When you want to switch up your chicken game, peri-peri or fried chicken can be tasty options. One offers a slight char with a marinade of chillies and other seasonings. The other offers a golden brown coating, crisp, and satisfying crunch.
But the way chicken is prepared gives it different characteristics of flavor and texture.
The main difference between peri-peri and fried chicken is the way it is prepared and seasoned. Peri-peri chicken is marinated in a sauce made of a combination of chillies, spices, herbs, and other seasonings and is either grilled or roasted. Traditional fried chicken is coated with a seasoned flour or batter and cooked in oil.
So which one should you order? Let’s see how they compare in flavor and nutrition.
Peri-Peri Chicken vs. Fried Chicken
Though chicken is the main ingredient for both, how it’s prepared gives it its own identity.
The marinade for peri-peri chicken gives it its signature zesty flavor. It is traditionally cooked on a flame grill which gives it a slight char. This method of cooking keeps the meat juicy.
Fried chicken is often coated with a seasoned flour or batter which gives it a crispy texture when cooked.
Here’s a quick summary of the differences.
| Feature | Peri-Peri Chicken | Fried Chicken |
| Preparation | Usually marinated in peri-peri sauce | Coated in flour or batter |
| Cooking Method | Usually grilled or roasted | Fried in hot oil |
| Flavor | Garlic and chilli-based | Savory and seasoned |
| Texture | Browned with possibly edges charred | Crispy |
| Coating | No batter | Flour or batter coating |
| Spice level | Different levels of heat | Depends on seasoning and recipe |
| Experience | The marinade | Savory, rich and distinct flavors |
These are general guidelines. Peri-peri seasoning can be used on fried chicken, and some fried chicken recipes don’t use a thick coating.
How Is Peri-Peri Chicken Different from Fried Chicken?
While there are different ways to marinade and season chicken, the way it is cooked can bring about quite distinct flavors.
How Peri-Peri Chicken Is Marinated and Grilled
Chicken marinade includes chillies, garlic, lemon juice, oil and other herbs and spices.
Once marinated, the chicken is ready to go on the grill. Some allow the chicken to marinate for many hours, while most do a quick marinade.
The marinade is to add flavor to the chicken before it is grilled.
As the chicken cooks, the outside browns and may develop slightly charred areas. Don’t worry! These add excellent flavor to the finished product.
Peri-Peri Chicken is most commonly cooked by flame-grilling, but is also roasted in the oven.
For more information about this dish, including its origins and ingredients, see our in-depth article “What is Peri-Peri Chicken?”
Fried Chicken is prepared quite differently.
Many recipes call for the chicken to be seasoned and floured before it is cooked. Some recipes call for the chicken to first be soaked in a seasoned liquid or buttermilk.
The chicken is cooked until the outside is golden brown.
The golden brown exterior and the seasoning of the flour helps create the classic flavor that people love about fried chicken.
Several different types of fried chicken exist. Some fried chicken has a thin, light flour coating, and other has a thicker and more dense flour coating.
The main attraction is typically the contrast of the crisp, yet thin, outer shell and the juicy and tender chicken inside.
Peri-Peri Chicken and Fried Chicken – Which One’s Better?
In the end, it’s mostly personal preference as to which one you think tastes the best.
Traditional fried chicken has a milder flavor and is more savory, while peri-peri chicken is spicier and more citrusy.
Peri-Peri Chicken: The Flavor You Can’t Miss
Peri-peri chicken is known for its unique blend of seasonings that include chilli, garlic and citrus like lemon or vinegar.
A well-made peri-peri marinade can be sharp, savoury and spicy all at the same time.
It can range in heat level to give a gentle chilli warmth or pack a stronger kick.
Grilling the chicken can add smoky flavors and a lightly charred outer layer.
For those who like their chicken to have a bold flavored marinade, peri-peri is a great option.
Fried Chicken: The Appeal You Can’t Resist
Fried chicken has its own unique allure.
Rather than being marinaded, the chicken is seasoned and coated in flour or batter before being fried.
The coating gets golden brown and crispy and the meats juices are locked in, making for a flavorful bite.
Like all chicken, fried chicken can be spicy based on the seasonings that are added to the coating.
If you’re someone who enjoys hearty, savory flavors and a crispy piece of food, fried chicken will always be more appealing than grilled.
So Which is Better? Fried Chicken or Grilled Peri-Peri?
Grilled peri-peri chicken has a browned exterior and can be charred slightly. The skin has a little crisp to it, but it won’t have a thick and crunchy coating like fried chicken.
It has a seasoned and slightly sticky surface, which may be moist from the marinade.
Fried chicken, especially the breaded varieties, is all about the texture contrast. That crunchy, crispy exterior should give way to the moist meat beneath.
A well-prepared piece of chicken has a crisp coating that breaks away when you bite into it.
Is grilled peri-peri chicken better than fried chicken?
Nobody can deny that a perfectly fried chicken is delicious, but grilled peri-peri chicken can be just as tasty.
