Easy Brunswick Stew is a thick and hearty mix of pulled pork, chicken (or turkey), vegetables, seasonings, tomato sauce, and BBQ sauce. It has an ingredient list that is a little on the long side, but it’s really just a dump and heat recipe that doesn’t take long at all.
Traditional Brunswick Stew
Traditional southern home-cooked Brunswick Stew typically contains squirrel. That’s not happening in my kitchen. This Brunswick Stew is more like the type you’ll see at BBQ restaurants.
Pulled Pork Adds Smoky Flavor
It contains a combination of pulled pork and chicken. Turkey would also be good if you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I think it is the pulled pork that really makes the stew taste so good and I get mine at my favorite local bbq restaurant. If you like to smoke your own or you have leftover crock pot pulled pork, just use that.
Other Ingredients
Brunswick Stew almost always contains corn and lima beans, and sometimes potatoes. I left potatoes out because I wanted to keep this recipe as easy as quick as possible. If you have leftover potatoes, go ahead and throw them in. I’ve even seen Brunswick Stew recipes that have mashed potatoes mixed in. Then you could really use up your Thanksgiving leftovers.
I add quite a bit of BBQ sauce to my Brunswick Stew, but that’s my personal taste. Tone it back and maybe add more tomato sauce if you don’t want the flavor of BBQ sauce to be front and center. I had someone comment on my BBQ Spaghetti Casserole , “This tasted God awful. All I could taste was the BBQ sauce. Gross!” So be forewarned. I think BBQ sauce tastes really good.
I use a tomato based sauce that’s a little on the sweet side called Bone Suckin BBQ Sauce
which is North Carolina made. If you want your stew to have more tang, choose more of a vinegar based sauce.
Recipe Tips
I like Brunswick Stew to be extra thick. You can thin it some with extra chicken broth or tomato sauce.
Leftovers are great over a baked potato. 🙂
This recipe goes great with Jalapeno Beer Bread.
Like to cook in your crock pot? Try this Slow Cooker Brunswick Stew.
Easy Brunswick Stew
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups frozen lima beans
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup BBQ Sauce
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- 1/2 teaspoon tabasco sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
- 1 pound pulled pork
Instructions
- Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes.
- Add lima beans and cook 2 minutes.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and chicken broth. Simmer 15 minutes.
- Add corn, seasonings and meats and simmer 5 more minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Originally published Nov 18, 2014.
Disclosure: Spicy Southern Kitchen is an amazon.com affiliate.
I am from the south and make Brunswick stew occasionally, the meat combo I always use is chicken and pork , I put meats in crockpot prior to starting up my stew , cook until it falls apart , the white shoepeg corn and Lima beans and tomatoes are a must , onions and potatoes, after everything is cooked til tender and well seasoned a lil trick to make it thick is stir in instant mashed potatoes,works well every time, crushed red pepper flakes for heat
I love that tip to stir in some instant mashed potatoes to thicken! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Potato’s don’t belong ANYWHERE near Brunswick Stew.
Lived in Atlanta several years, got hooked on The Old Hickory House version. Someone tried to copy it, not even close…will try your receipe …sounds good.
Hope you enjoy it Sylvia!
I wish I could get the Old Hickory House recipe for stew and baked beans. Best ever!
I’m trying to get around using pulled pork…any other meat substitute suggestions?
What about beef brisket?
Squirrel? Lol but really left over SMOKED pulled pork or beef brisket is awesome. I also use a eastern NC vinegar base sauce., love the twang it give the stew. The main Idea is to use left over me to create a delicious one pot wonder.
I have made it with squirrel and it is great. Just have to cook squirrels ahead and pull the meat from the bones. A little time consuming but good.
Trying this recipe tonight with pork, not squirrel.
I buy a package of pork neck bones and boil them with my chicken. When they are done & cooled off, I pull the meat from both the neck bones and the chicken. Have always preferred this combination over any other. No bbq sauce or ketchup. Just tomatoes, potatoes, onions, baby butter beans, corn, okra and what other combination of spices that you like.
That sounds delicious..thanks for the suggestion! Sorry it took me so long to respond, but I lost this recipe a while back and just a few minutes ago found it again! lol
Stew a chicken
I’m a retired Boat Captain worked in the Gulf of Mexico. Had a work gang of 6 plus “visitors” that came when they heard we were frying fish or cooking stew, SO,,, from time to time, I would cook a big pot of Brunswick stew. I’ve temporarily lost my recipe but I alway put vinegar in it just to get that certain taste and I always used white Shoe Peg corn. Everybody loved it.
Always used half chicken, half pork.
I’m a retired Boat Captain worked in the Gulf of Mexico. Had a work gang of 6 plus “visitors” that came when they heard we were frying fish or cooking stew, SO,,, from time to time, I would cook a big pot of Brunswick stew. I’ve temporarily lost my recipe but I alway put vinegar in it just to get that certain taste and I always used white Shoe Peg corn. Everybody loved it.
Can you make this in a crock pot with beef?
Yes, Katie. I think it would work well in the crock pot with beef.
Made this today when I heard Hurricane Matthew was going thru Brunswick GA. We live in Southwest Florida and it sounded like a good dish to get us thru the windy blustery evening! Easy and delicious!
That was quite a storm wasn’t it? My brother and mother had to evacuate from Beaufort, SC. They are heading back today.
Glad you enjoyed the Brunswick Stew!
My husband absolutely loves Brunswick stew, we eat it at local BBQ rest, both are diff. Now I’ve always just used chicken, tomatoes, potatoes and corn. But am not against trying it with squirrel. I fried 2 squirrels last fall and made gravy and biscuits , first time I’ve cooked it in years, it was delish, waiting for hubs to get us some more when the weather cools.
I bet your gravy and biscuits were delish! That’s one of my favorite things to eat!
I came across this recipe on pinterest and felt the need to comment…the squirrel comment had me laughing, but squirrel is not used now a days. that is a VERy old version of the stew. I was born and breed in the south and growing up my Daddy fixed Brunswick Stew like most people drink water, we had it almost every week!! I was so tired of it! Traditional Brunswick Stew always has Chicken in it, no Turkey, no pork and absolutely no BBQ sauce! It’s chicken that is cooked until it falls off the bone, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, lima beans and corn, salt and pepper and that is all. It is cooked in a big black cast iron stew pot and normally cooks for hours. It was always an overnighter when i was growing up, and the pot was so big it feed around 100 people!
Actually, “traditional” Brunswick Stew is made all kinds of ways and with various meats depending on the area and even the family making it. Most BBQ places here in Georgia serve Brunswick Stew from a family recipe and they’re all kind of different. There’s no one real way to make it, but once you’ve had a few, you know when you’re eating it and when you’re not!
Same goes for Pimento Cheese. Lots of variations on a basic concept.
I am also from the South. Our stew has always had pork prefe.rrbly a hogs head
Yes sass! That’s right. I had an aunt who would make it after we killed a hog. It was so good. I have never found that good taste since.
i hear that, we did the same and added deer meat as well
That is how I remember it was cooked also. We had it every year for family reunions. They stirred it with long sticks.
That’s the way I do it
Christin, this stew is gorgeous!!! I am in need of some easy dishes as life has just been so busy lately. I know my boys would love this would several slices of your jalapeño corn bread on the side. I just love your photos, lighting and composition! Just shared!
Many Brunswick Stews have a sweet & sour to them in New England by adding sugar and vinegar. ..makes it very good
I love the taste of sweet and sour.
I love that sauce!
I am very happy you used chicken and pork instead of squirrel lol. I don’t know if I am brave enough to try that otherwise. 🙂 This stew is totally going into my winter meal planning!
I’ve never made Brunswick stew before!! Looks amazing!
Looks delicious! I LOVE brunswick stew. Can’t wait to try this version.
Brunswick stew is one of my favorites! I love how chunky and hearty it always is. I’ve never tried making it at home before, but this looks so good I’m thinking I must! Pinning. 🙂
Looks great Christin, I have heard of Brunswick stew but never ate it. Love the lima beans and corn, squirrel whoa. That wouldn’t happen in my kitchen either.
Some of the guys I work with swear that the Brunswick stew they get from a restaurant close by is the best they have ever had – but, Christin, yours looks and sounds so much better! Loving the lima beans and corn and thyme! Deeelicious!
I’ve never heard of this stew either, but I love the looks of it! Sounds so hearty chicken and pulled pork. And I love stews that are extra thick too, so this is right up my alley!
I have never heard abt Brunswick Stew before.. i am intrigued now.. it looks and sound delicious. . 🙂