Weight Watchers: Brunswick Stew Points

Brunswick stew is a hearty, flavorful, and budget-friendly meal that is perfect for cold weather. The dish typically includes chicken, turkey, or pulled pork, stewed in a tomato-based broth with vegetables and seasonings. It is a versatile dish that can be made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop and is a great way to use up leftovers.

The number of Weight Watchers points in Brunswick stew can vary depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used. For example, one recipe for a slow cooker Brunswick stew has 8-Blue WW SmartPoints, 9-Green WW SmartPoints, and 8 WW POINTS PLUS. Another recipe for a Weight Watchers Chicken Brunswick Stew has 5 *SmartPoints (Green plan), 1 *SmartPoints (Blue plan), and 1 *SmartPoints (Purple plan).

Overall, Brunswick stew is a delicious and satisfying meal that can be tailored to fit within various diet plans, including Weight Watchers.

Weight Watchers Brunswick stew recipe

Weight Watchers Brunswick Stew

This hearty and satisfying stew is brimming with chunks of chicken and vegetables. It's a flexible recipe that you can tinker with to make your own. You can adjust the amounts and kinds of vegetables to suit your taste and what you have available.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (5 ounces each), cut into chunks
• 2 slices of center-cut bacon
• 2 stalks celery, sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 1 onion, chopped or sliced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped or sliced
• 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, peas, green beans, lima beans)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Method:

In a medium bowl, combine the flour and cayenne pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat it with the flour mixture.

Place the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain it on paper towels, then set it aside. Add the chicken to the saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned (4 to 6 minutes). Transfer the chicken to a plate.

Add the celery, onion, and bell pepper to the saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften (4 to 5 minutes). Stir in the tomatoes and broth, scraping up any flour and brown bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Stir in the chicken, mixed vegetables, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper sauce. Crumble the bacon and stir it in too.

Bring the stew to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the vegetables are very tender and the stew has thickened (20 to 25 minutes).

Remove the bay leaf and discard it. Taste and add more salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce as desired.

Serving Size:

1 1/2 cups

WW Points:

• 5 SmartPoints (Green plan)
• 1 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
• 1 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
• 6 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Brunswick stew in a slow cooker

Brunswick stew is a Southern classic that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. It is a tomato-based stew often associated with barbecue and can include chicken, pork, beef, or other wild game. Here is a slow cooker recipe for Brunswick stew that serves 8-10 people.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 lb pork tenderloin or pork loin roast
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, not drained
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups frozen corn kernels
• 3 cups frozen butter beans or lima beans
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley)
• ¼ cup white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce

Method:

First, spray the inside of a large slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the pork and chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients, stir, and cover.

Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Remove the pork and chicken from the slow cooker and place them in a large bowl or on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the meat or chop it with a knife. Return the shredded meat to the pot and stir.

Serving Suggestions:

For a full Southern feast, serve the Brunswick stew with cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, or a loaf of pumpkin bread.

Weight Watchers Points:

According to one source, a serving of Brunswick stew (1 ½ cups) has 268 calories and:

• 5 SmartPoints (Green plan)
• 1 SmartPoints (Blue plan)
• 1 SmartPoints (Purple plan)
• 6 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Calories and WW points in Brunswick stew

Brunswick stew is a hearty, flavorful, and flexible dish that can be made in a slow cooker or on a stovetop. It is a perfect meal for a cold day and can be made with a variety of ingredients. The calorie count and WW points will depend on the specific ingredients and serving size, but here is a general guide:

A slow cooker Brunswick stew recipe that serves 8-10 people and includes chicken, pork, and various vegetables has approximately 300 calories per 1.5-cup serving. It is not a low-carb option, with 44 grams of carbohydrates per serving. The fat content is relatively low at 2 grams per serving, and the protein content is high at 27 grams.

Another slow cooker Brunswick stew recipe that serves 4 people and includes chicken, bacon, and vegetables has 268 calories per 1.5-cup serving. It has 54 calories from fat and offers 1 SmartPoint on the Blue and Purple plans and 5 SmartPoints on the Green plan.

