Brunswick Chicken Stew: The Ultimate Guide

Brunswick stew is a Southern dish that features beans, vegetables, and meat in a tomato base. Chicken is a popular choice of meat for Brunswick stew, along with pork and beef. To cook chicken for Brunswick stew, you can either cook it directly in the broth with the vegetables or cook it separately and add it to the soup later. Cooking the chicken in advance allows you to ensure it is fully cooked and also saves time.

Choosing the right chicken parts

Brunswick stew is a Southern dish that traditionally features beans, vegetables, and meat in a tomato base. While early versions of the dish used meats such as squirrel, rabbit, and even opossum, today, it commonly features chicken, along with pork and beef.

When choosing the right chicken parts for your Brunswick stew, there are a few options to consider:

Chicken Breasts or Thighs

The type of chicken meat you use can depend on your preference for white or dark meat. Chicken breasts are leaner and have a milder flavour, while chicken thighs are juicier and have a richer taste. If you opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, your stew will be lower in fat and will not require the additional step of removing bones and skin before serving.

Rotisserie Chicken

If you're short on time or want a convenient option, using a store-bought rotisserie chicken is a great choice. Simply remove the meat from the bones, chop or shred it, and add it to your stew. This option adds flavour to your dish and saves you the effort of cooking the chicken separately.

Leftover Chicken

Brunswick stew is an excellent dish for using up leftover chicken. Whether you have leftover roasted chicken or grilled chicken, simply remove the meat from the bones, chop or shred it, and add it to your stew. This is a budget-friendly and sustainable way to use up leftovers while creating a delicious meal.

Raw Chicken

If you prefer to cook the chicken specifically for your Brunswick stew, you can add raw chicken directly to the broth with the vegetables. This option allows you to control the seasoning and cooking method of the chicken to your liking. However, it requires additional time and attention to ensure the chicken is cooked thoroughly before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

When selecting chicken parts for your Brunswick stew, consider the amount of time and effort you want to invest, as well as your personal preference for chicken meat. Using a combination of chicken parts can also add variety and depth of flavour to your stew.

Preparing the chicken

To start, you will need to gather your ingredients, which typically include chicken parts such as thighs or breasts, depending on your preference. You will also need a large pot and some water. Place the chicken and water in the pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. This is an important step as it helps to cook the chicken thoroughly and enhance its flavour. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chicken simmer. The chicken is ready when it is tender, which usually takes around 45 minutes.

After the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool until it is easy to handle. This step ensures that you don't burn yourself while handling the meat. Once the chicken is cool enough, remove the skin and bones and discard them. You only want to use the meat for the stew. Chop the chicken meat into bite-sized pieces. This step adds a nice texture to the final dish and makes it easier to eat. Return the chopped chicken to the pot, and you're ready for the next steps!

At this point, you can add the remaining ingredients to make Brunswick stew, such as potatoes, onions, tomatoes, corn, lima beans, and various seasonings. Stir everything well and let it simmer, usually for about an hour, until all the vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. And that's it! You now have a delicious pot of chicken Brunswick stew ready to be enjoyed.

Cooking the chicken

There are several ways to cook the chicken for Brunswick stew. You can cook it in the broth with the vegetables, but it is preferable to cook it beforehand and add it to the soup later. This allows for better control over the doneness of the chicken and speeds up the soup-making process.

If you want to cook the chicken in the broth with the vegetables, add the raw chicken breasts in step 2 when you add the veggies and broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover. Cook the chicken for about 20 minutes or until it is fully cooked. When the chicken is fully cooked, remove and shred it. Simmer the stew for an additional 10-25 minutes until the veggies are tender. Once the veggies are tender, add the chicken back into the soup and serve.

Alternatively, you can cook the chicken in a Dutch oven. First, dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Then, add the chicken and the rest of the ingredients to the Dutch oven. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer on low heat for 30-45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.

You can also cook the chicken in an oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add them to a Dutch oven along with the rest of the ingredients. Bake, covered, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.

Using Leftover or Rotisserie Chicken

If you want to save time, you can use leftover or rotisserie chicken. Simply shred or chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the soup towards the end of the cooking process. This is a great way to use up leftover chicken and create a delicious and hearty Brunswick stew.

Adding vegetables and other ingredients

Now that you've prepared your chicken, it's time to add some vegetables and other ingredients to make your Brunswick stew.

The traditional base for Brunswick stew is a combination of tomatoes and chicken stock. You can use canned diced tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes, which you can chop yourself. For the chicken stock, you can use store-bought or make your own from scratch. If you want to add a bit of sweetness to your stew, you can also include some tomato paste.

Next, you'll want to add some vegetables. Potatoes, corn, and lima beans are common choices, but you can also add carrots, celery, and onions. If you're looking for a thicker stew, leave the potatoes unpeeled and simply chop them into bite-sized pieces. You can also add some diced tomatoes, which will add to the hearty texture of the stew. Okra is another popular choice, though some people may not care for it.

To add some extra flavour to your stew, you can include ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, molasses, and barbecue sauce. A little bit of brown sugar can also add a touch of sweetness, and some hot sauce or cayenne pepper can give it a kick. If you're using barbecue sauce, you can try a North Carolina-style vinegar-based sauce for an authentic touch. Don't be afraid to adjust the spices to your taste—you can always add more barbecue sauce, salt, black pepper, or cayenne pepper to suit your preferences.

Finally, don't forget to season your stew with salt and pepper to taste.

Serving suggestions

Brunswick stew is a hearty and filling dish, so it can be served on its own. However, it is traditionally served as a side dish with barbecued meats, such as chicken or pork. It is also delicious with cornbread or biscuits on the side.

For a lighter meal, serve the stew with a salad, such as a quinoa salad, a sweet kale salad, or a simple spinach salad. You could also serve it with pickles, coleslaw, or fried okra.

If you're looking for something to dip into the stew, try crunchy bread, like sourdough or honey whole wheat bread, or crackers.

For a real Southern experience, serve Brunswick stew with potato skins, or stuff the stew into potato skins for a unique twist.

Leftover Brunswick stew can be used in a variety of ways. Toss it with pasta, grains, or rice, or serve it over eggs. You can also use it as a filling for sandwiches or wraps.

Finally, don't be afraid to get creative with your serving suggestions! Brunswick stew is a versatile dish that can be adapted to suit your tastes.

Frequently asked questions