known for their “peri peri chicken” with hot sauces of various heat levels and chicken plates served with rice, fries, or pitas and topped with hummus and arugula. Honestly, the whole situation is just very, very delicious.

We don’t live super close to our Nando’s so we don’t get to enjoy it as much as we would like. Making a copycat version at home is super easy. It means we can enjoy the deliciousness whenever we would like!

homemade nandos peri peri chicken on a white plate.

We’re able to find Nando’s hot sauces at several grocery stores in our area, so take a look if you’ve never tried them before. Peri Peri hot sauce can vary based on the brand, but in general it features african bird's eye chilis, and is heavy on the lemon, garlic, and oil.

Ingredients

Chicken thighs: My preference is always boneless skinless chicken thighs, but you can truly use any type of chicken here, whether it be bone-in chicken thighs or even chicken breasts or tenders.
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice elevates the Peri Peri flavor and helps to tenderize the meat.
White vinegar: This also helps with tenderizing and giving the flavor a bit more zing.
Garlic: Mince the garlic well, so that it permeates the whole marinade.
Oil: This helps the marinade to coat the chicken, as well as keep it extra juicy.
Spices: A blend of crushed pepper flakes, onion powder, paprika, and dried oregano. African bird's eye chili is the traditional chili in peri peri sauce, however it can be harder to come by at american grocery stores. red pepper flakes work as a substitute.

How to make Nando’s Peri Peri chicken thighs at home

chicken covered in seasoning in a green bowl.

Step 1. Begin by preparing your marinade.

In a bowl, combine all ingredients except the chicken and mix well.

Add chicken thighs and use your hands to make sure the chicken is fully coated with the seasoning.

Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes (up to 24 hours). I prefer to do an overnight marinate for more flavor.

four chicken thighs cooking in a cast iron skillet.

Step 2. Once ready to cook, heat a skillet or grill on medium high heat.

Cook chicken for about five minutes per side until brown on the outside and cooked through to 165°F.

Step 3. Enjoy on its own or topped with your favorite Nando's hot sauce for even more peri peri flavor.

Recipe Tips

There isn’t a ton of leftover marinade when making this recipe, it works almost as a cross between a rub and a marinade. If you want more marinade (perhaps to boil and use as a sauce later) simply double or triple the recipe.
Take the chicken out and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes at room temperature before grilling for best results.

plate of chicken and fries with nandos sauce in the background.

How to serve

This chicken is great on its own, but you can also re-create what the restaurant does by making bowls, wraps, and salads.

Serve it with french fries.
Make a wrap with a flatbread or naan bread, top with fresh hummus, sliced chicken, arugula, feta cheese, and red bell pepper.
Serve on a bed of arugula or your favorite lettuce and add other salad toppings like cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and feta cheese.

More copycat recipes

Did you enjoy this Homemade Nando's Chicken Thighs recipe? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!