Nando’s Peri-Peri Butterfly Chicken Breast Recipe, one of the most delicious chicken recipes that is bursting with incredible flavours. Why not make it at home, it’s super easy to make, and it tastes just like the real deal. Serve it with fries and corn on the cob for a full Nando’s experience.
Nando’s was one of the first restaurants I went to when I first came to the UK. Needless to say, I absolutely loved the food there, and it’s been one of my favourite restaurants every since. What’s not to love about it, you get amazing food at quite a convenient price, and the service is always great.
What’s probably their secret weapon in terms of quality is the fabulous sauces and marinades that give the chicken dishes they serve a unique flavour that is so Nando’s. I can recognise a Nando’s style chicken easily, and their famous peri-peri chicken is ever so popular.
My peri-peri butterfly chicken might not be an authentic Nando’s recipe, but it comes as close as possible to the real deal.If you fancy Nando’s, but can’t be bothered to go out, you can easily make this recipe at home, and it’s the next best thing you can get. Throw in some homemade fries, and some good old corn on the cob, and you are good to go.
How to make a peri-peri chicken marinade
This marinade is what makes the difference between an okayish chicken recipe and the best chicken recipe one can get. For best results, rub the chicken with the marinade, and leave to chill for at least 1-2 hours, the longer, then better.
The chicken breast will then soak up all the flavours, and the meat will be tender and aromatic. Once it’s done marinating, it only takes about 7-8 minutes or so on the grill, depending on the size of your chicken breast.
What we need for the marinade:
- olive oil
- smoked paprika
- lemon juice
- chilli flakes
- garlic
- salt and pepper
- oregano
- tabasco (or any other chilli sauce)
Mix all the ingredients together to get a smooth paste that will be rubed over the chicken breast.
How to butterfly a chicken breast
Butterflying is a good technique to ensure a quick even cooking of a thick piece of meat. You can even butterfly a whole chicken, so a chicken breast is super easy to do.
- place the chicken breast on a wooden board or any other board that is not slippery.
- place your whole palm on it, then run a sharp knife along the side of the chicken breast
- slice through the chicken breast, but not all the way through
- fold it out and press to flatten, then use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken breast even thinner
The thinner, the better, especially when you cook on a high heat. You want the center of the meat cooked through when it comes to chicken. Once the chicken breast is flatten, rub the peri-peri marinade on both sides, and chill. Grill on both sides for at least 2-3 minutes, until the chicken is cooked well.
Once butterfly chicken breast, especially a large one can be enough for 2 people, so you can just half it once it’s grilled. Looking for more grilled chicken ideas? How about my Grilled Chicken Sliders? Great as a healthy fast-food option, and super delicious too.
If you’ve liked my NANDO’S STYLE BUTTERFLY CHICKEN BREAST or any other recipe on the blog, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
Nando's Style Peri Peri Butterfly Chicken Breast, one of the most delicious chicken recipes. Why not make it at home, it's super easy to make, and it tastes just like the real deal. Serve it with fries and corn on the cob for a full Nando's experience.
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp tabasco (or any other chilli sauce)
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- a pinch of pepper
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To make the marinade, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, oregano, minced garlic, chilli flakes, salt , pepper and tabasco.
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Mix well to get a paste.
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To butterfly the chicken breasts: place your hand on top of a chicken breast, then run a long sharp knife along the side of the chicken.
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Slice the chicken breast in half horizontally, but do not cut all the way through.
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Open it up, and flatten it, it will have the shape of a butterfly.
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Use a meat tenderizer to flatten it down even more to the desired thickeness.
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Repeat with the second chicken breast.
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Rub the marinade on both sides of each butterfly chicken, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours.
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Heat up a grill pan, and place one chicken breast at a time.
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Grill for about 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
Looks awesome! Today’s easter and we’re home… like most people on the planet:) and I’ve got 6 chicken breasts and was browsing through to get a Nando’s Style Butterfly Chicken recipe online… and viola! I found yours… so I should be making these for sure. The only variation or addition I will do is instead of the smoked paprika, I’ll be substituting it with chilli power, yes, we like it a little hot here in Pakistan:) and instead of the tabasco I’ll be using a favourite chilli garlic sauce quite popular here. I’m sure it will turn out great. Thanks for the recipe and the tips. Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. God Bless
I hope the recipe turns out ok!