I love recipes that spring from practicality and this stew is a shining example of that. Most folks call this Brunswick Stew, some call it ….well I don’t know what all everyone calls it because it is around five o’clock in the morning and my coffee is still brewing so I’ll tell you the rest of my story and you can call it whatever cranks yer tractor because you got naming rights on anything you make in your own kitchen ~grins~.
At the first sign of chill in the air, BBQ joints around here start cranking out this delicious stew. It helps them use up any leftover shredded pork and chicken that they may have. By mixing in their signature bbq sauce (my No. 5 signature bbq sauce recipe is in my cookbook in case you need one) and whatever vegetables they have on hand they can turn out a flavorful and filling stew unlike any other.
So today I’m going to show you how simple this is to make in your own home. I’ll show you how I did it using what I had on hand but feel free to make this stew in the spirit it was created by modifying it to use whatever you have on hand at your house.
You’ll need: Bottle of BBQ Sauce (your preference), 2 cans whole kernel corn, onion, whole fryer, potatoes, and about two cups of vegetable or bean of your choice (I’m using frozen baby limas).
MY LATEST VIDEOSI’m just using chicken but you can use chicken, pork, whatever you have. You can also buy a rotisserie chicken if you like and just use canned broth. See how easy this is to modify?
Cover your chicken with water and add your onion. Cook it til it cries uncle, or at least stops putting up a fight.
My chicken looks funny because I stuck a wooden spoon right in the center of it to see if it was cooked so much that it would break apart. It did.
~grins~
Then remove chicken from broth. Let cool while you continue making the stew.
Here is our broth, all rich and wonderful. You don’t have to make your own, though. You are welcome to just stew some chicken breasts until done in canned broth if you like. If you go that route, I’d say you need about 32 ounces (four to five cups or so). Don’t stress over exact quantities, just eyeball it and trust your gut.
Trusting my gut has served me better than I could ever tell you. I’ll write about that one of these days.
Jedis would be jealous if they knew of my force!
To that broth that is left add two cans of drained whole kernel corn.
Whatever was on sale last time you got groceries would be fine because corn can’t read so it has no idea if it is a generic or name brand.
It all acts the same.
Peel and chop up your potatoes.
I did this to all of my potatoes but am just showing one here 🙂
I don’t even own a cutting board, I just use plates to chop on. If I had a cutting board, I’d lose it anyway.
I’m just all organized like that.
Add in your beans and/or other vegetables. I’m using frozen baby lima beans.
Awww, baby limas. Ever so much cuter than adult limas, doncha think?
God love ’em.
Now add in a whole bottle of bbq sauce.
I am using this kind because Dollar General had it when I sent my husband to buy some.
My favorite bbq sauce is the one I developed myself, Old No. 5, and the recipe for it is in my cookbook if you’d like the recipe and kind of funny story behind it.
I make it every few months in a big old batch and then can it. The thing is, I usually end up giving half of it away as gifts and the rest we eat right away on pork chops, chicken, etc, so I don’t have any on hand to show you today.
Oh, if you like your stew on the spicier side, use spicier bbq sauce.
Remove your chicken from the bone and shred it well. Add it back to the pot.
Find a cute kid to stir it up for ya.
In that fancy new pot that your Mama gave you for Christmas
Season with salt and pepper and simmer, stirring often, for about half an hour, or until veggies are done all the way
(I used those frozen limas so they need a full thirty minutes).
Enjoy! I love this stuff.
BBQ Joint Stew Ingredients - 1 bottle bbq sauce
- 2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
- 1-2 cups baby lima beans (or whatever beans you want to use)
- 1 whole fryer
- 3-4 medium sized potatoes, peeled and chopped (use more potatoes if you need stew to go further)
- 1 onion, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste (I start with a teaspoon of each but always end up adding twice that!)
Instructions - Place fryer in stock pot and cover with water. Add chopped onion. Cook over medium heat for about an hour, or until fully done and fall apart tender. Remove chicken from stock and set aside to cool. Add all other ingredients to stock and stir well. Debone and shred chicken and add back to pot. Add in Salt and Pepper. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat to simmer, stirring often, for about half an hour or until vegetables are fully cooked. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed (I like a LOT of pepper in mine).
- *This is excellent with a bit of hot sauce.
