African Chicken Peanut Stew is creamy, garlicky, lip-smacking delicious, and ready in 30 minutes! Add this easy dinner recipe to your weekly rotation.
I grew up in Cameroon, Central/WestAfrica and I ate a lot of peanut stew or what we colloquially call Groundnut Soup.
From Nigeria, to Ghana to Cameroon to Senegal, there are many versions of African Peanut Stew. This version is not tied to a particular country but it is rather informed by the various kinds of peanut stews eaten in West and Central Africa.
Peanuts Are Called Groundnuts In Parts Of Africa
Peanuts are commonly known as "groundnuts" in some African countries. In Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana, what is referred to as "peanuts" is a snack consisting of groundnuts (peanuts) coated in dough then deep fried.
Making Groundnut Soup
Making groundnut soup or peanut stew was quite a process while I was growing up.
We would typically start by roasting the peanuts, a step that helps to release their nuttiness which in turn enhances the flavor of the stew.
We would then grind the roasted peanuts into a paste then use the paste to make a delicious stew with either beef, chicken or fish.
For this recipe, you won't need to follow any of those processes. This is an easier version of African Peanut Stew as I use natural peanut butter instead of raw peanuts.
Using peanut butter cuts the process in half, making this Peanut Stew ready in 30 minutes from start to finish.
You'll love this African Chicken Peanut Stew! It is:
- Hearty
- Garlicky
- So Creamy
- Incredibly Tasty
- Nutrient Packed
AND you can serve this African Peanut Stew with a variety of side dishes. I love it with some rice. Yum!
You can serve it with healthier grains like couscous or quinoa. You could also add starchy vegetables like potatoes to the stew and eat it by itself.
Ingredients For African Chicken Peanut Stew
You need the following simple ingredients for African Chicken Peanut Stew. Be sure to check out the full recipe below for a detailed list of ingredients and their measurements.
Chicken. I use boneless skinless chicken thighs but you could use chicken breasts as well. To make this recipe vegan, replace the chicken with mushrooms.
Garlic. For flavor. I use minced garlic but garlic powder would work as well.
Ginger. For flavor. I use grated ginger but powdered ginger could be used as a substitute.
Salt.
Ground White Pepper. I love the flavor of white pepper with chicken but black pepper would work too.
Olive Oil. For sautéing.
Onions. For Flavor.
Tomato Paste. For taste and color.
Stock Cubes also know as Bouillon Cubes. Instead of using stock cubes you could replace the water used in this recipe for chicken stock or vegetable stock.
Natural Peanut Butter. For this recipe it is important to use natural peanut butter with no sugar or salt added.
Mushrooms. For umami and more nutrients and texture.
Spinach. For a pop of color and more nutrients. I used frozen spinach but fresh spinach would work as well.
How To Make African Chicken Peanut Stew
Here is a run down of how to make African Chicken Peanut Stew. Be sure to check out the full recipe below for more detailed instructions.
1. Season chicken with garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate.
2. Sauté mushrooms in olive oil with a little salt and pepper.
3. Cook seasoned chicken in a little olive oil.
4. Sauté onions.
5.Add water or stock to the pot then add the peanut butter.
6. Add chicken back into the pot then add desired vegetables.
7. Bring to a simmer and adjust seasoning and thickness of stew as needed.
A Healthier Peanut Stew
This version of peanut stew is also on the healthier side with less oils and some added veggies for extra nutrients.
I added sauteed mushrooms (yum!) and spinach to my stew but feel free to add any veggies you like.
Other veggies you could add include potatoes, bell peppers, egg plant or carrots.
Also, make the stew as thin or as light as you want. Mine is on the thicker side so feel free to thin it out if you want yours lighter.
Watch How To Make African Chicken Peanut Stew
Watch me walk you through the process of making African Chicken Peanut Stew in the video below. If you would like to keep up with my cooking videos subscribe to my YouTube channel and click on the notification bell.
More Easy Dinner Recipes You'll Love
African Chicken Peanut Stew is creamy, nutty, garlicky, loaded with chicken and so flavorful! Enjoy with rice or other side dishes like couscous for a healthier option. This easy dinner recipe for family is one to add to your weekly dinner rotation.
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 inch ginger root, peeled and grated or 2 teaspoons ginger paste
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion from about 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 cups water, divided
- 2 stock cubes (Maggi) About 4g per cube
- ¾ cup natural peanut butter
- 4 oz mushrooms, sliced
- ¼-1/2 cup frozen spinach thawed and squeezed to remove excess water
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Season chicken. Add 1 teaspoon of the minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of ginger to the chicken. Add a quarter teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of ground white pepper. Toss to combine. Set chicken aside.
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Sauté Mushrooms. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a pot, preferably a cast iron pot on high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms. Sprinkle on a pinch of salt and ⅛ teaspoon of white pepper. Let it cook on one side for about 2 minutes then flip to the other side and let it cook for another 2 minutes. Remove mushrooms from pan.
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Cook Chicken. Add the remaining one tablespoon of oil into the same pan in which you cooked the mushrooms. Spread using a wooden spoon to ensure the oil completely coats the bottom of the pot. Add the chicken to the pot in a single layer. Let it cook on one side for about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken to the other side and let it cook for another 4-5 minutes. Remove chicken from pot. Some oil should be left in the pot.
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Sauté Onions. Add the onions to the pot and sauté for about 2 minutes until translucent. Add the remaining garlic and ginger to the pot and stir for about 1 minute until translucent. Add the tomato paste and stir for about a minute.
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Add Water and Stock Cubes. Add 2 cups of water then stir. Add the stock cubes, remaining salt and stir to combine well. Bring to a simmer.
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Add Peanut Butter. Add the peanut butter to the pot and stir well until well combined. Add in the remaining 1 cup of water and stir to combine.
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Add Back Chicken. Add the cooked chicken back into the pot and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Taste to ensure seasoning is perfect. If you like the stew a little lighter, add more water (note that it thickens as it cools).
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Add Veggies. Add the mushrooms back into the pot, stir to combine then add the spinach into the pot and stir. Let it simmer for 1 minute then turn off the heat.
1. For spiciness add some red pepper flakes to this peanut stew.
Looks delicious.. Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs ?
Hi YoNea, yes you definitely can.
Do I peel the peanut skin before blending? And must be peanut be roasted?
Hi Proper, I used natural peanut butter for this recipe. But if using raw peanuts I would roast them and leave the skin on. Hope this helps.
Very tasty 😋, I used hard chicken and it's stock instead of water.
Thank you, Joanna!