Pulled Pork & Chicken Brunswick Stew
This flavor-packed stew gets its kick from a mustard-based sauce.
Serves8 to 10
Prep15 minutes
Cook1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes
Here we have it: another recipe for a bit of fridge clean-out. Brunswick stew, a classic Southern dish, is made with various meats and veggies cooked with tomatoes and barbecue sauce. Traditionally, you could find more gamey meats — such as squirrel, raccoon, and rabbit — in the mix because the stew is meant to make use of whatever ingredients or scraps you have on hand.
Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina all take credit for the origins of the dish. This accounts for modern-day regional differences. While chicken and rabbit are in Virginia’s version, North Carolina and Georgia have given us the addition of pulled pork and barbecue sauce.
Brunswick Stew Ingredients
I chose to stick with pulled pork and shredded chicken (a rotisserie chicken works great!) for my version. Traditional vegetables include lima beans, corn, and potatoes. For something tangier and slightly less sweet, I opted for a mustard-based barbecue sauce and use less than many recipes call for. If you’d prefer to use a tomato- or ketchup-based sauce, we recommend serving the sauce on the side.
How to Serve Brunswick Stew
Serve Brunswick stew with a side of zippy, creamy coleslaw to contrast the dish’s sweetness. Cornbread is also a great side. And if you really want to do it the Southern way, crumble it right on top of the stew for a gritty, crunchy texture.
Brunswick Stew Recipe
This flavor-packed stew gets its kick from a mustard-based sauce.
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes
Serves 8 to 10
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1
large yellow onion
- 2
medium carrots
- 2 stalks
celery
- 3 cloves
garlic
- 12 ounces
baby potatoes
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons
dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons
mustard powder
- 2 teaspoons
kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (about 14-ounce) can
diced tomatoes
- 1 (32-ounce) carton
low-sodium chicken broth (4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons
Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon
packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 cups
shredded, cooked chicken
- 2 cups
- 1 cup
frozen lima beans
- 1 cup
frozen corn kernels
- 3/4 cup
Carolina-style mustard-based barbecue sauce (see Recipe Notes), plus more as needed
Instructions
Halve and thinly slice 1 large yellow onion (about 2 cups). Finely dice 2 medium carrots and 2 celery stalks (about 1 cup each). Mince 3 garlic cloves. Cut 12 ounces baby potatoes into 1-inch-thick rounds.
Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and heat until the butter is melted. Add the onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, and garlic. Cook until the onions begin to soften and garlic is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Add 2 teaspoons dried thyme, 2 teaspoons mustard powder, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1 (about 14-ounce) can diced tomatoes and their juices and cook until bubbly and fragrant, about 2 minutes more.
Add 1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken broth and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potatoes begin to soften, 15 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar, 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken, 2 cups pulled pork, 1 cup frozen lima beans, and 1 cup frozen corn kernels. Increase the heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered until it starts to thicken, about 20 minutes more.
Add 3/4 cup Carolina-style barbecue sauce. Simmer until the vegetables are softened and the soup is thickened, about 15 minutes. Taste and season with more kosher salt or barbecue sauce as needed. Serve with a side of cornbread, coleslaw, or salad desired.
Recipe Notes
Barbecue sauce: This recipe was developed with a mustard-based sauce. If you’d like to swap in a sweeter tomato or ketchup based sauce, we recommend serving the stew with barbecue sauce on the side to be swirled into individual portions as desired.
Storage: Refrigerate stew in airtight containers for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.