- 1 bottle bbq sauce
- 2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
- 1-2 cups baby lima beans (or whatever beans you want to use)
- 1 whole fryer
- 3-4 medium sized potatoes, peeled and chopped (use more potatoes if you need stew to go further)
- 1 onion, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste (I start with a teaspoon of each but always end up adding twice that!)
- Place fryer in stock pot and cover with water. Add chopped onion. Cook over medium heat for about an hour, or until fully done and fall apart tender. Remove chicken from stock and set aside to cool. Add all other ingredients to stock and stir well. Debone and shred chicken and add back to pot. Add in Salt and Pepper. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat to simmer, stirring often, for about half an hour or until vegetables are fully cooked. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed (I like a LOT of pepper in mine).
- *This is excellent with a bit of hot sauce.
A rich person is not one who has the most,
but one who needs the least.
Yum
Thanks for sharing this! It’s going on my fall cooking list FOR SURE!! 🙂
I hope you enjoy it Mykell!!
Isn’t it amazing how the same recipes travel to different regions in the south? Brunswick stew is served in all the barbecue joints here in southeastern NC; same recipe as you have in Alabama. Great for chilly weather!
It is funny Elaine, I guess it is just that good!!
I’m making this recipe as I type, but I wouldn’t call it authentic Brunswick Stew. I’m from Brunswick, GA.
I must say that you never claimed it to be any type of Brunswick Stew. I followed your recipe, using only one very large potato, a small pack of frozen baby limas, etc. Added a bottle of BBQ sauce. Then added some Chef Paul Prudhomma’s Magic Pepper Sauce and some genuine Tobasco Sauce. Otherwise there was no variation. It did take quite a lot of water to cover the whole chicken. Therefore it took a good while to reduce the water by simmering. Tastes very good. Thank you. I will be doing this again.
Christy…just gotta throw in a can of tomatoes (drained and chopped) adds just a little flavor and pretty to boot!!
Christy, you mentioned using a rotisserie chicken and I thought that sounded like a great idea for a quicker version. Is there any difference in the recipe when substituting it for the boiled bird? I have always wanted to try to make this and this recipe sounds so super easy. Oh and how big of a pot do you need? 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Christy, I just finished making this delightful stew! I did a few things differently, but only so I could use up some canned goods taking up space in my pantry. I used green peas, corn, a can of okra/tomato/corn mix, fresh red potatoes, the onion, and some all purpose seasoning. I made the broth with chicken legs I got on the cheap today. Oh, and I used the BBQ sauce of course! I used the Sweet Baby Ray’s because I have been wanting to try it. Awesome flavor!
At the end I added some broken up angel hair pasta, but only a tiny bit. I’m taking most of this to my Aunt who is under the weather, and she loves pasta in her soups so I did it for her. I will let you know how she likes it. She jumped all over it when I told her it would have BBQ sauce in it. That surprised me, lol, as she is usually a purist.
As for me, I plan to make it again and again. It is so different and hearty and tasty! Thanks for the recipe!
I am so glad to hear that you liked it Marcia!! It is a very versatile recipe, which is one of the things I love about it too!
Christy this sounds so yummy! I make soup all year round as love soup. Plus soup always makes a lot for minimal amount of money. I always have plenty to share with my neighbors. I truly do break all the rules about just eating it in the cooler weather.
Christy, I made this tonight! It is wonderful and yes- you spice it up or down depending on the BBQ sauce you choose to use! It is great for both dark and light meat chicken fans— only trouble will be the fighting over what leftovers may be in the fridge the next day! Great with cornbread or grilled cheese…
Thanks so much!
Winette in Virginia (author of Miss Daisy Celebrates Tennessee Cookbook, Celebrate Virginia! Cookbook, and Very Virginia Christmas Cookbook)
I’ve often thought about canning stews because I don’t like the texture of frozen potatoes when reheating freezer leftovers. Any tips on how to pressure can this? This and the chicken stew is great!
Hi John, I don’t own a pressure canner, although it is on my list for “someday”, so I can’t really answer that. There should be instructions on how to can stews included with your pressure canner and those would be the best to go by.
This sounds sooooooo good.
I am making your BBQ Joint Stew right now, that’s how good your recipe looked. Chicken is almost ready to come out of the stew pot to cool. Everything else is ready to be added to broth.
This is cooking and I can’t wait to take it to our fellowship meal today. Thank you for your recipes!!!
I hope everyone enjoys it!!
This is one I am going to try !1 It is cool here today , might be supper !!