Brunswick Stew: Slow-Cooked Comfort

Brunswick stew is a hearty, savoury dish that is perfect for those who love a good, old-fashioned bowl of comfort food. This stew is especially popular in the southern states of the US, with Virginia and Georgia both claiming to have created the original version.

Traditionally, Brunswick stew was made with a combination of meats like squirrel, rabbit, and possum, but these days, it's more common to use chicken and pork. The key to a good Brunswick stew is in the mix of vegetables and the smokey flavour that comes from using smoked meats, liquid smoke, and barbecue sauce.

This stew is perfect for making ahead of time and can be frozen in batches, so you always have a comforting meal ready to go. Serve it with cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, or a loaf of pumpkin bread for the ultimate Southern feast.

Prep and cook time

The prep time for Brunswick stew in a croc pot is generally around 10-15 minutes. This includes chopping and seasoning the ingredients, and combining them in the slow cooker.

The cooking time varies depending on the recipe and the desired consistency of the stew. Some recipes recommend cooking the stew on a low setting for 4-8 hours, or on a high setting for 3-5 hours.

One recipe suggests microwaving the potatoes separately for 3-4 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker, to ensure they are cooked through.

It is also recommended to let the stew sit for a few hours after cooking to allow the flavours to develop.

Ingredients

Brunswick stew is a hearty, savoury dish that is loaded with flavour. It is a tomato-based stew that usually contains meat and vegetables. Here is a list of ingredients that you can use to make Brunswick stew in a croc pot:

Meat:

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or boneless, skinless chicken thighs are good options. Chicken thighs tend to stay juicier during the slow cooking process.
• Pork: Use either a pork tenderloin or a small pork loin roast. You can also use leftover pulled pork or BBQ pork from your favourite BBQ joint.
• Beef: Smoked beef brisket or ground beef can be used as an alternative to pork.
• Wild game: Historically, Brunswick stew was made with squirrel, rabbit, or possum. You can also use venison if you want to add a modern twist.

Vegetables:

• Diced tomatoes: Use a large can of diced tomatoes and do not drain the liquid.
• Corn: Frozen or canned corn can be used. Canned creamed corn will add a creamy texture to the stew.
• Lima beans or butter beans: Frozen or canned lima beans can be used. If using dried lima beans, soak them overnight before adding to the stew.
• Onion: Use a large red onion, diced. You can also use frozen chopped onion that has been sautéed in a skillet.
• Potatoes: Russet potatoes, peeled and diced, can be added. You can also use frozen diced potatoes or simply potatoes, which are diced with onion.
• Okra: Frozen sliced okra can be added.
• Green bell pepper: Seed and dice the pepper before adding to the stew.
• Garlic: Mince the garlic cloves before adding them to the pot.
• Other vegetables: You can also add peas, carrots, celery, or green beans to the stew.

Seasonings and Condiments:

• Chicken broth: Use high-quality store-bought chicken broth or make your own from scratch.
• Ketchup: Adds a sweet flavour to the stew.
• BBQ sauce: Adds a richer, smokier flavour to the dish. You can use any type of BBQ sauce you like.
• Vinegar: White vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used to add a tangy flavour.
• Worcestershire sauce: Provides a salty, umami flavour.
• Hot sauce: Adds a spicy kick to the dish. You can adjust the amount to your taste preferences.
• Salt and pepper: Kosher salt and ground black pepper can be used to enhance the other flavours in the dish.
• Other seasonings: You can also add dried parsley, ground cumin, or red pepper flakes to taste.

Cooking method

To make Brunswick stew in a croc pot, start by placing the meat in the bottom of the slow cooker. You can use a combination of chicken and pork, or chicken alone, or even cooked ground beef or ground pork. If you're using raw meat, you can dice it into bite-sized pieces before putting it in the pot.

Next, add the remaining ingredients and stir everything together. The vegetables you can use include onion, lima beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, okra, and peas. You can use fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables, depending on what you have available.

Then, cover the croc pot and cook the stew on a low setting for 5-8 hours, or on a high setting for 3-4 hours.

Once the stew is cooked, remove the chicken and pork and place them in a large bowl or on a cutting board. Shred the meat using two forks or chop it with a knife. Return the shredded meat to the pot and stir it in.

Finally, ladle the stew into bowls and serve!

Serving suggestions

Brunswick stew is a hearty, savoury dish that is often served with cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, or a loaf of pumpkin bread. It is a classic Southern dish, so it is best served with other Southern-style dishes, such as:

• Sweet cornbread
• Jalapeno cheddar Mexican cornbread
• Skillet cornbread
• Old-fashioned corn sticks
• Honey cornbread
• Corn muffins
• Pumpkin bread
• Southern collard greens
• Southern squash casserole
• Fried apples

For a more casual approach, serve the stew with Fritos corn chips and shredded sharp cheddar, as suggested by Jamie from Family Savvy.

If you want to make a full Southern feast, you can also serve the stew with:

• A green salad with a red wine vinaigrette
• A wedge salad
• A Caesar salad
• Homemade white bread
• Dinner rolls

For a lighter meal, serve the stew with a mixed greens salad with Dijon vinaigrette.

Storage and reheating

Leftover Brunswick stew will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To extend its shelf life, pack the cooled stew into airtight containers or freezer-safe Ziploc bags and freeze for up to 3 months. For easier portioning, consider freezing the stew in batches of 3-4 cups.

When you're ready to enjoy your frozen stew, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Then, reheat it on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through.

Tips for Reheating

• Avoid reheating your Brunswick stew in a slow cooker or crockpot, as the dish won't heat up quickly enough, creating an environment where harmful bacteria can breed.
• If you're reheating frozen stew, place the container in warm water for about 5 minutes to help it along before emptying the contents into a saucepan.
• Warm the stew over medium-low heat until it's completely defrosted and hot and bubbly.

Frequently asked questions