Once you try my delicious Brunswick Stew you will be hooked and wonder how you made it this far without it. When I slow cook or smoke a pork butt I always make sure I save some of the meat so I can make this flavor packed stew. This is one of our favorite recipes and using already smoked and roasted meat makes it pretty much a dump-and-go recipe.
This classic southern dish is a thick stew that every great Southern cook knows how to make. This tomato base stew is made with barbecue sauce and a mixture of leftover smoked and roasted meats like pork, chicken, and beef. It typically has corn, lima beans or butter beans, and a few simple spices to give it just a touch of heat. There is some debate about whether this stew originated in Brunswick City, Georgia, or Brunswick County, Virginia which is how it got its unique name. It was originally made with squirrel meat, rabbit meat, and other wild game.
Why this recipe works!
- This stew is big and bold on flavor. It has a little Tex-Mex Southern flair to it and that is what I love about it.
- Have you ever smoked a big pork butt and wondered what you could do with the leftovers that would be different and exciting? Or bought a roasted chicken from one of the big box stores only to be left with half the bird and no great plan. Well here is your plan! You can even freeze the meat and make the stew in a few weeks.
- The stew is full of wholesome all-natural ingredients with plenty of protein and vegetables that you can feel good about eating and feeding your family,
- One of the things I absolutely love about this recipe is that it freezes quite well. Make a big pot, enjoy what amount you want and then simply add individual amounts to quart-size freezer bags leaving some space for expansion, and lay them flat in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then heat on the stove or in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl. Do not heat in the plastic bag.
How to make Brunswick Stew
Start by heating a little oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or heavy stock pot. Then add the onion and cook until tender. Then reduce the heat and add the minced garlic cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Now stir the tomato paste with 1/4 cup of chicken broth and add it to the pot. Then add the remaining chicken broth, diced tomatoes, frozen corn, baby limas, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Then add the smoked pork and chicken and let it simmer for about 5 more minutes. If desired season with salt and pepper. Spoon into bowls and drizzle with just a little bit more barbecue sauce.
Recipes notes and helpful tips
- This is my go-to recipe for leftover smoked pork and roasted chicken. You can use all of one or the other but I think it tastes better with both, You can also use different percentages of each. If you are a hunter or live off the land try squirrel, rabbit, or other game meat. Ground beef and ground pork or other less expensive options.
- Other vegetables you might add include potatoes, butter beans, celery, and okra
- The stew is a hearty meal in itself. However, if I am expecting company or have extended family over for dinner I like to serve it with coleslaw, Cornbread, and Southern Fried Apples.
- I use a Kansas City-style bbq sauce which is a little thinner, light on sugar with a little bit of kick. This is just the way I like it. I think it is a good match for the stew.
- After spooning the stew into bowls drizzle with just a little bit of extra barbecue sauce. It makes a great presentation and a little bit of added flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More stew recipes you will love!
Brunswick Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons canola oil
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 ¼ cup low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can 14.5 ounce fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn
- 1 ½ cups frozen lima beans
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce plus more for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1-2 pinches of cayenne pepper
- 2 ½ cups pulled smoked pork
- 1 ½ cups cooked diced chicken breast or chicken thighs smoked or roasted
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in a dutch oven or heavy stock pot. Add the onion and cook until tender; 5-6 minutes. Reduce heat and add the minced garlic cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- In a small bowl stir the tomato paste with 1/4 cup of chicken broth then pour it into the pot. Add the remaining chicken broth, diced tomatoes, frozen corn, lima beans, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, and cayenne pepper to the pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the smoked pork and chicken and let it simmer for about 5 more minutes. If desired season the stew with salt and more pepper to taste. Spoon into bowls and drizzle with just a little bit more barbecue sauce.
Notes
- This is my go-to recipe for leftover smoked pork and roasted chicken. You can use all of one or the other but I think it tastes better with both, You can also use different percentages of each. If you are a hunter or live off the land try squirrel, rabbit, or other game meat. Ground beef and ground pork or other less expensive options.
- Other vegetables you might add include potatoes, butter beans, celery, and okra
- The stew is a hearty meal in itself. However, if I am expecting company or have extended family over for dinner I like to serve it with coleslaw, Cornbread, and Southern Fried Apples.
- I use a Kansas City-style bbq sauce which is a little thinner, light on sugar with a little bit of kick. This is just the way I like it. I think it is a good match for the stew.
- After spooning the stew into bowls drizzle with just a little bit of extra barbecue sauce. It makes a great presentation and a little bit of added flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Neely Moldovan
I had not heard of this before but it sounds great! I am going to try it this weekend.
Sienna
OMG love a good way to use up leftovers! This looks delicious! And I super appreciate sharing other things to put in and substitutions. And my family loves sweets, so I’ll def be making those southern fried apples to go with it. Yum!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Sienna! I sure hope you enjoy the stew and the apples.
Stephanie
Yum, what a delicious stew! And goes perfectly with the cornbread.
Tamara Gill
Hi!! Was just wondering if I could use left over rotissary pork for this recipe instead of smoked pork? That is all I have on hand 🙂
Beth Pierce
Yeah sure! Sorry I missed this. That would be great.
Tami
This recipe is delicious and so easy! I used pork only as I had quite a bit leftover from sandwiches earlier in the week and subbed canned butter beans and shoe peg corn (real southern veggies !) for the frozen corn and Lima beans, and mixed a sweeter and a spicier BBQ sauce.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips Tami! So glad that you liked it!
Linda B
My grown daughter who has never liked Brunswick stew loved this! Next time I will cut down on the sugar and up the hot sauce. It made for a perfect Christmas dinner.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Linda! So glad that you like it. We love it too! I wish I had some for lunch today.
Angela Kay Hesson
Followed your recipe except I used coconut sugar and didn’t add the corn. It’s absolutely delicious. I have always wanted to make Brunswick stew, and now that I know how easy it is, I’ll be making it again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Angela! So glad that you liked it!
Wajeeha Nadeem
I’ve never had brunswick stew, but you’ve convinced me to try your recipe. It sounds delicious!
Natalie
I can’t wait to try this. Looks delicious. Full of flavors, comforting and healing. I just saved the recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
This was my first time trying Brunswich Stew, but definitely not my last. DELICIOUS and so satisfying and comforting!
Dannii
Oh this looks so comforting. I love the addition of BBQ sauce.
Joan
Wow! Love all the flavors in this stew, So excited to make this again next week!
Toni
Everyone at my house loved it! So good and comforting!
Allyson Reed Zea
I had never heard of Brunswick stew until I moved to the south, and then I couldn’t stop eating it! This recipe is great!
April
This stew has some of the most amazing flavors in it. Definitely a favorite in our house!
Lily
This stew was so hearty and delicious, we served it with garlic bread and for the first time the stew went before the garlic bread!!