If you’re anything like me, a Nando’s fakeaway night isn’t complete without that iconic spicy rice on the side. This One Pot Nando’s-Style Peri Peri Rice brings all those bold, fiery flavours into your kitchen with simple, fresh ingredients and absolutely no fuss. It’s inspired by the much-loved restaurant favourite, but made at home with pantry staples and a good pinch of love. The best part? It’s all cooked in one pot, so you get maximum flavour without a mountain of washing up.
Yes, Nando’s chicken gets all the attention—and rightly so—but their sides deserve a moment in the spotlight too. This rice is everything you want: savoury, spiced, slightly smoky, and a little bit saucy from the tomato and garlic base. It’s the kind of dish that’s meant to sit next to a juicy piece of chicken or crispy halloumi, but honestly, it’s so good you could easily eat it on its own. Or jazz it up into a meal by stirring in some cooked prawns, shredded chicken or even chickpeas.
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Calories in One Pot Nando's Style Peri Peri Rice
This recipe serves 4 and is 198 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:
- Long Grain Rice – Light and fluffy with just the right bite. It’s the perfect base for soaking up all those bold peri peri flavours.
- Stock (chicken or vegetable) – Packed with savoury depth. Chicken stock gives a richer taste, but veggie stock keeps it light and just as flavourful. It's essential to use the correct ratio of stock cubes to water, as not all stock cubes are identical. Using too few can lead to a bland, watery broth, while too many may create a stock that's overly salty.
- Garlic and Onion – The flavour foundation. Garlic brings that classic sharp warmth, while onion adds natural sweetness and depth once softened. Together, they create the aromatic base that makes this dish so moreish.
- Spices: Paprika, Smoked Paprika, Ground Cumin, Dried Parsley, Dried Oregano – This blend gives the rice its bold, smoky, slightly herby character. Smoked paprika adds depth, cumin brings warmth, and the dried herbs give that familiar peri peri-style edge.
- Green Bell Pepper – Adds a pop of colour and a little crunch. It’s subtle but helps replicate the classic Nando’s rice vibe.
- Medium Ripe Tomato – Adds a light tomato base for a hint of tang and sweetness, giving the rice its signature colour and sauciness.
- Cilantro (fresh coriander) – Scattered on top or stirred through, it adds a fresh, citrusy finish that really brightens the dish.
- Lime Juice – A splash of zing at the end balances everything out and makes the flavours pop.
- Salt and Black 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.
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.
Variations and Substitutes
This one pot Nando’s-style peri peri rice is already packed with flavour, but there’s plenty of room to make it your own:
- Swap the Rice – If you fancy a change or simply don’t have long grain rice on hand, orzo makes a brilliant alternative. It cooks quickly and still soaks up all the spices beautifully. Just keep an eye on the liquid and cooking time, it’ll need a bit less than rice.
- Make it a Meal – Stir through cooked shredded chicken, prawns, or even leftover roast veg to bulk it out into a full meal. Chickpeas or black beans are great veggie options that add extra protein and texture.
- Add a Bit of Heat – If you like things spicier, feel free to throw in a pinch of chilli flakes or a chopped red chilli when cooking the garlic and onion. Or serve with a drizzle of hot sauce for those who want a fiery kick on the side.
- Change the Herbs – If you’re don't have dried parsley or oregano, you can swap in mixed herb seasoning or Italian herb seasoning as those usually have those herbs in there.
- Skip the Tomato – If you don’t have a ripe tomato to hand, you can use a tablespoon of tomato purée or a few tablespoons of passata instead. It’ll still add richness and help create that signature colour.
- Add extra veg - add in some diced carrots, red bell pepper or even some corn or peas to bulk out the rice.
This is a forgiving recipe, so don’t stress if you’re missing one or two ingredients. The flavours are bold enough to hold up with a bit of flexibility.
Tips for Perfect One Pot Nando's Style Peri Peri Rice
One-pot meals like this Nando’s-style peri peri rice are all about big flavour with minimal mess. To get the best result every time, here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly and your rice perfectly cooked:
- Use the Right Pan – Go for a wide, deep frying pan. You want something that holds heat well and has a tight-fitting lid, so the rice cooks evenly without drying out or catching at the bottom.
- Get Everything Prepped – Chop your onions, garlic, pepper and tomato, and measure out your spices and rice before you start. Once you're cooking, things move quickly, and it’s much easier when you’re not scrambling for ingredients mid-recipe.
- Build Flavour in Layers – Start by sautéing the onion and garlic until softened and fragrant. Then stir in your spices and tomato to form a rich, aromatic base before adding the rice and stock. It makes all the difference to the depth of flavour.
- Cook Slowly and Steady: Give the rice enough time to absorb the liquid and cook through gently. Avoid stirring to keep the rice texture intact.
