Chicken Suya Recipe (Nigerian Suya) (2024)

Chicken Suya made with chicken wings! This popular Nigerian street food recipe is perfect for the summer, entertaining or to just enjoy on a weeknight. The chicken is marinated in Suya spice also known as yaji or Suya pepper and then grilled to perfection with the wings falling off the bones. It is flavourful utterly delicious.

Serve it with some chilled zobo drink or watermelon lemonade. Let me show you how to make this delicious grill recipe at home in the oven in easy steps.

Nigerian Chicken wings suya recipe

This is an overdue post on the blog, given the fact that I make and sell the best suya spice in the UK. One would think there would be a recipe to make with it.

Never mind, it is never too late as I am here with today’s post to redeem myself as I always do with delicious finger-licking recipes

What is suya spice

Suya is the name of a peanut or kuli kuli based spice/marinade with its origin from the northern part of Nigeria, west Africa. The spice is also called suya pepper or yaji pepper.

Suya spice is a popular marinade used on thinly sliced beef and grilled on open fire until well done. It is mostly made by men called Mallam and served at nights. Over time, the mallam started incorporating other protein such as hen and chicken into the mix. They serve this grilled meat with salad wrapped in old newspapers.

Lets just say as fish and chips is to Britons so is beef Suya to Nigerians. Today’s post is not made on an open fire as we would be using our oven or grill. If you are feeling up to it, now might be the time to get your grill out.

To get the street food vibes with this chicken suya, serve on an old newspaper and please, sliced onions and tomatoes is a must for a complete homage.

Ingredients

Chicken wings

Suya spice: you can either use homemade or save yourself the stress and order one from my active kitchen’s shop. It is authentic and nothing like Jamie oliver’s version.

Salt

Bouillon powder: you can use any that you have in hand, beef, or chicken

Vegetable oil or peanut oil

What to serve it with (garnish)

Sliced red onions

Sliced roma tomatoes

Thinly sliced cabbage

Chopped lettuce

How to make Nigerian chicken suya

Prep the chicken wings! Cut it into drumettes and winglets and pat dry with a kitchen towel and transfer to a bowl

To the chicken wings, add salt, chicken bouillon powder, suya spice and mix into the wings until well combined. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave to marinade in a cool place for at least 30 minutes. The longer you marinade the chicken, the tastier it becomes, so feel free to marinade for up to 24 hours in the fridge.

Whilst the wings is marinating, to a small bowl, add suya spice and vegetable oil and mix to combine.

Preheat the grill or oven at 180C/360F and prepare the baking tray. Line it with an aluminium foil and place a baking rack on it.

Arrange the chicken wings on the baking rack. Give them enough room so they cook evenly and gets enough air circulation in the oven.

Brush the chicken with the marinade made earlier and grill/broil or bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven and flip then rub more of the marinade, return into the oven and continue cooking for another 15 minutes. For a final time, bring it out of the oven, flip and rub the remaining marinade and grill for another 15 minutes.

Bring the chicken wings out of the oven and transfer to a bowl, sprinkle more suya spice. Serve with sliced onions, tomatoes and any other salad of choice. Enjoy

Tips

Substitute chicken wings for chicken thighs or chicken breast and cook accordingly until fully cooked.

Suya spice mix is heavily based on peanuts or kuli kuli which is high in saturated fat. If you are on a healthy diet wagon, use this spice marinade responsibly.

Other Nigerian popular street food recipe you would love

These recipes are super easy to make and utterly delicious

Nigerian buns, this is one of the most popular recipes on this blog, check it out.

Puff Puff, this is the fraternal brother of buns but it uses yeast. It is best served hot

Akara, this is made out of peeled beans and then deep-fried, it can be eaten on its own or with akamu or freshly baked Agege bread.

Are you after a delicious grilled chicken that is perfect for all occasion, try this grilled boneless chicken thighs.

Finally, as always lovelies, if you make this suya chicken wings recipe. Please leave a comment for me. Also, pin this recipe onPinterestor tag me your beautiful yummy image on Instagram.

See you on my next post

All the best x

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #MYACTIVEKITCHEN OR TAG @MYACTIVEKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!