Maasai-Inspired Beef and Sweet Potato Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-18 · Updated 2026-04-18

A hearty, slow-cooked stew with tender beef and earthy sweet potatoes, simmered in a rich broth. This Kenyan slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs beef chuck, sweet potatoes, and carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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

• 1.5 pounds beef chuck
• 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 1.5 pounds beef chuck (cut into 1-inch cubes) in a slow cooker. Add 1 large chopped onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon paprika. Stir to coat.
2. Step 2: Pour 4 cups beef broth over the beef and vegetables. Add 3 medium peeled and cubed sweet potatoes and 2 medium sliced carrots.
3. Step 3: Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme and 1 teaspoon salt.
4. Step 4: Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until beef is fork-tender and vegetables are soft.
5. Step 5: Stir gently to combine. Adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed. Discard thyme stems if not finely chopped.
6. Step 6: Serve hot, spooning stew over crusty bread or with a side of plain rice.