Grilled Peri-Peri Chicken with Spicy Paprika Rub
Tender grilled chicken marinated in a spicy peri-peri sauce with smoky paprika and garlic, inspired by South African flavors. This African-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, olive oil, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (about 2 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp, chopped (for garnish) fresh parsley
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp red chili flakes, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper to create the marinade; whisk until well blended.
- Step 2: Add 4 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 lbs) to the marinade, coating each piece thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 4 hours, to let the flavors infuse.
- Step 3: Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Place the marinated chicken thighs skin-side down and grill for 6-7 minutes until the skin crisps and chars slightly.
- Step 4: Flip the chicken and grill for an additional 6-8 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
- Step 5: Remove chicken from grill, let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.









