Brunswick Stew (Brisket & Pulled Pork)

Brunswick Stew (Brisket & Pulled Pork)

Brunswick Stew is the stew you never knew you needed in your life. It’s like the ultimate comfort food (BBQ) meets the other ultimate comfort food (stew) and has a comfort food baby. It’s hearty, it’s delicious, and it’s a perfect way to use up leftover BBQ.

bowl of Brunswick stew next to crust bread and a large dutch oven full of brunswick stew

WHAT IS BRUNSWICK STEW?

Brunswick stew is a BBQ stew with a tomato base, vegetables, and plenty of meat. There are many variations to this simple stew, and it’s extremely versatile. I feel like Brunswick stew is the most common sense solution for any leftover BBQ you’ve got sitting around after a weekend of smoking.

This stew is no frills, no fuss, a little of this, a little of that, and loads of comforting smoky BBQ flavor. Hunters have been heating up by bowls of this stew forever! So if you have BBQ leftovers just sitting around, this recipe will be your saving grace. Just dump, simmer, and enjoy.

As mentioned in the previous section, Brunswick stew is basically a stew of BBQ leftovers. This particular recipe is made with chicken thighs, pulled pork, and brisket (we had A LOT of leftovers this weekend).

Here’s the deal. If you don’t have a fridge teeming with 3 different kinds of smoked meat leftovers, don’t stress yourself out about it! You can still make a killer Brunswick stew by substituting any of the smoked meats in the recipe as follows:

  • No smoked brisket? Sub in either stew meat (and increase the cooking time to 3 hours) or ground beef.
  • No pulled pork? Use ground pork or cubed pork loin chops.
  • No grilled chicken thighs? Just cook some up in the pan before you stir in the onions, celery, and peppers.

This Brunswick stew was made for customization and substitutions. It’s all about making awesome stew with what you’ve got on hand. Some people swear by throwing some frozen lima beans in the mix (my husband would have boycotted if I’d have even tried it, his hatred for lima beans traces back to some form of childhood trauma). Other people like to mix in some diced potatoes (that one I could get behind, but I was out of potatoes).

Bowl of Brunswick stew next to sliced bread

HOW TO MAKE BRUNSWICK STEW

Here’s the basics on making Brunswick stew. Remember: This is a no-frills recipe that you really can’t mess up, so go with it and let those flavors soar.

Next up, you’ll add in all your leftover BBQ. For this recipe I went all out with leftover chicken thighs, smoked pulled pork, and smoked brisket, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Then add in all the goodies, including chicken stock, canned tomatoes, ketchup, corn, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt and pepper (to taste).

Reduce the heat and let the stew simmer for a good while, approximately 45 minutes. You can cook longer if needed for the stew to thicken.

I like to serve this stew immediately with some good, crusty bread. If you have leftovers, this stew can be frozen and enjoyed at a later time! Oh, BBQ. You’re the gift that keeps on giving.

BRUNSWICK STEW RECIPE

Follow the recipe, and I’ll teach you the simple steps to making your own Brunswick stew at home. Hey Grill Hey is dedicated to help you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes and videos on YouTube, Instagram, or our Facebook Page.

Making dinner for your family should be easy, and Hey Grill Hey is here to help! We have sauces, rubs, and more to save you time and energy when making something for an upcoming get together. Check it out today!

Brunswick Stew

Brunswick Stew (AKA BBQ Stew)

Brunswick Stew is the stew you never knew you needed in your life. It’s like the ultimate comfort food (BBQ) meets the other ultimate comfort food (stew) and has a comfort food baby: BBQ Stew. It’s hearty, it’s delicious, and it’s a perfect way to use up leftover BBQ.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Barbecue, Comfort Food
Keyword: Brunswick Stew
Servings: 8 people
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 pound grilled chicken thighs diced
  • 1/2 pound smoked pulled pork
  • 1/2 pound smoked brisket chopped
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 3 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with liquid
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • hot sauce to taste

Instructions

  • In a large Dutch oven, heat your olive oil over medium heat. Saute the onions, bell pepper, and celery until soft (about 10 minutes). Stir in the garlic and cook another 3-4 minutes.
  • Slowly stir in the chicken thighs, brisket, and pulled pork. Pour in the chicken stock, canned tomatoes, corn, ketchup, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
  • Bring the stew to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Place a lid on the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes or until thickened to desired consistency.
  • Serve warm with crusty bread.
Calories: 310.57kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.65g | Protein: 20.23g | Fat: 15.76g | Saturated Fat: 4.23g | Cholesterol: 85.33mg | Sodium: 436.84mg | Potassium: 425.67mg | Fiber: 1.73g | Sugar: 11.55g | Vitamin A: 637.42IU | Vitamin C: 23.4mg | Calcium: 34.55mg | Iron: 1.64mg

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