A Brunswick stew is a tasty Southern dish that includes beans, vegetables, and meat in a tomato sauce. In the early days of Brunswick stews, squirrels, rabbits, and even opossums were commonly used, but today beef, pork, and chicken are more common. Originally, the idea was to use whatever local ingredients were available. Here is some information about how to make Pioneer Woman's Brunswick stew including how to make it and store it.
What is Brunswick Stew?
A Brunswick stew typically consists of cooked pork shoulder or leftover pulled pork, cooked beef, chopped or shredded cooked chicken thighs and some vegetables such as onion and carrots. Adding ketchup and barbecue sauce as well as cayenne pepper gives the classic stew a rich flavor.
Some people may not include beef or may choose to use sausages in their version of Brunswick stew. Ultimately, it is a versatile dish in which you can vary the protein and vegetables.
What Makes Brunswick Stew Unique?
What makes Brunswick stew special is the variety of meat that it includes, such as pork, beef, and chicken. In addition, Brunswick stew's unique taste comes from the combination of barbecue sauce and ketchup, adding sweet, savory, and smoky flavor to the stew. There are many variations of Brunswick stew recipes online. Some of them use corn, while others include beans and peas. Brunswick stew is unique in that you can add any vegetables or meat you like as long as you follow the basic instructions.
What is the Difference Between Brunswick Stew and Beef Stew?
The difference between Brunswick stew and beef stew is very simple. Beef stew consists of beef, vegetables, tomato sauce, and some seasoning, while Brunswick stew has a very spicy flavor that comes from a combination of BBQ sauce and ketchup, and is made with beef, pork, and chicken. Each one looks and tastes different.
Where is Brunswick Stew Popular?
Brunswick stew is a distinctly Southern dish found in Brunswick, Georgia, and is typically served in the fall and winter. It is also popular throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia as well. In Georgia, Brunswick stew can be found almost anywhere, and now it is famous enough to be found in many other places in the United States.
Pioneer Woman's Brunswick Stew Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 ½ pounds ground pork
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 (3 pounds) whole cooked chicken, deboned and shredded
- 3 (14.5 ounces) cans of whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup hickory flavored barbeque sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste
- 1 green bell pepper
- 3 (14.75 ounces) cans of cream-style corn
- Okra, optional, to help thicken the stew
How to Make Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew
- Heat the oil in a large skillet; saute the onions and celery until soft.
- Stir in the pork and beef, and cook it until evenly browned.Don't drain off the fat.
- Heat the pork and beef mixture in a large stockpot set over low heat.
- Add the shredded chicken, tomatoes, ketchup, and barbecue sauce.
- Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.
- Add the whole green pepper to the mixture.
- Allow to simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, or until thickened.
- Add the cream-style corn to the stew mixture.
- Simmer for 1 hour, or until desired consistency is achieved.
- If you prefer, you can discard the green pepper or chop it and stir it back into the stew.
- Serve and enjoy.
How Do I Thicken Brunswick Stew?
You can thicken Brunswick stew by simply adding 2 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 cup of liquid. This will create a medium-thick, not overly viscous stew. Alternatively, you can simmer Brunswick stew over high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring intermittently. Simmering will help the liquid evaporate, making the stew thicker.
How Long Does Brunswick Stew Last in the Fridge?
Brunswick stew can last in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days if stored properly. When storing Brunswick stew, let it cool to room temperature before pouring it into tightly sealed glass containers.
How Long Can Brunswick Stew Be Frozen For?
Brunswick stew can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply pour the Brunswick stew into freezer bags and leave a space of ¼ to ½ inches to allow for expansion in the freezer. After freezing, a Brunswick stew thickened with flour or cornstarch may separate. If you plan to freeze Brunswick stew, wait to thicken it when you reheat it. It is a good idea to label the freezer bags with the freezing date so that you will know when to use the stew by.
How to Thaw Frozen Brunswick Stew
To thaw frozen Brunswick stew, place it in the refrigerator 24 hours to 36 hours before heating it. This is the method most recommended method of thawing, but you can also put it in a warm bath if you run out of time. To do this, simply heat some water until it begins to become warm, and then pour it into a large pot or container that will hold the frozen bags of Brunswick stew bags. The stew should completely defrost in 2 hours or less.
How to Reheat Pioneer Woman's Brunswick Stew
In the Oven:
To start reheating Pioneer Woman's Brunswick stew, preheat your oven to 350 F. Then, wrap the leftover Brunswick stew in an oven-safe dish or pot, covered tightly with aluminum foil. Then, place it in the preheated oven and heat it for about 45 minutes, stirring halfway. The Brunswick stew will be adequately reheated when it reaches 165 F.
How to Reheat Brunswick Stew in the Microwave:
- Use a microwave-safe dish with a lid.
- Place the Brunswick stew in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring the stew every 60 seconds.
- Stirring the stew throughout the heating process will allow Brunswick stew to heat evenly rather than leaving areas underheated.
How to Reheat Brunswick Stew in the Skillet:
Place the leftover Brunswick stew in a pot set over low heat. You may need to add some broth or water to the stew if it seems too dry.
Stir the Brunswick stew frequently until it reaches 165 F. The stew will reheat in just 15-20 minutes. Be careful not to overcook it.
Note:Reheating Brunswick stew from frozen is not recommended. You should thaw the stew before reheating it.
What to Serve With Pioneer Woman's Brunswick Stew
While Brunswick stew can be served as a complete meal without any other side dishes, there are a variety of side dishes that go well with Brunswick stew such as cucumber salad, corn salad, or lettuce salad with tomatoes. You can also serve the Brunswick stew with bread or biscuits to soak up the sauce.
The following are the best sides to pair with Brunswick stew:
- Julienne Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Zucchini Bread
- Asparagus and Carrots
- Mozzarella Sticks
- Alexia Onion Rings Air Fryer
- Butternut Squash
Pioneer Woman’s Brunswick Stew Recipe
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
A Brunswick stew is a tasty Southern dish that includes beans, vegetables, and meat in a tomato sauce. In the early days of Brunswick stews, squirrels, rabbits, and even opossums were commonly used, but today beef, pork, and chicken are more common. Originally, the idea was to use whatever local ingredients were available. Here is some information about how to make Pioneer Woman’s Brunswick stew including how to make it and store it.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 ½ pounds ground pork
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 (3 pounds) whole cooked chicken, deboned and shredded
- 3 (14.5 ounces) cans of whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup hickory flavored barbeque sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste
- 1 green bell pepper
- 3 (14.75 ounces) cans of cream-style corn
- Okra, optional, to help thicken the stew
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet; saute the onions and celery until soft.
- Stir in the pork and beef, and cook it until evenly browned.Don’t drain off the fat.
- Heat the pork and beef mixture in a large stockpot set over low heat.
- Add the shredded chicken, tomatoes, ketchup, and barbecue sauce.
- Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.
- Add the whole green pepper to the mixture.
- Allow to simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, or until thickened.
- Add the cream-style corn to the stew mixture.
- Simmer for 1 hour, or until desired consistency is achieved.
- If you prefer, you can discard the green pepper or chop it and stir it back into the stew.
- If you prefer, you can discard the green pepper or return it chopped.
- Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 1392Total Fat: 76gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 40gCholesterol: 374mgSodium: 1547mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 5gSugar: 34gProtein: 113g
