Description
Creamy Peri-Peri Chicken with Rice is a comforting and flavorful main course that combines tender, pan-seared chicken thighs with a spicy peri-peri cream sauce, served over fluffy white rice. This Portuguese-African inspired dish delivers a perfect balance of heat, creaminess, and savory goodness that’s simple to prepare and perfect for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup peri-peri sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Serving
- 2 cups cooked white rice
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken thighs in the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until the onion is softened and fragrant, scraping up any browned bits from the chicken for extra flavor.
- Make the Sauce: Stir in the peri-peri sauce and chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring continuously until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, spooning the creamy peri-peri sauce over them. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for an additional 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the dish with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot over cooked white rice for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Adjust the heat level by choosing a mild or hot peri-peri sauce to match your spice preference.
- This recipe works well with other cuts of chicken such as breasts or drumsticks.
- For enhanced flavor, marinate the chicken in peri-peri sauce for 30 minutes prior to cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Portuguese-African
