Braised Nigerian Spiced Chicken with Tomato and Pepper Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-21 · Updated 2026-06-21

A richly spiced chicken dish simmered in a savory tomato and pepper sauce inspired by Nigerian flavors. This African-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, vegetable oil, red bell peppers for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 large, roasted and blended red bell peppers
• 4 medium, chopped fresh plum tomatoes
• 1 large, finely chopped onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 inch, grated ginger root
• 1 small, finely chopped, optional for heat scotch bonnet pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme leaves
• 1, crushed bouillon cube
• 1 cup water
• to taste salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 6 bone-in chicken thighs and brown on all sides for 6-8 minutes until golden, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, sauté 1 large finely chopped onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 inch grated ginger root for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
3. Step 3: Add 2 large roasted and blended red bell peppers, 4 chopped fresh plum tomatoes, 1 small finely chopped scotch bonnet pepper (optional), and 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves. Cook the sauce over medium heat for 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 crushed bouillon cube and 1 cup water, then add the browned chicken thighs back into the skillet. Cover and simmer on low heat for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
5. Step 5: Season with salt to taste and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, stirring gently before serving.