If you love the Peri Peri Chicken Wings at Nando’s, you’ll love this easy copycat recipe that you can make at home!
A spicy wing marinade gives these chicken wings so much flavor, and they are cooked in the oven or air fryer, perfectly crispy and juicy inside.
The flavor of peri peri wings is out-of-this world perfect! A simple marinade made from fresh hot chili peppers, lime juice, garlic, and herbs gives them just the right amount of heat, plus tangy and savory notes.
You definitely won’t be able to eat just one!
These tender, juicy, and crispy-skinned chicken wings make a wonderful meal, but you can also serve them as a spicy appetizer or party snack.
My preferred method for making Peri Peri wings is to bake them in the oven. You don’t have to deal with hot oil like you would if you deep fried them, and the clean-up is super quick.
I promise, baked wings turn out tender and crispy every time. Just follow this easy recipe!
You should also try my Garlic Butter Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Buffalo Wings, or see how we use the classic deep fryer method to make yummy Lemon Pepper Wings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Having a few great restaurant copycat recipes in your pocket is a great way to save money while still enjoying your favorite meals!
If you don’t have a Nando’s nearby, you’re really missing out. Their Portuguese Peri Peri chicken is a staple all over the UK and is slowly expanding to the US too.
Until you can enjoy the real thing, or if you don’t want to spend money on eating out, you can make this easy recipe for Peri Peri Chicken Wings at home.
I’m including instructions for Air Fryer Peri Peri Wings as well, so you can choose your favorite chicken wing cooking method.
For more delicious restaurant makeover recipes, make sure to check out my copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets recipe, or the classically loved Olive Garden Salad.
Ingredients In Peri Peri Wings
Here’s what you need to make these amazing spicy chicken wings:
- Chicken Wings: I typically prefer to buy fresh wings, but you can also buy frozen chicken wings. Be sure to let them thaw completely before using them, and dry them as well as you can. This recipe makes 2 pounds of peri-peri chicken.
- Chili Peppers: The most important ingredient in the chicken wing marinade is fresh hot chili peppers. Unless you want the wings to be extra spicy, remove the seeds first.
- Lime Juice: Use the juice from one large, juicy lime, or two limes if they aren’t so juicy. The acid from the lime juice helps to tenderize the meat and adds a wonderful tanginess.
- To finish the marinade, you need whole garlic cloves, fresh cilantro leaves, olive oil, salt, dried oregano, and smoked paprika. The combination of all of these seasonings is a perfect match to Nando’s chicken recipe.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Baked Peri Peri Chicken Wings
- Make the Marinade: In a food processor, combine red chili peppers, garlic, cilantro, lime, oregano, smoked paprika, olive oil, and salt. Blend the mixture until you get a marinade texture that is mostly smooth but with some texture left.
- Marinate the Wings: Add the chicken wings to a bowl, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Stir to coat the chicken in the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours and preferably overnight.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 425°F/220°C. Line a half sheet size baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Arrange the wings on the sheet pan leaving some space between each wing. Bake for 30 minutes, then flip and bake for 10 more minutes. Serve the hot peri peri wings with lime wedges.
Tip!
Before adding the chicken to the marinade, reserve a few tablespoons. Drizzle that over the wings after they’re cooked to give them an extra zesty flavor!
Air Fryer Peri Peri Wings
If you’d like to cook chicken wings in the air fryer rather than the oven, it’s super simple!
- Arrange the wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket, working in batches if needed.
- Air Fry at 400°F/200°C for 20 minutes, shaking or flipping the wings over once or twice, until they are cooked through.
Recipe Tips
- Decide how hot you want your wings. I removed the seeds from the peppers before adding them to the food processor and ended with wings that were equivalent to Nando’s medium-style chicken. If you want yours to be hotter, leave the seeds in!
- You can taste the marinade to decide how hot you want to go, but keep in mind that it will taste hotter fresh than it will once it’s baked into the wings.