- Watch the Liquid – If the rice looks like it’s drying out before it’s fully cooked, add a small splash of hot stock or water to help it along. You want it moist, not soggy.
- Let It Rest – Once the rice is cooked, remove from the heat but keep the lid on for another 8–10 minutes. This quick rest allows the rice to steam gently and soak up any last bits of flavour.
What to Serve with One Pot Nandos Style Peri Peri Rice
This One Pot Peri Peri Rice is packed with smoky, savoury flavour, but it really shines when served alongside the right mains. Here are some tasty ideas to complete your Nando’s fakeaway:
- Slow Cooker Peri Peri Chicken - Tender, juicy and loaded with flavour. This easy slow cooker recipe is the perfect match for the rice and makes a great centrepiece for your plate.
- Prawn Skewers - Quick to cook and full of zing. These fiery skewers are ideal for piling straight on top of the rice with a squeeze of lime.
- Nando’s Chicken Fakeaway Recipe - For the full experience, my fakeaway brings together spiced grilled chicken, vibrant sides and all the Nando’s flavour without leaving the house.
- Grilled Halloumi - A salty, golden crusted halloumi slice works beautifully with the rice. Great for adding extra texture and richness.
- Buttery Corn on the Cob - this is an easy side that ties everything together with a pop of colour
- Seasoned Charred Corn - char some frozen or canned corn in a frying pan with spices and seasoning.
- Simple Side Salad + Grilled Meat - Fresh salad wtih all you favourites (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion etc) with your choice of grilled meat—chicken, steak or pork. It’s light, quick and balances the spice nicely.
Pair up a few of these and you’ve got yourself a proper Nando’s-style feast at home.
More Rice Recipes
Fancy more rice recipes? Take a look at these tasty options on Slimming Eats.
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FAQ for One Pot Nando's Style Peri Peri Rice
Keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat thoroughly before serving.
Absolutely. Use vegetable stock and skip any meat additions, or add in chickpeas or extra veggies to bulk it out.
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Recipe Card
One Pot Nando's Stlye Peri Peri Rice
This One Pot Nando’s Style Peri Peri Rice is a simple, flavour-packed side that brings smoky, spicy vibes straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
- olive oil cooking spray
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- ½ green pepper, finely diced
- 1 medium ripe tomato, deseeded and diced
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon of cumin
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric
- ½ teaspoon of oregano
- ½ teaspoon of dried parsley
- pinch of red chilli flakes
- 180g (1 cup) of long grain rice (uncooked, rinsed
- 480ml (2 cups) of stock (chicken or vegetable)
- handful of fresh coriander (cilantro) or parsley, finely chopped
- juice and zest of half a small lime
- salt and black pepper.
Instructions
- Spray a large frying pan over a medium high heat with some olive oil spray
- Add the onion and bell pepper and fry for a couple of minutes until softened.
- Add the garlic, tomato, paprika, turmeric chilli flakes, oregano, cumin and parsley and continue to cook for a couple of minutes.
- Add the rice and stir to combine.
- Pour in the stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for approx 12–15 minutes, or until the liquid is fully absorbed.
- Remove from the heat but keep the lid on. Let it sit for 10 minutes—this resting time allows the trapped steam to finish cooking the rice perfectly and shouldn’t be skipped.
- After 10 minutes, add in the coriander and lime juice and stir the rice gently with a wooden spoon or spatula
- Enjoy with your choice of sides.
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.
- Gluten Free Friendly - use gluten free stock
- Dairy Free Friendly
- Vegetarian Friendly - use vegetable stock
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 servingAmount Per Serving Calories 198Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 2mgSodium 546mgCarbohydrates 43gFiber 3gSugar 2gProtein 5g
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.
Chris says
Made this last week it was really good The spices were different from my normal combination. Never had Nando's so cannot compare but will def make it again. Thanks
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
thanks Chris, so glad you enjoyed it.
Chris says
How do I put your page link on my SW groups facebook page have tried twicee and it does not stay there ?
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Chris, if you highlight the address at the top of the page it should allow you to copy the link which you can then paste into the group. If you are already doing that, is it possible an admin of the facebook group you are pasting it to, is deleting the link after you post it?
Anon says
Hi. I have recently started slimming world and every recipe of yours that I have tried has turned out absolutely fabulous! I’m just wondering with the peri peri lasts if I can make a batch and store it for future use?
Thanks
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
I am not sure if you mean the seasoning or the rice? The seasoning most definitely will last in a lidded container. Enjoy!!
Ian Cooper says
Hi it says 2 cups of stock, how much would that be in ml please
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
480mls 🙂
Mona says
Hi, apologies if this is a stupid question but, when you say 1 serving how many g is one serving exactly? How would i work out how much one serving is?
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
If you look at the yield that is how many people the recipe serves in total. So divide the entire dish by that many servings to get one serving.
Molly says
Big hit! It was beautiful and full of flavour