Chicken Churrasqueira (Portuguese Spicy BBQ Chicken)

Chicken Churrasqueira (Portuguese Spicy BBQ Chicken)

Featuring Mano’s Piri Piri Hot Sauce

Few dishes represent Portuguese grilling culture like Chicken Churrasqueira. This bold, flame-kissed chicken is marinated in garlic, citrus, olive oil, and Piri Piri heat, then grilled until crispy on the outside and juicy inside. It’s simple, fiery, and packed with flavor — just like Mano remembers growing up.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, butterflied (spatchcocked)

• ¼ cup Mano’s Piri Piri Hot Sauce

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• Optional: extra Piri Piri sauce for serving

Instructions

1. Prepare the Marinade
   In a bowl, whisk together Mano’s Piri Piri Hot Sauce, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, salt, and pepper.

2. Marinate the Chicken
   Rub the marinade generously over the chicken, making sure it gets under the skin.
   Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

3. Grill to Perfection
   Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
   Grill chicken skin-side down first for 15–20 minutes, then flip and continue grilling until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

4. Finish & Serve
   Brush with extra Piri Piri sauce during the final minutes for added heat.
   Rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with:

• Crispy Portuguese fries

• Simple tomato salad

• Grilled vegetables

• Crusty bread to soak up the sauce

🔥 Flavor Profile: Spicy, garlicky, smoky, citrus-bright
🌶 Heat Level: Medium to Hot (adjust with extra Piri Piri)