If you’re looking for a dish that’s rich, spicy, and deeply comforting, Spicy Nigerian Chicken Stew is a must-try recipe. Known for its vibrant red color, bold peppery flavor, and tender chicken, this stew is a cornerstone of Nigerian home cooking. It’s hearty enough for family dinners, satisfying enough for lazy evenings, and versatile enough to fit into many meal plans.
Whether you’re new to African cuisine or already love spicy stews, this recipe delivers unforgettable flavor with simple ingredients and straightforward steps.
Why Spicy Nigerian Chicken Stew Is So Loved
What makes Nigerian chicken stew special is its depth of flavor. Unlike lighter tomato sauces, this stew is slow-cooked to concentrate flavors, resulting in a rich, thick sauce that clings to the chicken. The combination of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices creates a bold base that transforms simple chicken into something extraordinary.
It’s one of those simple chicken recipes that tastes like it took hours of effort—even when it didn’t. Perfect for lazy dinners, this stew reheats beautifully and tastes even better the next day.
Spicy Nigerian Chicken Stew
Ingredients
- For the Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken bone-in or boneless chicken breast
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp curry powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- For the Pepper Sauce
- 5 medium tomatoes
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1 small onion
- 1 –2 scotch bonnet or chili peppers adjust to taste
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Season the Chicken
- Place chicken in a pot with sliced onion, salt, curry powder, thyme, black pepper, and bay leaf. Add a small amount of water and cook for 10–12 minutes until chicken releases stock. Remove chicken and reserve stock.
- Blend the Sauce
- Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, and chili peppers until smooth.
- Fry the Pepper Base
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add blended sauce and cook, stirring frequently, for 15–20 minutes until thick and oil begins to separate.
- Add Aromatics
- Stir in garlic, ginger, and paprika. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Simmer the Stew
- Add chicken and reserved stock to the pot. Simmer for 15–20 minutes until chicken is tender and sauce is rich.
- Adjust and Serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Notes
The Chicken: Tender and Flavorful
Boneless chicken breast recipes are often praised for being quick, but for stew, bone-in chicken or thighs bring more flavor. However, chicken breast recipes boneless work perfectly if you want a leaner option. The key is seasoning the chicken well and allowing it to simmer gently so it becomes tender and juicy—almost melt in your mouth chicken.
This method of cooking chicken slowly in sauce is what gives Nigerian stew its signature richness, similar in comfort to dishes like butter chicken recipe, but with a bolder, spicier edge.
Ingredients That Build Big Flavor
The base of a classic Nigerian chicken stew is a blended mix of tomatoes, red bell peppers, onions, and hot peppers. This blend is cooked down until thick and fragrant before the chicken is added. Garlic, ginger, curry powder, thyme, and bay leaves add warmth and complexity.
Oil plays an important role as well—it helps fry the sauce and deepen the flavor. While it may seem generous, it’s essential for achieving that authentic taste and texture.
These pantry-friendly ingredients make the stew approachable, even if you’ve never cooked Nigerian food before.
How to Make Spicy Nigerian Chicken Stew
Step 1: Season and Cook the Chicken
Season the chicken with salt, pepper, curry powder, thyme, and onions. Lightly cook or parboil to release flavorful stock.
Step 2: Prepare the Pepper Base
Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and chili peppers until smooth.
Step 3: Fry the Sauce
Cook the blended mixture in oil over medium heat, stirring often, until it thickens and the oil begins to separate.
Step 4: Combine and Simmer
Add chicken and stock to the sauce. Simmer gently until flavors meld and the chicken is tender.
This slow simmering process is what gives the stew its signature richness.
Crockpot and Easy Variations
If you love hands-off cooking, this recipe adapts well to a chicken stew crockpot version. Simply fry the pepper base first, then transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on low for several hours.
The stew is also flexible enough to serve as a base for other meals. Leftovers can be transformed into fillings for pies, sandwiches, or rice dishes, making it a great foundation for creative cooking.
How This Stew Fits into Everyday Meals
Spicy Nigerian Chicken Stew is traditionally served with rice, but it pairs well with many sides. Spoon it over white rice, serve it with bread, or enjoy it with potatoes or plantains.
It’s comforting in the same way as a chicken pot pie recipe, but with bolder flavors. It can also be shredded and used creatively, much like leftover chicken from a chicken salad recipe or even repurposed into pasta dishes.
Tips for Perfect Nigerian Chicken Stew
Cook the pepper base thoroughly to avoid raw tomato taste
Adjust chili peppers to control heat
Let the stew simmer slowly for best flavor
Use chicken stock from the cooked chicken for richness
Taste and adjust seasoning as it cooks
These tips ensure consistent, authentic results every time.
Why This Recipe Works for Lazy Dinners
Once the sauce is prepared, the stew mostly cooks itself. That makes it ideal for lazy dinners when you want something hearty without constant attention. It’s also a great make-ahead dish, perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
The flavors deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious.
A Comfort Food Favorite with Global Appeal
If you enjoy rich chicken dishes like chicken parmesan recipe or creamy curries, this stew offers a new flavor experience while still delivering familiar comfort. It’s bold, warming, and deeply satisfying.
Nigerian chicken stew proves that comfort food doesn’t have to be bland—it can be spicy, vibrant, and exciting.
Final Thoughts
Spicy Nigerian Chicken Stew is a flavorful, comforting dish that turns simple ingredients into something extraordinary. With its rich sauce, tender chicken, and bold spices, it’s perfect for everyday meals, special occasions, and everything in between.
Whether you make it on the stovetop or as a chicken stew crockpot version, this recipe belongs in your rotation of go-to simple chicken recipes. One pot, big flavor, and true comfort in every bite.
