Slow-Simmered Kenyan Beef Stew with Tomatoes and Peppers

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-31 · Updated 2026-05-31

A hearty beef stew inspired by Kenyan flavors, featuring tender chunks of beef slow-cooked in a rich tomato and bell pepper sauce with warm spices. This african-inspired beef ready in about 140 minutes pairs beef chuck, cubed, vegetable oil, large onion, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck, cubed
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 1.5 lbs beef chuck cubes and brown on all sides for about 6-8 minutes until nicely caramelized, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced onion and sauté for 4 minutes until translucent. Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp minced ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 diced red bell pepper and 1 diced green bell pepper, sautéing together with the onion mixture for 3 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Pour in 14 oz canned diced tomatoes and 2 cups beef broth, stirring to combine. Return the browned beef cubes to the pot.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1.5 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover.
6. Step 6: Simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
7. Step 7: Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving.