Brunswick Stew – The ultimate comfort food that’ll make you feel wrapped in a warm, Southern hug! This hearty dish is brimming with veggies, tender pulled pork, and a medley of flavors like tangy BBQ, savory chicken, and creamy lima beans. Whether you’re cozying up on a cold winter’s evening or looking for a no-fuss meal that’s easy to whip up, this thick, tomato-based stew is just what you need!
Brunswick Stew: A Recipe With a Mysterious Past
The origin of Brunswick stew is hotly debated, with both Georgia and Virginia claiming it, while others say it came from Germany. Outside the coastal town of Brunswick, Georgia, you’ll find a 25-gallon (113L) iron pot with a plaque boasting that in 1898, the very first Brunswick stew was cooked in that very same pot.
The original recipe had game meat, like rabbit and squirrel, but nowadays, pork, chicken, and turkey are more popular ingredients for most Brunswick stew recipes. Wherever it came from, it sure is delicious!
FAQs
If you like your stew thicker, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of cold water. Then pour it into your stew while stirring and simmer until it thickens to the desired consistency.
You can! Just swap out the BBQ sauce for a keto-compliant version (Amazon has a few), and instead of corn, add cauliflower or celery. Beans are questionable for keto, so you can leave them out if you wish.
You sure can, and it’s quite tasty! Throw in a scotch bonnet or a dash or two of hot sauce with the tomatoes for a nice zing.
Brunswick Stew Ingredients
- Seasonings – Onion, garlic, thyme, and Creole seasoning create the stew with earthy goodness.
- Tomatoes – A can each of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce delivers sweetly acidic sauce that enhances the other ingredients.
- BBQ Sauce – The smokey-sweet essence of BBQ sauce takes your tomato base to the next level and goes so well with pork (or any meat, for that matter).
- Protein – Leftover chicken or turkey (or pick up a rotisserie chicken from the super) and pulled pork provide delicious heartiness.
- Chicken Broth – Add flavor to your stew instead of just liquid. Or you can use beef or vegetable broth.
- Veggies – Corn, lima beans, and okra turn this deliciousness into a one-pot meal.
How to Make Brunswick Stew
- Seasonings -Heat oil in a large Dutch oven pot over medium heat. Then add onions, garlic, and thyme. Afterward, sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add Sauce – Next, add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and Creole seasoning. Cook for another 3 minutes.
- Liquid – Pour in the chicken broth, bring it all to a boil, and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add Meat – Next, add the shredded chicken and pulled pork, and continue cooking for 8-10 minutes.
- Veggies – Finally, add the sweet corn, lima beans, and okra and continue cooking for 5-7 minutes or to desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as you like it.
- Serve – Garnish with fresh parsley, serve warm, and dig in!
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
Pulled pork, chicken, or turkey can all be cooked ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
And, of course, any tomato-based stew is even better the next day. Make it, then cool it completely and refrigerate it in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can also freeze Brunswick stew for 4 months.
More Soul-Satisfying Stew Recipes to Try
Brunswick Stew
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
- 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1 pound cooked chicken or turkey, shredded
- 1 pound pulled pork
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1½ cups frozen sweet corn
- 1½ cups frozen lima beans
- 1 cup frozen okra
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven pot over medium heat. Then add onions, garlic, and thyme, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Next, add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and Creole seasoning. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes.
- Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil, and let it simmer for about 1-2 minutes. Then add in shredded cooked chicken and pulled pork, and continue cooking for about 8-10 minutes.
- Finally, add the sweet corn, lima beans, and okra and continue cooking for 5-7 more minutes or to desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, serve warm, and enjoy.
Notes
- If the stew becomes too thick, add more broth a little at a time until you get the desired consistency.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.