Fried chicken is probably more popular, as people prefer the crispy, crunchy coating to the meat.
But it ultimately depends on your preferences. If you prefer chicken without the thick, crispy coating, you’ll probably enjoy peri-peri chicken more.
Is peri-peri chicken better than fried chicken? Is fried chicken better than peri-peri chicken?
It really depends on your taste preferences. Are you more of a crispy person or a seasoned person?
A grilled, seasoned peri-peri coating can be much healthier than a fried chicken coating; however, if you order a large serving of peri-peri chicken with skin and unhealthy marinades, and carry rich, oily, fattening sides, it will definitely not be healthier.
The cut and cooking also factors into it. Chicken thigh naturally contains more fat than chicken breast.
The nutrition profile of a meal is affected by the accompaniments as well. For example, the addition of fries to a meal increases the calorific value of that meal.
To make a proper calorie comparison, we need to know the ingredients and the portions used in the preparation of both meals.
Is Grilled Chicken Always Healthy?
Grilling requires less additional oil as compared to deep-frying, especially if the chicken is not battered. However, the marinade can alter the nutritional profile of the chicken. In addition, fried chicken can also be battered or coated with flour.
So, from a nutritional standpoint, it’s always important to compare the actual portions used to prepare the chicken.
Both grilled and fried chicken can be a part of a health conscious diet as long as the overall meal is considered and varied.
Is Peri-Peri Chicken Always Spicier Than Fried Chicken?
Not necessarily. A usual misconception is that everything that is cooked with peri-peri is spicy. In reality, peri-peri can be cooked to taste mild as well. Heat levels are usually offered between mild, medium, hot and extra hot.
Even fried chicken can be cooked spicy as well. Depending on the type of coating used, it can be cooked spicy as well.
So depending on the level of spiciness desired, one or the other can be chosen.
Ultimately it’s the marinade and seasoning that determines the level of heat. Grilling or frying doesn’t affect the heat.
Peri-Peri Chicken or Fried Chicken: Which Should You Order?
At this point you should be well aware of the basic differences. However, when presented with a takeaway menu the final decision usually comes down to what you’re craving.
Order Peri-Peri Chicken If You Like…
Peri-peri chicken may be a better option if you enjoy:
- A marinade with garlic and chilli with a touch of citrus.
- Chicken that is grilled.
- A slight char on the outside of the chicken.
- A selection of spice levels.
- Bold seasoning with fries, salad or pitta bread.
Order Fried Chicken If You Like…
Fried chicken may be a better option if you enjoy:
- A chicken piece or strip coated in a crispy, seasoned batter.
- Strong flavors with a good texture contrast of tender chicken and crispy batter.
- Traditional fried chicken pieces or strips.
There may also be times when you’re more in the mood for one than the other.
You may be craving a grilled, marinated chicken dinner one night and something crispy and comforting next.
There’s no need to stick to the same thing every time.
Try Flame-Grilled Peri-Peri Chicken At Olives Peri Peri In Wallington
If you are more inclined to grilled chicken you can also check out the chicken dishes prepared at Olives Peri Peri in Wallington.
They offer peri-peri chicken that’s grilled over an open flame. They also sell chicken burgers, wings, wraps and pizzas.
They sell different peri-peri sauces so you may want to look at that before ordering to decide what peri-peri sauce you want your meal to be cooked in.
To look at their full menu visit their site, and use the Uber Eats or Just Eat sites to see what’s available and to order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is peri-peri chicken grilled or fried?
Traditionally peri-peri chicken is grilled. It can be fried after the seasoning has been added but this isn’t as common.
Does peri-peri chicken have a batter?
A marinade or coating can be added but batter isn’t as common.
Can peri-peri chicken be fried?
Yes. Chicken can be marinated in peri-peri spices and fried after, which isn’t as common as grilling.
Is peri-peri chicken better for you than fried chicken?
Generally speaking, unbreaded and grilled peri-peri chicken will have less calories than breaded and fried chicken, but to be certain you would need the nutrition info for both dishes being compared.
Is fried chicken always less spicy than peri-peri chicken?
Not always. The type of seasonings and sauces used when frying the chicken can determine how spicy it is. Peri-peri chicken can also be made mild. So, the amount of heat used in the recipe can make peri-peri chicken as spicy as fried chicken or any other dish.
Which is better for a takeaway, peri-peri or fried chicken?
Go with peri-peri chicken if you love a good chilli marinade that’s grilled. If you are looking for something with a rich and savory flavor and a crispy coating, then fried chicken should hit the spot. You can always add extra chili sauce if peri-peri chicken isn’t spicy enough.
Peri-Peri vs. Fried Chicken: Making the Right Choice
Peri-peri chicken and fried chicken use the same main ingredient and can both be delicious, but are prepared in different ways to achieve different textures and flavors. Peri-peri chicken has a chilli marinade and grilled finish, while fried chicken is famous for a crisp coating and a rich and savory interior.
If you’re in the mood for one of the two, then there’s no harm in going with your gut.
