Pressure-Cooker Brunswick Stew

Brunswick stew is a traditional American stew that is most popular across the Southern United States. It is a hearty dish that typically includes tomatoes, lima beans, corn, okra, and at least two types of meat. This guide will show you how to cook Brunswick stew in a pressure cooker, a convenient and time-saving method that will have this delicious meal ready in no time!

Prepare the ingredients

To make Brunswick stew in a pressure cooker, you will need a variety of ingredients, including meats, vegetables, and seasonings. Here is a detailed list of the ingredients you will need and how to prepare them:

Meats:

• Chicken: You can use either chicken breasts or thighs, with or without the bone. If you are using boneless chicken, you can cut it into pieces. If using bone-in chicken, you will need to remove the meat from the bones after cooking and shred or cut it into smaller pieces.
• Pork: Pulled pork is a popular choice for Brunswick stew and can be purchased pre-cooked or made from scratch. You can also use shredded or diced cooked beef as an alternative.

Vegetables and Beans:

• Onions: Dice one small to medium onion. You will sauté the onions in oil or butter at the beginning to form the base of your stew.
• Potatoes: Peel and dice 2-3 medium russet potatoes or use small new potatoes, which don't need to be peeled.
• Carrots: Peel and slice 2 medium carrots into 1/4-inch disks or chunks.
• Corn: You will need one 15-ounce can of creamed corn or 10 ounces of frozen corn.
• Lima Beans: Use one 15-ounce can of baby lima beans, or if using dry lima beans, soak them overnight before making the stew.
• Butter Beans: One 15-ounce can of butter beans, drained. You will mash about half of these before adding them to the stew.
• Okra: One 10-ounce package of frozen sliced okra.
• Tomatoes: Two 14.5-ounce cans of whole peeled tomatoes or 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes.

Seasonings and Broth:

• Salt and Pepper: For seasoning the meats and adjusting the taste at the end.
• Hot Sauce: A few dashes or to taste.
• Worcestershire Sauce: About 1/4 cup.
• Ketchup: 3 tablespoons or more to taste.
• Barbecue Sauce: 1 cup or to taste.
• Red Pepper Flakes: 1/2 teaspoon or more to taste.
• Creole/Cajun/Louisiana Seasoning or Seasoned Salt: 2 teaspoons or to taste.
• Brown Sugar or Molasses: 1 tablespoon for a touch of sweetness.

Broth Options:

• Chicken Broth: 2 cups of low-sodium gluten-free chicken broth or more as needed.
• Ham Broth: You can use ham broth instead of or in addition to chicken broth for extra flavour.

Cook the onions

To cook the onions for your Brunswick stew, start by turning on the sauté function on your Instant Pot or any brand of electric pressure cooker. Add a little oil or butter to the pot and heat it up. You can also add some sliced carrots at this stage, if you like.

Add the chopped onions and sauté for a few minutes until they are translucent and fragrant. You can also add some garlic and sauté for another minute. This should take around 3 minutes in total.

Next, add other flavourings such as Worcestershire sauce, broth, tomatoes, and any spices or herbs you wish to include. You can also add meat at this stage, placing it carefully on top of the cooked onions.

Lock the lid of your pressure cooker and adjust the settings to cook at high pressure for around 8 minutes. When the timer goes off, allow the pressure to reduce without opening the steam vent for about 5 minutes. Then carefully release the pressure and open the lid.

Your onions are now cooked and ready to be used in your Brunswick stew!

Add the chicken

Now, add the chicken. You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, with or without the skin and bones. If you are using skin-on, bone-in chicken, you will need to remove the skin and shred the meat off the bones after pressure cooking. Place the chicken on top of the other ingredients in the pot and season with salt, pepper, and thyme. Close and lock the lid of the pressure cooker.

Select high pressure according to the manufacturer's instructions and set the timer for 20 minutes. It will take around 10 to 15 minutes for the pressure to build. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for about 5 minutes. Then, carefully release the remaining pressure using the quick-release method according to the manufacturer's instructions, which should take about another 5 minutes.

Unlock and remove the lid of the pressure cooker. Take the chicken out of the pot and set it on a plate to cool. Once cool enough to handle, remove the skin and shred the meat off the bones, if necessary, and cut it into smaller pieces or pull it apart with forks.

Now, return the shredded chicken to the pot.

Pressure cook

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Gather all the ingredients, including meats, vegetables, and seasonings. Common ingredients for Brunswick stew are chicken, pork, beef, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, corn, lima beans, okra, and various seasonings.
• Chop and prepare the ingredients as needed. For example, chop onions and potatoes into small pieces, and cut meats into bite-sized pieces if necessary.

Step 2: Sauté the Ingredients

• Turn on the sauté function on your pressure cooker and add a small amount of oil or butter to the pot.
• Add diced onions and other vegetables such as carrots or garlic, if desired. Sauté for a few minutes until they become fragrant and translucent.
• If using raw meat, add the meat on top of the sautéed vegetables. For chicken, use skinless and bone-in thighs or breasts. You can also use pre-cooked meats such as pulled pork or rotisserie chicken.
• Pour in the desired broth, such as chicken or beef broth. You can also use water or other liquids like red wine or barbecue sauce.
• Add in canned or crushed tomatoes, along with any other seasonings or sauces like Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or ketchup. Do not stir at this point, as it may cause burning on the base of the pot.

Step 3: Pressure Cook

• Lock the lid of the pressure cooker securely in place.
• Adjust the settings to cook at high pressure for around 8-20 minutes, depending on the recipe and the doneness of the meat.
• Allow the pressure cooker to reduce pressure on its own for about 5 minutes after the cook time is up. Then carefully release the remaining pressure using the quick-release method according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 4: Shred the Meat and Add Vegetables

• Remove the meat from the pressure cooker and place it in a separate bowl.
• Shred the meat into smaller pieces using forks or a hand mixer. You can also cut it into bite-sized pieces if you prefer.
• Drain and add any canned or frozen vegetables, such as lima beans, corn, or okra. You can also add diced potatoes at this point.

Step 5: Pressure Cook Again

• Secure the lid again and pressure cook for a shorter time, around 4-5 minutes.
• Once the cook time is up, you can immediately release the steam and open the lid.

Step 6: Season and Serve

• Give the stew a final seasoning with salt and pepper to taste, along with seasonings like brown sugar, Creole/Cajun seasoning, or red pepper flakes.
• Stir everything well and ladle the Brunswick stew into bowls. Serve with cornbread or your favourite side dish!

Add the vegetables

Now it's time to add the vegetables to your Brunswick stew. First, prepare your vegetables by peeling and dicing the potatoes, and slicing the carrots into 1/4-inch disks. You can also add in some diced onion and minced garlic for extra flavour. If you like your stew with a kick, add some red pepper flakes.

Next, toss the vegetables into the pot. You can also add frozen lima beans, corn, and butter beans at this stage. Don't stir the mixture, but use a spoon to smooth out the vegetables so they are submerged.

Finally, secure the lid on your pressure cooker, and cook at high pressure. The vegetables should be ready in around 8 minutes. Quick-release the pressure when done, and carefully open the lid.

Your Brunswick stew is now ready to be served! This hearty stew is perfect for cold winter days and can be enjoyed with cornbread on the side.

Frequently asked questions