Neil's Ultimate Meal Prep Peri Peri Chicken & Spicy Rice

Name: Neil's Ultimate Meal Prep Peri Peri Chicken & Spicy Rice
Yield: 5 people
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (trimmed and left whole); 1/2 cup (120 ml) Nando's Peri Peri Sauce (your preferred heat level); 1 1/2 tbsp Olive oil or avocado oil; 1 tbsp Lemon juice or red wine vinegar; 4 tsp Garlic powder; 2 tsp Smoked paprika; 1 tsp Ground cumin; 1 1/2 tsp Dried chili flakes; 1 1/2 tsp Coarse kosher salt; 1 tsp Black pepper; 300 g Basmati rice (washed thoroughly and drained); 525 ml Chicken stock; 2 tbsp Unsalted butter; 1 Brown onion, finely diced; 1 Red bell pepper, finely diced; 4 Garlic cloves, grated or minced; 1 tbsp Tomato paste; 1 tsp Smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp Ground turmeric; 1/2 tsp Chili powder; 1 tsp Dried oregano; Fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped for garnish

Neil Gallagher @cook_116747013

Spice up your week with this high-protein, maximum-flavor meal prep staple!

Peri-Peri has an incredible history, originating in South Africa where Portuguese settlers fell in love with the local African Bird's Eye chili (Piri-Piri) and blended it with garlic, lemon, and vinegar.

By swapping out chicken breasts for juicy boneless skinless chicken thighs and leveraging the precision of a rice cooker, you get incredibly tender meat and perfectly fluffy, savory grains every single time. It’s got a fiery kick, sweet pops of bell pepper, and holds up beautifully in the fridge. Perfect for anyone looking to automate their weekly fuel without sacrificing flavor!

Spice up your week with this high-protein, maximum-flavor meal prep staple!

Neil Gallagher @cook_116747013

Spice up your week with this high-protein, maximum-flavor meal prep staple!

Saved

Ingredients

5 people

3 lbsBoneless, skinless chicken thighs (trimmed and left whole)
1/2 cup (120 ml)Nando's Peri Peri Sauce (your preferred heat level)
1 1/2 tbspOlive oil or avocado oil
1 tbspLemon juice or red wine vinegar
4 tspGarlic powder
2 tspSmoked paprika
1 tspGround cumin
1 1/2 tspDried chili flakes
1 1/2 tspCoarse kosher salt
1 tspBlack pepper
For the Rice Cooker Spicy Rice
300 gBasmati rice (washed thoroughly and drained)
525 mlChicken stock
2 tbspUnsalted butter
1Brown onion, finely diced
1Red bell pepper, finely diced
4Garlic cloves, grated or minced
1 tbspTomato paste
1 tspSmoked paprika
1/2 tspGround turmeric
1/2 tspChili powder
1 tspDried oregano
Fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped for garnish

Saved

Steps

1

In a large bowl or a gallon-sized zip-top bag, combine all the chicken thighs with the Nando's sauce, oil, lemon juice, and all the dry spices. Massage the marinade thoroughly into the meat, seal, and let it work its magic in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours.
2

When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Lay the marinated thighs completely flat in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap so the hot air can circulate.
3

Bake the chicken for 20 to 22 minutes. For that authentic Nando's flame-grilled look, switch the oven to 'Broil on High' for the final 2 to 3 minutes until you get beautiful, caramelized dark spots on the edges. Remove, let rest under foil for 5 minutes, then slice into juicy strips.
4

While the chicken is roasting, melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the diced onion and red bell pepper for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the grated garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another 2 minutes until the paste turns a deep, aromatic brick-red.
5

Add your washed and drained basmati rice directly into the rice cooker inner pot. Pour the hot veggie-tomato mixture right on top, followed by the chicken stock, smoked paprika, turmeric, chili powder, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir thoroughly until the paste dissolves evenly.
6

Close the lid and start your standard "White Rice" cycle. Once the machine clicks over to the "Warm" setting, leave the lid closed for 10 minutes to allow the grains to finish plumping up in the steam.
7

Divide your seasoned spicy rice across 5 meal prep containers, top with a generous portion of the sliced peri-peri chicken thighs, and garnish with an extra drizzle of Nando's sauce if you like it extra fiery! Enjoy!