Old-school Southern comfort food that will warm you to your bones!

Ladle yourself a bowl of this belly-warming bliss, and savor the tradition of Brunswick stew!

What Is Brunswick Stew?

Brunswick stew is a Southern dish featuring meat and vegetables in a tomato-based broth.

Traditionally, it calls for small game meat like squirrel, rabbit, or opossum. BBQ sauce, ketchup, and butter beans are also common.

Virginia and Georgia both claim they invented it. Some sources even trace it back to Germany. So you can imagine there are many variations!

But my simplified version keeps things easy. It features chicken breast, pulled pork, veggies, and seasonings in a tomato broth.

Savory, smoky, and meaty, it warms your belly and your soul!

Ingredients 

What exactly goes into my simplified Brunswick stew recipe? It’s full of pantry staples, frozen and fresh veggies, and meat.

Here’s the full list of ingredients:

• Meat – Chicken breast and pulled pork are what I use. It’s a scrumptious combination of smoky, fatty, and lean protein.
• • Chicken Broth – For the base of the stew.
  • Canned Tomatoes – Use crushed canned tomatoes to flavor the broth. It makes the stew more robust.
  • Fresh Vegetables – Potatoes and onions are at home in this hearty stew.
  • Frozen Vegetables – Frozen corn and lima beans add more flavor, texture, and nutrients.
  • Condiments – Add barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Together, they make the soup bolder and more complex.
  • Spices and Sugar – Smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, and pepper season it just right.

How to Make Brunswick Stew

The key to Brunswick stew is letting it simmer low and slow. That way, the flavors have time to meld to create one mouthwatering meal.

Here’s how to make it:

1. Simmer the meat in the broth. In a large pot, simmer the shredded chicken, pulled pork, chicken broth, and crushed tomatoes.

2. Add the vegetables. Add the potatoes, onion, corn, and lima beans. Stir it well.

3. Add the condiments, spices, and sugar. Stir in the barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir in the hot sauce if using.

4. Cook. Simmer it for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

5. Serve. Serve it hot and enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Variations

Brunswick stew is an easy meal perfect for chilly nights. You can make it all in just one pot, too!

As I mentioned before, though, it has many variations. So here are some tips and substitutions to get it just right:

• Take a chicken shortcut. I love using leftover rotisserie chicken in this stew. It’s perfectly cooked and ready to use! Just shred it into bite-sized pieces.

• Vary up the veggies. The great thing about stew is it’s customizable. So you can add other vegetables like carrots, okra, bell peppers, and more. I say, use what you’ve got!

• Take your protein pick. You can add smoked sausage, ground beef, brisket, black beans, or kidney beans. Or, keep it classic with game meat like squirrel or rabbit.

• Season it up. Want the best Brunswick stew? Just tailor it to your liking! Adjust the condiments and seasonings to dial in the flavor just right.

• Give it a kick. Give it some extra heat with jalapenos, cayenne pepper, or extra hot sauce.

Brunswick Stew (Traditional Recipe)