One-Skillet Keto Portuguese Style Chicken-
A simple, super flavorful, one skillet keto Portuguese style chicken dish that is low in carbs, paleo, and Whole30.
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An all in one skillet keto Portuguese style chicken meal that is bursting with flavors from the spices and citrus accents in the marinade.
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My low carb, stylized version of a classic Portuguese chicken dish called Piri Piri.
I made the recipe in a cast-iron grilling pan instead of the traditional outdoor grill. I also made it a little less spicy and marinated it for a bit less time, but without sacrificing flavor.
Chicken Simply made in one pan that can safely go from stove-top to the oven.
You can make this dish in a cast-iron skillet, oven-safe skillet, or grilling pan. I used a cast-iron grilling pan that can go from stove-top to oven.
I also included some zucchini and red bell pepper to the dish, which makes it an entire meal in one pan. Fewer dishes and clean up, for me, is always a win!





One Skillet Keto Portuguese Style Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs, bone in & skin on
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 4 slices of a lemon
- 1 ½ cup diced zucchini
- ⅓ cup diced red bell pepper
Marinade:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
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Directions:
- Place all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until blended. Add chicken thighs to the marinade and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400° F( 204° C).
- Heat 1 tablespoon avocado oil in a cast iron grill skillet or an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken to the skillet and brown both sides of chicken until golden brown (about 4 minutes on each side). Once browned, turn off heat.
- Add zucchini, and red peppers to the skillet arranged around the chicken. Pour any extra marinade from the bowl over chicken and top chicken with lemon slices.
- Place skillet in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 F to 170F.
- Remove skillet from oven and let rest for 8 minutes and serve.
Nutritional Data: Servings: 4, Serving Size: 1 large chicken thigh (225 g) with ¼ of veggies, Amounts Rer Serving- Cal: 439, Carbs: 7g, Net Carbs: 5g, Fiber: 2g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Protein: 45g, Sugars: 3g.
*All nutritional data are estimates based on the products I used.*
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One Skillet Keto Portuguese Style Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs bone in & skin on
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 4 lemon slices
- 1 ½ cup diced zucchini
- ⅓ cup diced red bell pepper
Marinade:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until blended. Add chicken thighs to the marinade and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400° F( 204° C).
- Heat 1 tablespoon avocado oil in a cast iron grill skillet or an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken to the skillet and brown both sides of chicken until golden brown (about 4 minutes on each side). Once browned, turn off heat.
- Add zucchini, and red peppers to the skillet arranged around the chicken. Pour any extra marinade from the bowl over chicken and top chicken with lemon slices.
- Place skillet in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 F to 170F.
- Remove skillet from oven and let rest for 8 minutes and serve.
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Notes
Nutrition
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Wendy D
This was shared on Kalyn’s Kitchen Facebook page so I thought I’d give it a go. It was absolutely delicious and full of flavours I love! I had more than twice the amount of chicken but I used the basic amount of marinade and that was still plenty. I used 3 peppers (red, orange and yellow) and a large zucchini because I thought the amount of vegetables wouldn’t be enough and I didn’t have lime so used lemon juice. I would serve this to guests. Amazing!
Stacey
Thank you, Wendy, for trying the recipe and for taking the time to share your kind words.
Sue
Do you use both lime and lemon?
Stacey
Yes.
Don
I love this freaking blog. My wife got me involved & so far I’m down 17lbs! My wife started before me and has lost 63lbs!!! Didn’t think the results would be so quick!!!!! Keto has shut me up, I’m no longer a skeptic.
Stacey
Thank you, Don, I'm so proud of you & your wife's success with the keto diet! I keep telling people how amazing it is and how much you can eat and still lose weight, but they think I'm crazy, lol.
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday!
I love a easy and flavorful skillet dinner, and this looks absolutely fantastic!
Stacey
Thank you so much, Kari 🙂
Catherine Baez Sholl
Oh wow, this recipe looks like it's packed with flavor. I love lemony savory dishes. Delicious!
