Nando's butterfly chicken recipe is spicy and delicious. This peri-peri chicken is one of the famous restaurant's recipes and is easy to make at home.
Nando's butterfly chicken breast is probably one of the simplest copycat recipes I have ever made. Only the McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce for nuggets was easier, I suppose.
For more Nando-inspired recipes, check out the Spicy Peri Peri Dip, the Spicy Peri Peri Seasoning, or the Peri Peri Chicken Livers.
Featured comment:
RKD: This was wonderful! Thank you! I've been looking for a chicken breast recipe this good for a long time.
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Recipe ingredients
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If you only have thighs, try Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken Thighs.
Marinating sauce: You can marinate the chicken in store-bought Peri-Peri sauce, preferably medium-hot. However, in Germany, these bottles are hard to find and expensive online from British shops. But making your own marinade is super easy!
The marinade I use is made with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, paprika, chili flakes, oregano, and parsley. All common ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make butterfly chicken breast?
Step #1: Place the chicken breast on a cutting board set over a kitchen towel to prevent slipping. Hold the top with one hand and carefully slice it in half horizontally with a long knife, without cutting all the way through.
Step #2: Open the breast and gently flatten it with a meat tenderizer until evenly thick for even cooking.
Tip: Use a long, sharp knife to slice the meat cleanly - if it's dull, the meat might tear.
Step #3: Brush the pan with a bit of oil. Once hot, add the butterfly chicken.
Step #4: Cook it for 2โ3 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Donโt overcook - it only needs a few minutes.
Tip: Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab); it should be 165ยฐF/ 74ยฐC. If you don't have a thermometer, cut one piece in the middle. The meat should be white, not red or pink.
How long to marinate the chicken?
Once you've butterflied the breasts, place them in a large dish in one layer. Brush well with half of the marinade; flip and brush the other side as well.
Ideally, marinate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours. However, if you don't have the time for that, even 15 minutes will do it; Nando's butterfly chicken will still be absolutely delicious.
Store and reheat
Refrigerate leftover butterflied chicken breast for 2-3 days in an airtight container.
Eat cold or reheated in a bun with sauce, salad leaves, tomatoes, and so on. Make wraps or stuff pita bread. Slice and make a salad with a green salad, grated carrots, onions, and vinaigrette or yogurt dressing.
Reheat in the oven or microwave.
How to serve peri-peri chicken?
With fries or oven-baked potato wedges, red cabbage slaw, green salad, carrot salad, or Macho peas.
You can also make a burger. Add some mayo, ketchup, spicy sauce, or whatever you like to your burger, some salad leaves, onions, and tomato slices, and you will have a delicious and filling Nando-style burger.
Recipe
Nando's Butterfly Chicken Breast
Equipment
- Meat mallet
- Marinating container
- Grill pan
Ingredients
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ยฝ lemon the juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- ยฝ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes more to taste
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped, fresh or frozen
- ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ยผ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon oil for the pan
Instructions
- Mix lemon juice, olive oil, both paprika sorts, chili flakes, grated garlic, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper. Set aside.ยฝ lemon + 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika + ยฝ teaspoon smoked paprika + 1 teaspoon red chili flakes + 1 garlic clove + 1 teaspoon dried oregano + 1 tablespoon parsley + ยผ teaspoon fine sea salt + ยผ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Butterfly the chicken breast: Place the chicken on a cutting board and the board on a kitchen towel to ensure it won't slip. Place one palm on top of the breast and run a long knife along the side of it, slicing it in half horizontally. Make sure that you don't cut it all the way through. Open the breast and flatten it gently with a meat tenderizer; it should be evenly thick to cook properly.2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Marinate chicken: Place in a large shallow dish in a single layer. Brush with half of the marinade, flip, and brush the other side as well. Marinate for 1-2 hours and up to 24 (Note 1).
- Cook chicken: Heat a griddle pan (or a cast-iron skillet or a regular pan). Brush it with about 1 teaspoon of oil. Cook the meat for 2-3 minutes on each side. Don't overcook (Note 2).1 teaspoon oil
Notes
- The internal temperature should be 165ยฐF/ 74ยฐC. If you don't have a thermometer, cut one piece in half; the meat should be white, not red or pink.
- Marinating time: If you're short on time, marinate the meat for at least 15 minutes.
Ritu Parna says
Hi There,
Can I use nandos butterfly chicken chili powder?
Adina says
I don't know how that will work, I always used this mixture for this recipe.
RKD says
This was wonderful! Thank you! I've been looking for a chicken breast recipe this good for a long time.
Adina says
So glad you like it!