- Marinate overnight. You can shorten the marinade time if you’re in a rush, but I highly suggest planning ahead and letting these wings soak up all of that flavor in the fridge overnight.
- Parchment paper is key to easy cleanup! You’ll barely need to wash the pan if you line it with parchment paper, plus the paper will keep the wings from sticking.
Storing Tips
Chicken wings are always best when you eat them right after cooking them.
But if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
They reheat perfectly in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C). Cook for about 5-8 minutes or until they’re heated through.
What To Serve With Peri Peri Wings
I like to serve these wings with the side dishes that I enjoy at the restaurant. Corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and french fries are also popular.
For something more simple, serve baked chicken wings with white rice and steamed veggies!
If you like to dip your wings, try my homemade ranch dressing!
Recipe FAQs
No, you should not try to deep fry marinated chicken wings. The marinade adds moisture to the meat, which will spatter when it hits the hot oil, making a potentially dangerous mess! The best way to cook Peri Peri marinated wings is to bake them or cook them in your air fryer. Deep frying should be reserved for plain, raw wings that you want to add a sauce to afterward, like my Lemon Pepper Wings.
Peri-peri is a pepper, also known as African Bird’s Eye Chili. This type of hot pepper is used at Nando’s to make their famous chicken, but you won’t likely find this African variety at your grocery store. Instead, pick up whichever hot chili peppers are available to get a similar flavor and heat.
Wings are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The best way to check for doneness is to insert a kitchen thermometer into the thickest part of the wing, without touching the bone. The skin should also have a golden brown color and a crispy texture.
More Spicy Chicken Recipes
Make your favorite Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken Wings at home with this easy recipe for baked chicken wings with a spicy and savory marinade. Make sure to Pin the recipe so you can find it later too!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Spicy Peri Peri Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 3-4 red chili peppers seeds removed
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- 1-2 lime juiced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil not extra virgin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt
- 2 pounds (900 grams) chicken wings drumettes and flats separated and wing tips cut off
Instructions
Oven Method:
- To make the marinade, in a food processor, combine red chili peppers, garlic, cilantro, lime, oregano, smoked paprika, olive oil and salt. Blend the mixture until you get a marinade that is smooth but with some texture still.
- Add chicken wings to a bowl, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Stir to coat the chicken in the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours and preferably overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F/220°C. Line a half sheet size baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Arrange the wings on the sheet pan leaving some space between each wing. Bake for 30 minutes, then flip and bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from the sheet pan, and serve with lime wedges.
Air Fryer Method:
- Air fry 400°F/200°C for 20 minutes, shaking or flipping the wings once or twice, until they are cooked through.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve.
Notes:
- I removed the seeds from the peppers before adding them to the food processor, and ended with wings that were equivalent to Nando’s medium style chicken. If you want yours to be hotter, leave the seeds in!
- You can taste the marinade to decide how hot you want to go, but keep in mind that it will taste hotter fresh than it will once it’s baked into the wings.
- Marinate overnight if at all possible. You can shorten the marinade time if you’re in a rush, but I highly suggest planning ahead and letting these wings soak up all of that flavor in the fridge overnight.
- Parchment paper is key to easy clean up! You’ll barely need to wash the pan if you line it with parchment paper, plus the paper will keep the wings from sticking.
- To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
April says
I’ve never had Nando’s, but I LOVE these wings! Love the flavor and they came out so crispy even in the oven!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
That’s so great to hear, April! Thank you for the kind review!
Alana says
My grandpa loves these spicy peri peri chicken wings. They were packed with flavors, he even said that they are way better than the restaurant-bought!
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Wow, I’m so happy to hear that your grandpa loved these wings, Alana! Thank you for the amazing review!
Sharina says
My fam loves spicy chicken wings and these spicy peri peri chicken wings were a huge hit to them! They were perfectly cooked and seasoned making them more tender and crispy.
Little Sunny Kitchen says
I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe, Sharina! Thank you for the great review!