Peri Peri Chicken Burger with Spicy Mayonnaise

My peri peri chicken burger features a chicken breast marinated in a scratch-made spicy chilli sauce and is served with a spicy mayonnaise!

I add lettuce, tomato and smoked cheese to cool that chilli burn in this delicious, moist chicken sandwich.

Peri Peri Chicken Sandwich

This peri peri chicken burger, like my jerk chicken burger, breaded chicken burger and buttermilk fried chicken burger uses a whole chicken breast to form the patty.

There are some who would argue that this makes it a sandwich and not a burger.

I'm not much one for arguing about food etymology, call it what you will!

Peri peri flavouring came to prominence in the UK with the introduction of a South African restaurant chain called Nando's.

This is certainly not aimed at being a copycat recipe; it is the product of my food curiosity, and it is glorious.

The peri peri chilli was cultivated in South African countries with Portuguese territories and forms just one of a surprising number of Portuguese food influences from around the globe.

If this recipe is your kinda mojo, then you must check out my peri peri chicken wings, whole peri peri spatchcock chicken and peri peri chicken livers recipes.

My pork vindaloo recipe is an unashamedly British Indian restaurant in influence, but it has definite Portuguese roots from the Goan region of India.

But it does not stop there, Japanese tempura has close links to a 16th-century Portuguese dish called Peixinhos da Horta.

Even the great British staple of marmalade takes its name from a Portuguese quince jam called marmelos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use a griddle pan?

No, not at all! You could cook this in a nonstick frying pan or skillet or even on the BBQ!

Can I use another type of chilli pepper?

Yes, of course. The sauce/marinade is traditionally made with peri peri peppers, which were cultivated in Portuguese territories in South Africa.

They are pretty difficult to find, but they have a similar heat and flavour profile to Thai bird's eye chilli peppers. But if you want something a little milder, or indeed hotter, then go for it!

Why do you recommend marinating the chicken in a bag and not a bowl?

I like to massage the marinade into the chicken breast. Doing this in a bag means you do not have chilli fingers to rub into your eyes or other sensitive areas. Yes, this is the voice of experience!

What is malt vinegar?

Malt vinegar begins life as an "ale" made from malted barley that is allowed to turn to vinegar. It has a bold and unique flavour that adds to this dish greatly in my opinion.

You can use any other vinegar that you wish.

Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes, I use chicken thighs in my Korean fried chicken burger. You will need to flatten them and then cook them in a similar fashion to this recipe. But you will need to be flexible with timing.

Serving Suggestions

Yes, I know this is not particularly imaginative, but I like to serve my chicken burger with some French fries. I like to cook mine in the French fries in an air fryer, and yes, I use frozen French fries!

Of course, other potatoes work just as well! You could just as easily cook some air fryer wedges or serve this with some crispy fried potatoes.

Some proper chippy style chips would also work if you want to deep fry some potatoes.

If you don't want potatoes, how about some delicious cheesy fried polenta chips?

Salad is another option, and this wonderful corn salad would be a great addition to the side of this recipe.

Equipment Used

I have no recommendations for the kit used unless otherwise stated.

• A combination of weighing scales and or measuring cups and spoons.
• Sealable plastic bag or Tupperware tub to marinate chicken breasts.
• Mini blender.
• Hob/stovetop.
• Griddle pan.
• Sharp kitchen knife.
• Mixing bowls and spoons.