Slow-Cooked Rwandan-Inspired Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-17 · Updated 2026-05-17

This hearty beef stew is infused with African spices and tender sweet potatoes, perfect for a comforting meal. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 140 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes, sweet potatoes, peeled and diced, onion, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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 "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

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 pounds beef chuck cubes and brown on all sides for about 5-7 minutes, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large chopped onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon grated ginger. Sauté over medium heat for 4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 cinnamon stick. Cook for 2 minutes until the spices release their aroma.
4. Step 4: Return the beef to the pot and pour in 4 cups beef broth. Add 1.5 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 hours until beef is tender.
5. Step 5: Add 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes to the pot, stir, and cook uncovered for another 30 minutes until the sweet potatoes are soft and the stew thickens slightly.
6. Step 6: Remove the cinnamon stick, adjust seasoning if needed, and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving.