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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 burger served with red onion and smoked cheese.

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 Nandos.

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.

Overhead peri peri chicken burger served with spicy mayonnaise and French fries.

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 birds 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.

Close up peri peri chicken burger served with red onion and smoked cheese.

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.

Peri peri chicken burger served with spicy mayonnaise and French fries.

Equipment Used

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

  • Weighing scales and or measuring cups and spoons.
  • Sealable plastic bag to marinate chicken breasts.
  • Mini blender.
  • Stovetop.
  • Griddle pan.
  • Sharp kitchen knife.
  • Mixing bowls and spoons.
Peri peri chicken burger served with spicy mayonnaise.
Yield: 2 Servings

Peri Peri Chicken Burger Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Marinade Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

A delicious and spicy peri peri chicken burger served with lettuce, tomato, red onion and smoked cheese and a stunningly simple spicy mayonnaise!

Ingredients

  • 2 Small Chicken Breasts

For the Marinade:

  • 15g (6-7) Thai Birds Eye Chilli Peppers
  • 50g (⅓ Cup) Onion
  • 4 Garlic Cloves
  • 2 Tbsp Malt Vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Groundnut Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
  • ½ Tbsp Lime Juice
  • 1 Tsp Dried Basil
  • 1 Tsp Dried Oregano
  • ½ Tsp Dried Rosemary
  • ½ Tsp Salt

For the Burger:

  • 4 Tbsp Mayonnaise
  • 2 Burger Buns
  • Lettuce Leaves
  • 1 Tomato
  • 2 Slices Smoked Cheese
  • Red Onion

Instructions

  1. Butterfly the chicken breast to an even thickness of around 10-15mm (1/2") and place them in a sealable bag.
  2. Remove the stems from the chilli peppers and add them to a mini blender.
  3. Roughly chop the onion and place it in the blender.
  4. Peel the garlic cloves and add them to the blender.
  5. Add the remaining ingredients for the marinade to the blender and blitz to form a smooth paste.
  6. Remove 2 tablespoons of the marinade and mix it through the mayonnaise, cover with cling film and place in a fridge until you make the burgers.
  7. Add the remaining marinade to the chicken breasts.
  8. Butterfly the chicken and bash flat to a thickness of around 1-1.5cm and add it to the bag with the marinade, massage and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
  9. Heat a griddle pan over a medium high heat and brush it lightly with a little neutral cooking oil.
  10. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade and place them in the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 73°C or 165°F.
  11. Slice the tomato and red onion.
  12. Remove the chicken and set them aside and griddle the burger buns to pick up any residual flavour from the pan. This will take no longer than 90 seconds.
  13. Build your sandwich, I like to start with spicy Peri Peri mayonnaise on the base, followed by lettuce, a slice of tomato, and then the smoked cheese. Finally add the chicken breast, more mayo and some red onion rings.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 891Total Fat: 51gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 37gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 1280mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 6gSugar: 24gProtein: 53g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Jake

Sunday 4th of February 2024

Can you make these 2-3 days in advance?

Brian Jones

Monday 5th of February 2024

In theory yes, although I would be worried about the chicken breast drying out whilst reheating.

If I were to make these in advance, I would make additional sauce so that you can add some more at the time of reheating.

Enjoy.

Brian

Susan

Friday 3rd of November 2023

Hi, For your Spicy Peri Peri Mayonnaise, do you just add Peri Peri to it on its own, or add more spices to the mayonnaise.

Susan

Brian Jones

Monday 13th of November 2023

Hi Susan...

My peri peri mayo uses a little of the marinade and the rest goes onto the chciken, so it is really simple.

All the best

Brian

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