African chicken peanut stew is a delicious and versatile traditional dish enjoyed by many Africans all over the world. This hearty stew is made from simple ingredients cooked together to entice your senses and please your belly!
This delicacy is a recipe that I often cook in my home, and it is always a hit with my family. Cooking this flavorful stew is so hassle-free that it is guaranteed to be on rotation in your home.
Not only is this West African peanut stew delicious, but it is very nutritious, too! This protein-rich stew is the perfect comfort food that is rich, creamy, and a good source of vitamins and healthy fats.
What is peanut stew?
Peanut stew is a delicious, hearty stew popular in West Africa. Made from peanut butter, tomatoes, peppers, broth, and spices, it is a creamy and flavorful delight that is great for meal prep and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
This hearty African food was one of my favorite stews growing up in Nigeria. The only thing I didn't enjoy was that preparing it was so time-consuming. You would have to roast fresh peanuts and then manually grind them into a paste. These days, however, you can just use plain and natural peanut butter without additives. This way, you save time making the recipe.
In Nigeria, peanuts are sometimes called groundnut, so this stew is sometimes referred to as groundnut stew.
Ingredients Used
These are the pantry staples you need for this hearty comfort food.
- Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks: I like to mix thighs and drumsticks in my stew. You can even use chicken wings or chicken breast if you prefer.
- Tomato sauce: You can substitute with tomato paste. You can also just blend fresh tomatoes in a food processor.
- Vegetables: Red bell peppers and onion.
- Peanut butter: For best results, I use plain, natural peanut butter.
- Olive oil: You can use your preferred oil here instead.
- Spices: Cayenne pepper, bouillon powder (or maggi cubes), black pepper, and salt to taste.
- Chicken stock: You can also use vegetable stock or just water.
How to make this African peanut stew recipe
- Wash the chicken under running water, then pat dry with paper towels. Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl, then rub it on both sides of each chicken part.
- Pour some olive oil into a large skillet and brown the chicken pieces on both sides on medium-high heat. This splatter guard always saves the day and prevents splashes and oil burns. When sufficiently browned, remove the chicken thighs from the oil and set them aside.
- Pour a bit of olive oil into a large soup pot. When heated, add the chopped onions and red bell pepper. Sauté for a few minutes on medium heat. Then, add the tomato sauce and spices (except the salt), simmer for a few minutes, and pour in the chicken broth.
- Add the chicken thighs or drumsticks, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste for salt and add some if you need to.
- Finally, add the peanut butter to the pot and stir until it is well-mixed. Simmer till the stew becomes thick.
Recipe Video
Click on the image below to watch me make this recipe from start to finish on YouTube!
Storing and Reheating
Leftover chicken stew should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. It will remain fresh for about five days, but you should use it up within this time.
You can also freeze this delicious stew to preserve it longer. Put it in an airtight freezer-safe container first. It will remain fresh for up to three months this way.
Take the creamy peanut butter stew out of the freezer and put it in the fridge overnight to defrost if frozen. To reheat, microwave or warm in a skillet on the stovetop until it is hot.
What can I eat this recipe with?
Typically, African peanut stew is paired with either fufu or white rice. I enjoy my West African peanut soup with low-carb fufu or cauliflower rice for a healthy, low-carb alternative.
Tips and variations
- If you're using stock, make sure to taste for salt before adding any. Stock usually already contains some salt.
- If you like spicy stew, add chili pepper or habanero pepper.
- If you use water instead of stock for this recipe, adjust the spices if you need to.
- You can swap the chicken for beef or fish if you prefer. It's equally delicious!
Frequently asked questions
This stew is called African peanut stew because the stew is native to the West Africa region. These countries have different versions of African peanut stew, but they have the same ingredients in common - peanut butter, oil, tomatoes, meat or chicken, and spices.
A serving of this delectable peanut soup contains about 7 net carbs and 504 calories. It is protein-rich and contains healthy fats.
Check out these savory peanut butter recipes
Fumbwa (Congolese Spinach Stew)
Need more African dinners? Next time, try these!
African Cabbage Stew with Ground Beef
Sukuma Wiki (Kenyan Collard Greens)
📖 Recipe
African Chicken Peanut Stew
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken thighs
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon bouillon powder
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the chicken.1.5 lb chicken thighs
- Mix some salt and pepper in a small bowl, then rub it on both sides of each chicken part.1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- Pour some olive oil into a large skillet and then brown the chicken pieces on both sides on medium-high heat.
- When sufficiently browned, remove the chicken thighs from the oil and set them aside.
- Pour ¼ cup olive oil in a large soup pot and when heated, add the chopped onions and red bell pepper. Sauté for a few minutes on medium heat.1 red bell pepper, ¼ cup olive oil, ½ onion
- Next, add the tomato sauce and spices (except the salt), simmer for a few minutes and pour in the chicken broth.½ cup tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon bouillon powder, 2 cups chicken stock
- Add the chicken pieces, give it a stir and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Taste for salt and add some if you need.
- Finally, add the peanut butter into the pot and stir till it is well mixed in.½ cup peanut butter
- Cook till the stew becomes thick.
- Your African chicken peanut stew is ready to be enjoyed!
Notes
- If you're using stock, make sure to taste for salt before adding any. Stock usually already contains some salt.
- Add a teaspoon of ground coriander or chopped cilantro, chopped garlic cloves, fresh ginger, and a teaspoon of ground cumin for a tasty variation.
- If you like spicy stew, add chili pepper or habanero pepper.
- If you use water instead of stock for this recipe, adjust the spices if you need to.
- You can swap the chicken for beef or fish if you prefer. It's equally delicious!
Today, I made African Chicken Peanut Stew for dinner. It was delicious! Everyone enjoyed it. Thank you.
You're so welcome, Latiya!
I don’t know how I came across this recipe but I’m sooooo glad I did! It was easy to follow and incredibly delicious. I tried explaining the ingredients to a friend but my words gave the combination of flavors no justice. I am freezing the excess sauce and making this again! New follower and I look forward to trying more of your recipes 🙂
Thanks for the feedback, Stefanie. This recipe is a keeper for sure 🙂
This was wonderful. My thighs were partially frozen, so I chopped them up and followed the directions otherwise. I had a serving on top of some chopped fresh spinach and am planning this for lunch on Wednesday. For me, with the choppped chicken meat, the servings came out to 1/2 cup of meat and a bit more than 1/2 cup of sauce.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Carrie!
Absolutely delicious and soooo easy to make. The flavor is awesome and the only change I made was to use less red pepper. I served this chicken with steamed broccoli and some turmeric-flavored Israeli coucous. This chicken will definitely be a repeat at our house.
I'm glad you enjoyed the stew, Nancy!
I made this with the fresh ginger and garlic plus extra spices like you recommended in the notes. Approved by my Kenyan friend! Note on step 10: plan to take 10-20 minutes to reduce the sauce until thick and to let the chicken cook more.
I am so excited to have found your site. I was searching for African recipes for a themed potluck. But we also eat low carb/keto. I will definitely be cooking more of your recipes!
Thank you for the wonderful feedback!
We LOVED this!
Yay, I'm so glad to hear that!
This was so easy to make and delicious! With some cauliflower rice it was the perfect meal prep!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the chicken peanut stew, Chenee!
This was crazy good - I'll definitely be making it again and trying it with beef. Easy recipe to follow.
I'm glad you enjoyed the chicken peanut stew!
Wow! That sauce is amazing! I could eat that all by itself, in a big bowl haha. So so good! I added peas to my dish, just for substance and color, but otherwise made exactly as the recipe calls for. Delicious! Thank you!