Piri-piri chicken is a perfect dish for the slow cooker. A homemade spicy marinade cooks with chicken in this healthy version of an Portuguese classic.
I’m sitting in a cabana at the Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta facing the ocean as I type this. In less one week’s time I’ll be renewing my vows for my 5 year wedding anniversary. Don’t you love technology?!? I’m literally blogging from the beach! I knocked out a few healthy slow cooker recipes before I left for 2 main reasons 1) I want to look good in my bikini and everyone knows you can’t out exercise a bad diet and 2) I didn’t want to go completely silent from the blog while I’m on vacation. So, while I sip my passion-fruit margarita poolside, here you go.
Ok confession time – I have not been to Portugal. I don’t know anyone from there and I did not get this recipe from anyone I know. This is my best try at piri-piri. I make this frequently and it’s always a hit. This may not be a traditional piri-piri but it’s still damn good. Like most of my recipes you can use pretty much any cut of chicken whether it’s a whole chicken, legs, thighs, etc. Personally I think either a whole chicken or dark meat (legs or thighs) work best with this recipe. But that’s just me. White meat does work too! FYI – this recipe is spicy. By looking at the ingredients I think you can see that.
When it comes to the oil for the sauce, I recommend using extra-virgin olive oil.
- 2 lbs chicken
- 2 tsp ghee (optional)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Sauce:
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp melted coconut oil, avocado oil or evoo
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- Optional step: Heat ghee in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken & brown a few minutes each side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Place sliced onion in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add chicken on top.
- Mix together sauce ingredients.
- Pour sauce over chicken.
- Top with lemon slices.
- Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6.
I just made chicken earlier this week. But guarantee next time I make chicken, I am doing this!!! I love working with my slow cooker and this is a new twist to chicken I have to try.
I hope you enjoy the recipe! I love my slow cooker too (as you can tell hahaha) and I’m always looking for new recipes so if you have any, send ’em my way! xShannon
Congratulations on renewing your vows. Doing that in Mexico is def a bonus! Enjoying your blog as always, and just a wee bit envious that’s you are blogging from the beach!
Congrats on renewing of your vows!!! We love you both very much!
Thank you so much dear cousin! I hope to see you again sooner than later. XO