Spiced Ethiopian-Style Chicken and Egg Stew with Tomato and Berbere

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A hearty stew blending tender chicken thighs and hard-boiled eggs simmered in a robust tomato and berbere sauce infused with traditional Ethiopian spices. This african-inspired curry ready in about 90 minutes pairs peeled hard-boiled eggs, large, finely diced yellow onions, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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.

Prep: 25 min Cook: 65 min Serves 6 African cuisine 480 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Rinse and pat dry 2 pounds of bone-in chicken thighs with skin removed, then cut each thigh into 3 pieces. Toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and set aside for 10 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Heat 5 tablespoons of ghee in a heavy-bottom pot over medium heat until melted and hot. Add 2 large finely diced yellow onions and cook, stirring often, for 12-15 minutes until deeply softened and golden brown.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon minced ginger, cooking for 2 minutes until aromatic.
  4. Step 4: Add 4 tablespoons of berbere spice blend and 3 tablespoons tomato paste, cooking for 4 minutes while stirring to develop a rich, fragrant base.
  5. Step 5: Add the chicken pieces to the pot, stirring well to coat in the spice mixture, and cook for 6 minutes until lightly browned.
  6. Step 6: Pour in 2 1/2 cups chicken stock, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook gently for 50 minutes until the chicken is tender.
  7. Step 7: Carefully add 6 peeled hard-boiled eggs into the stew, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes to warm the eggs and infuse flavor.
  8. Step 8: Season the stew with salt to taste and 1 teaspoon black pepper, stir gently, and serve hot with injera or your favorite flatbread.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Spiced Ethiopian-Style Chicken and Egg Stew with Tomato and Berbere take to make?

Total time is about 90 minutes (25 min prep + 65 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Spiced Ethiopian-Style Chicken and Egg Stew with Tomato and Berbere?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep peeled hard-boiled eggs from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Spiced Ethiopian-Style Chicken and Egg Stew with Tomato and Berbere?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Spiced Ethiopian-Style Chicken and Egg Stew with Tomato and Berbere for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Spiced Ethiopian-Style Chicken and Egg Stew with Tomato and Berbere?

African curry like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes