Easy Brunswick Stew Recipe (2024)

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Brunswick Stew is a traditional Southern dish that is the perfect way to use up leftovers. It’s a flavorful, budget-friendly, soul-warming stew that is so easy to make.

Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Folks, there’s nothing more satisfying than a hearty, flavorful stew. Especially during fall and winter. It’s warm, comforting, and sure to fill you up.

And this Brunswick Stew is the kind of well-rounded, sure-to-satisfy meal in a bowl you’ll want to make aaaaalllllll season long!

What is Brunswick Stew?

The first pot of Brunswick Stew was cooked sometime in the 1800s, but both Brunswick, Georgia, and Brunswick County, Virginia lay claim to being the first. To this day, the argument has never been settled.

The original version of this Southern-style stew was likely made with small game such as squirrel, rabbit, or even opossum.

But the modern version of Brunswick stew is usually made with chicken or turkey and pulled pork. The meat is stewed in a tomato-based broth along with veggies and seasonings.

While Southern tradition calls for corn and lima beans, the best part of this recipe is its flexibility. Use what you have on hand and substitute where needed.

Brunswick stew makes a great meal when served with Corn Pudding Casserole, or this delicious Cornbread, or fluffy buttermilk biscuits. You will also find this stew served as a side dish at BBQ restaurants.

It’s a great way to use up leftover bits of pulled pork and can also be made with leftover turkey after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

A tip here is that you can learn How Long To Boil Chicken Thighs or also How Long to Boil A Whole Chicken, which you can then shred and use for this stew.

Why You’ll Love It

• Use up leftovers – this stew recipe is a perfect way to use up those leftovers and stretch that food budget even further.
• Versatile – No chicken, no corn? No problem. Substitute with whatever meat and vegetables you have on hand. This recipe is incredibly versatile.
• Quick cooking – You can have Brunswick stew on the table in under an hour, including prep and clean up time!Serve with Easy Yeast Rolls.

Ingredient Notes

• Oil – just grab some of your favoriteolive oil and creamy butter for extra flavor.
• Onion – Either white or red onionworks here.
• Flavoring – use fresh minced garlic or garlic puree and salt and pepper.
• Leftover cooked meat – This recipe calls for leftover cooked turkey (or cooked chicken) and leftover cooked pulled pork. So much good flavor.
• Frozen beans – creamy frozen lima beans or butter beans are perfect for this.
• Sweetcorn – the great thing is that you can use fresh or frozen sweet corn kernels.
• Broth – This recipe calls for chicken broth or veggie broth. Keep an eye on the amount of salt in the broth.
• Tomatoes – you get a double hit with some canned diced tomatoes and ketchup or tomato sauce. Keep the sauce flavor simple to allow the other ingredients to shine.
• BBQ Sauce – grab your favorite homemade or store bought sauce to complete this.
• Heat – add heat with an optional tablespoonFranks hot sauce.

Ready to learn how to make Easy Brunswick Stew. Gather up those basic pantry ingredients and I will show you…….

How To Make Brunswick Stew

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Heat oil and sauté onion in a dutch oven until soft.
2. Add in garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
3. Dump in the chicken or turkey, shredded pork, butterbeans/lima beans,sweet corn kernels, broth, diced tomatoes,ketchup, BBQ sauce, hot sauce (if using), salt, and pepper.
4. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 35 – 40 minutes, slightly uncovered.
5. Adjust seasonings as needed and serve.

Easy Brunswick Stew Recipe Tips

• You can make this with frozen meat, just be sure to thaw it overnight in the fridge before adding to the recipe.
• You can use leftover lima beans or pre-cooked lima beans.
• Feel free to add some cooked potatoes to thicken up the stew.
• Choose a BBQ sauce style – sweet, tangy, or spicy – to suit your taste.

Delicious Variations

This Southern Stew is such a flexible recipe. Try some of these variations;

• Swap the meat – ground beef, shredded beef roast, and diced ham.
• Add more veggies – diced carrots, green peas, and celery.
• Add fresh herbs – rosemary, thyme, and oregano.

Prep Ahead and Storage

Yep, Brunswick Stew is one of those recipes that taste even better when it sits for a while, and the ingredients all meld together.

• Prep Ahead –This is a great meal prep solution. Cook as directed, then store in the fridge or freezer and reheat when needed.
• Store –This recipe will store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freeze – Follow the handy tips below for how to freeze Brunswick Stew; Transfer the cooled stew to airtight storage containers or Ziploc freezer bags.If using bags, be sure to squeeze out the excess air. Label and store flat inside the freezer for up to 3 months.Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving.

FAQs

Do I have To Use Leftover Meat In This Brunswick Stew?

The ability to use leftovers to make this stew is a big plus, but if you don’t have leftovers, no worries. You can easily cook the meat just before adding to this recipe.

Another great tip is to make this stew using a cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and some pulled pork from your favorite local BBQ joint.

Can I Make Brunswick Stew In A Slow Cooker?

Yes! This recipe is easily adaptable to a slow cooker. Simply sauté the onion and garlic, then add to your slow cooker with all of the other ingredients.

Stir everything and then cover with the lid. Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours. #easypeasy

Can I Cook Brunswick Stew For A Crowd?

Brunswick stew is always a crowd-pleaser. You can easily double or triple the recipe depending on your needs.

Serving Suggestions

• Scalloped Corn.
• Southern Coleslaw.
• Southern Banana Pudding Cake.
• Smothered Potatoes.

More Southern Recipes

Find my selection of Southern Recipes or start with the selection below.

• Walking Taco Casserole.
• Jamaican Oxtail Stew.
• Southern Squash Casserole.
• Smothered Pork Chops.
• Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice.
• John Wayne Casserole.
• Cornmeal Porridge.

Tools Needed

• Dutch oven.
• Spatula.
• Olive oil.
• Best ever sea salt flakes.

Weight Watchers Points

There are7 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my Easy Brunswick Stew recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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