Piri-Piri Chicken with Lemon and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-17 · Updated 2026-04-17

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy chicken thighs marinated in spicy piri-piri sauce and roasted until golden, with a bright lemon-garlic finish. This Portuguese-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, piri-piri sauce, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Portuguese cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1.5 lbs (680 g), skin-on and bone-in chicken thighs
3 tbsp piri-piri sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves, minced garlic
1, zested and juiced lemon
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat 680 g chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.
Step 2: In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp piri-piri sauce, 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 lemon zest, 1 lemon juice, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper.
Step 3: Rub the marinade evenly over chicken thighs, coating all sides. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Place chicken thighs in a single layer in a baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes until skin is golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Step 5: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.