Stacey
Thank you so much, Catherine.
Katrina
Wow I love all the ingredients in the marinade! I bet it makes all the difference.
Stacey
Thank you, Katrina 🙂
Laura
This dish sounds delish! I love how simple the ingredients are, and that it cooks in one pan! Great recipe 🙂
Stacey
Thank you, Laura 🙂
Meredith
This skillet chicken dinner looks so flavorful and beautiful enough for company! I can not wait to try it!
Stacey
Thank you, Meridith 🙂
linda spiker
Beautiful! I love this recipe!
Stacey
Thank you, Linda 🙂
Alli Ottarsson
Can the chicken marinate for more than 4 hours? Like overnight or maybe two days?
Stacey
Yes, it can marinate overnight. I'm not sure about two days, as I have not tried it.
anne lawton
This looks absolutely delicious!
Stacey
Thank you so much, Anne.
Joni Gomes
Love this dish! All of these ingredients are speaking to me and all in just one skillet!!
Stacey
Thank you, Joni 🙂
Raia Todd
That sounds delicious! I love the marinade. 🙂
Stacey
Thank you, Raia 🙂
Alicia
Hi, this looks so good.
I'm going to be making this for dinner either tonight or Friday for my partner, however I don't like zucchini, is there something else I could use instead?
Also would coconut oil work, as my partner is allergic to avocado.
Stacey
Alicia, you could use yellow squash instead of zucchini, and yes, coconut oil or olive oil will work.
Cindy Skarin
This looks amazing and I am going to make it. Was wondering about Avacado Oil. Not familiar with it. Please tell me if this a key to the recipe?
Stacey
Cindy, it is not a key ingredient and you can use olive oil instead.
Georgie
I've never cooked with avocado oil before - I usually just drizzle it over my salad so might have to give it a go. The marinade sounds so delicious on this and there's nothing better than a one skillet wonder x
Stacey
Yes, Georgie, I try to avoid doing dishes whenever possible, lol.
Darryl
I don't have too much chicken but this looks so tasty I might have to change my mind!
Stacey
Thanks, Darryl 🙂
ChihYu
YUM ! So colorful and full of flavor. Portugese style chicken is the best ! Totally love it !
Stacey
Awe, thank you lovely ChihYu!
Cristina Curp
Oh em gee! This looks absolutely divine! That pan sauce is everything.
Stacey
Yes, Cristina, I Agree "PAN SAUCE IS EVERYTHING!"
Katja
One skillet meals are totally my jam. This looks super tasty.
Stacey
Katja, me too! I just don't like doing dishes!
Melissa @Real Nutritious Living
You've outdone yourself again Stacey! Pinning this for the weekend!
Stacey
Thank you, Melissa 🙂
Renee Kohley
Oh man that marinade is just everything! Looks so amazing - such a fantastic simple weeknight dinner! Thank you!
Stacey
Thank you so much, Renee 🙂
Jessica DeMay
This chicken looks amazing! That marinade sounds so good!
Stacey
Than you, Jessica.
Stacey
Thank you, Jessica 🙂
Megan Stevens
I love and appreciate your many photos of the process and outcome. The marinade and whole dish look delicious!!
Stacey
Thank you so much, Megan. I'm always torn between using many process shots and trying to keep the site from getting slow from photo loading 😉
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
That marinade sounds amazing and makes the prettiest red-golden color on the chicken. I know this would be a huge hit with my family, we're one-skillet chicken lovers.
Stacey
Thank you so much, Emily!
Jean
What a gorgeous chicken dish! Love all those spices in there and that skin looks perfectly crispy.
Stacey
Thank you, Jean.
Tessa Simpson
Must try this! I love the combo of flavors, and i am always marinating stuff in large batches for quick meals ready to go in the freezer! I have no marinade like this, so this is going on the menu!
Stacey
Thank you, Tessa 🙂