This Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken is bold, zesty, and absolutely packed with flavour. Think juicy chicken thighs simmered low and slow in a punchy peri peri marinade with warming spices and a hit of garlic and lemon. It’s the kind of dish that needs very little effort but delivers big on taste, with that delicious heat and slight tang that makes every bite irresistible.
It takes just minutes to throw together, then your slow cooker does all the work. Serve the chicken with rice or as tacos, or shred it up and make delicious peri peri chicken bowls. However you plate it, this is one of those easy weeknight wins that’ll have you coming back for more.
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Calories in Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken
This recipe serves 4 and is 280 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 200+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – Perfect for slow cooking. They stay juicy and soak up all the flavour.
- Peri peri marinade – The fiery, tangy base that gives this dish its signature kick. Use a ready-made version you love (I like to use Nando's Peri Peri Marinade
- Lemon juice – Adds a fresh zing that lifts the dish and helps tenderise the chicken as it simmers away.
- Smoked and sweet paprika – This duo gives depth and warmth, adding both a hint of smokiness and a subtle sweetness to the sauce.
- Parsley and oregano – Earthy and aromatic, these dried herbs work in the background to round out the flavours.
- Salt and pepper – These basic yet essential flavour enhancers are key for elevating the taste of your dishes. No food will ever be bland when these are used to season to taste.
- Brown sugar – Adds balance and softens the heat.
- Garlic – Adds a savoury depth and brings everything together. It’s a no-brainer.
- Onion – Softens and sweetens as it cooks, helping to build that rich, flavourful sauce base.
- Fresh coriander – Scattered over at the end, it brings a fresh, herby lift that contrasts beautifully with the bold, smoky heat of the dish.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Choosing a Slow Cooker
A reliable slow cooker takes all the hassle out of dinner by gently cooking your chicken to tender perfection. Look for one with low and high heat settings so you can easily adjust cooking times to fit your day. While some slow cookers have a sear and sauté function, it’s not necessary here since the chicken goes in as is—no browning needed.
Size really matters for even cooking and avoiding dryness or overly long cooking times. For a recipe like this, a 4 to 6-litre slow cooker works best. If yours is bigger, you might want to double the ingredients or cook in batches to fill the pot properly. Bonus features like a keep-warm setting help keep your meal ready to eat without overcooking, and a removable, dishwasher-safe insert makes cleanup a breeze.
Tips for Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken
Here’s a handy list of tips for successful Slow Cooking
Choosing the Right Slow Cooker
For this recipe, a reliable slow cooker makes life easy. It gently simmers the chicken in that fiery, flavour-packed marinade until it's fall-apart tender. Look for a model with both low and high heat settings so you can adjust cooking time depending on your schedule. No need for fancy browning features here—the chicken goes in raw, and the slow cooker does the rest.
Size Matters
A 4 to 6-litre slow cooker is ideal for this recipe. If your slow cooker is larger, you’ll want to double the recipe or make sure the chicken and sauce sit snugly in the bottom to prevent drying out. A slow cooker that’s too empty can lead to uneven cooking and less saucy results. If you're scaling up for a crowd, make sure everything stays well-covered during cooking.
Avoid Overcooking
Even in a slow cooker, chicken thighs can dry out if they’re left too long. Stick to the recommended time and check the texture—if it’s shreddable with a fork but still moist, it’s done. Using a keep-warm setting after cooking is great.
Don’t Skip the Sauce
The peri peri marinade, lemon juice, and aromatics combine into a seriously flavourful sauce as it simmers. Once cooked, give it a stir and spoon some over the chicken when serving—it’s too good to leave behind.
Finishing Touches
Add a scattering of fresh coriander or a squeeze of extra lemon at the end to brighten everything up.
Sides for Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken
There are loads of tasty ways to serve up this spicy, saucy chicken. Go casual with sides or build a full plate, whatever suits your mood.
Nando’s-style rice is a no-brainer. Mildly spiced and full of flavour, it pairs perfectly with the bold peri peri chicken. Add a side of homemade fries, buttery corn on the cob, or a simple crisp salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and red onion to round it all out.
You can also pile the shredded chicken into mini tortilla wraps for easy tacos—great for a build-your-own dinner with toppings like chopped salad, avocado, and a drizzle of sauce.
But my personal favourite? The Peri Peri Chicken Bowl. It’s got everything going for it—Nando’s-style rice (or plain rice) as the base, topped with tender peri peri chicken, charred corn, a fresh tomato and cucumber salad, creamy avocado and loads of fresh coriander. Finish it off with a good drizzle of perinaise (peri peri mayonnaise). If you don’t have the bottled stuff, mix a little peri peri marinade with reduced-fat mayo and Greek yoghurt. Thin it out with a splash of water if needed, and you’ve got a homemade drizzle that’s creamy, spicy and absolutely addictive. If you’ve got a few extra calories to spare, throw in some grilled halloumi—the salty, golden edges go ridiculously well with the spicy chicken.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Looking for some more slow cooker recipes? Check out the following:
See more Slow Cooker Recipes →
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All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
FAQ for Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken
Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you prefer. Just keep in mind that chicken thighs are the better choice for this kind of slow-cooked dish. They have a richer flavour and stay tender and juicy, adding more depth to the sauce as they cook. Breasts are leaner and can dry out more easily, so if you do use them, reduce the cooking time slightly.
Once cooled, store any leftover peri peri chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It actually tastes even better the next day as the flavours develop further. Reheat thoroughly before serving, either in the microwave or gently in a pan with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Absolutely. This recipe freezes really well. Portion the chicken (shredded or whole) into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat until piping hot. It’s great for meal prep or quick dinners down the line.
You can reheat the chicken in the microwave, covered, in short bursts, stirring in between. Or reheat gently on the hob with a splash of water or stock to stop it drying out. If you’ve frozen it, make sure it’s fully defrosted first. It’s also delicious cold in wraps or salads if you fancy a no cook lunch.
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Recipe Card
Easy Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken
This easy slow cooker peri peri chicken is packed with bold, zesty flavour and comes together with minimal effort for a fuss-free dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, sliced thinly
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (approx 750g/26.4oz)
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon of sweet paprika
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ tablespoon of dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- optional: pinch of chilli flakes for additional heat.
- 6 tablespoons (90ml) of peri peri marinade ( I use the Nando's one)
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- handful of fresh coriander, chopped
- salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Add the sliced onion to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a large bowl, add the chicken thighs, garlic, paprika, parsley, oregano, brown sugar, salt, pepper, peri peri marinade, and lemon juice. Mix everything together until the chicken is well coated. (For extra flavour, you can do this the night before and leave it covered in the fridge.)
- Place the chicken and all the marinade on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
- Cover with lid and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Once cooked, roughly shred the chicken using two forks. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and black pepper if needed.
- Sprinkle with fresh coriander before serving.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Freezer Friendly ❄️ - see FAQ section for details
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 280Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 25gCholesterol 273mgSodium 746mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 2gSugar 85gProtein 39g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
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