A stovetop Brunswick stew recipe made with ground turkey, vegetables, and barbecue sauce has 323 calories per 1.33-cup serving. It has 2 grams of fat and offers 8 SmartPoints on the Blue plan, 9 SmartPoints on the Green plan, and 8 PointsPlus.

A traditional Brunswick stew recipe made with a ham bone, stewing hen, and various vegetables has 264 calories per cup. It offers a good balance of carbohydrates (35 grams), protein (13 grams), and fat (8 grams).

In general, Brunswick stew is a nutritious and satisfying meal that can be tailored to your taste preferences and dietary needs. The calorie count and WW points will vary depending on the specific ingredients and serving size, but the above examples provide a good range to consider.

History of Brunswick stew

The history of Brunswick stew is a complicated one, with a longstanding rivalry between Georgia and Virginia over which state created the dish.

Georgia's Claims

A twenty-five-gallon iron pot outside Brunswick, Georgia, bears a plaque declaring it to be the vessel in which Brunswick stew was first cooked in 1898. However, this claim is disputed by some as there are no written accounts of the dish being cooked in Georgia prior to the Civil War. Interestingly, the first mention of Brunswick stew in a Georgia newspaper was in an advertisement for a saloon in Savannah, which promoted a daily free lunch featuring "Old Virginia Brunswick Stew."

Virginia's Claims

On the other hand, there are several written accounts of Brunswick stew being cooked in Virginia before the Civil War. For example, in 1849, the Alexandria Gazette described Brunswick stew as "a genuine South-side dish, composed of squirrels, chicken, a little bacon, and corn and tomatoes." In 1855, the Petersburg Intelligencer explained that in Brunswick County, Virginia, it was popular during the hot summers to cook squirrels in a pot with water, tomatoes, corn, butter beans, potatoes, salt, and Cayenne pepper.

The Verdict

While the origin of Brunswick stew is disputed, most signs point to Virginia as the place of origin. The Virginia General Assembly even passed a proclamation in 1988, affirming Virginia's Brunswick County as the place of origin. Additionally, an article in the Georgia Encyclopedia states that "Virginia's assertion seems to be the oldest and best documented."

How to make Brunswick stew

Brunswick stew is a classic Southern dish that combines meat, vegetables, and a savoury broth. It is typically made with a variety of meats, including chicken, pork, and beef, as well as vegetables such as corn, lima beans, and onions. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make this delicious and hearty stew.

Ingredients:

• Meat: You can use a combination of chicken, pork, and/or beef. For a more authentic Southern flavour, consider using smoked meats.
• Vegetables: Corn, lima beans, onions, celery, bell peppers, and carrots are commonly used. You can also add potatoes, okra, or peas for extra heartiness.
• Broth: The broth is typically made with chicken stock or broth, barbecue sauce, and diced tomatoes. You can also add in some Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper for extra flavour.

Instructions:

• Start by heating some oil or butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat.
• Add your choice of meat and cook until browned. If using ground meat, break it up into small pieces while cooking.
• Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.
• In the same pot, add your chopped onions, celery, and bell peppers. Cook until the vegetables start to soften, about 4-5 minutes.
• Stir in the diced tomatoes and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
• Add your choice of vegetables, along with the barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper (if using).
• Return the meat to the pot and stir everything together.
• Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the stew has thickened.
• Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more salt, pepper, or hot sauce to your liking.
• Serve the Brunswick stew with cornbread, biscuits, or pumpkin bread on the side for a true Southern feast!

Tips and Variations:

• For a thicker stew, you can reduce the amount of broth or add a cornstarch slurry towards the end of the cooking process.
• If you prefer a smokier flavour, you can substitute barbecue sauce for ketchup or add a dash of liquid smoke.
• Brunswick stew is a versatile dish, so feel free to experiment with different types of meat and vegetables to suit your taste.
• Leftover Brunswick stew can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Frequently asked questions