Eastern North Carolina Brunswick Stew
If you’re from Eastern North Carolina, then you already know about a good pot of Brunswick stew! This is one of those classic Southern dishes that takes me right back home.
Growing up in Eastern North Carolina, Brunswick stew was the kind of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal that was especially good once the weather started cooling down. It’s loaded with meat and vegetables and has that slightly smoky, tangy flavor from the barbecue sauce that brings everything together.
And one thing about me...I love a recipe that lets you use what you already have. If you have leftover pulled pork or chicken from Sunday dinner or a cookout, don't let it go to waste. Turn it into a big pot of Brunswick stew!
What Is Brunswick Stew?
Brunswick stew is a thick, hearty Southern stew traditionally made with a combination of meats, tomatoes, corn, lima beans and other vegetables. Depending on where you’re from—and who taught you how to make it—the ingredients can vary.
You know how Southern recipes go. Everybody's mama, grandma and auntie have their own way of making it!
My version combines pulled pork and pulled chicken with potatoes, corn, lima beans and okra in a rich tomato and barbecue-based broth. It's hearty, comforting and packed with flavor. I made my pulled pork in the crockpot. The recipe on how to do it is linked below.
Eastern North Carolina Brunswick Stew Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups pulled pork
1-2 cups pulled chicken
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 (32-ounce) box chicken broth
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
1 cup barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups frozen corn
2 cups frozen lima beans
1 cup frozen okra
1–2 small potatoes, peeled and diced
Instructions
In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the diced onion and sauté until it begins to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds, until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together.
Add the diced potatoes, corn, lima beans and okra. Bring the stew to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes and vegetables begin to soften.
Stir in the pulled pork and pulled chicken.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Continue simmering over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the stew has thickened to your liking.
Give it one final taste, adjust your seasonings if necessary and serve it piping hot.
What I Served With My Brunswick Stew
Now, y'all know I wasn't about to serve a big bowl of Brunswick stew without some cornbread! I served mine with old-school Southern corn sticks, and they were the perfect match. Those crispy edges are made for dipping into a warm bowl of Brunswick stew and soaking up all that goodness. And this is exactly what I mean when I say cornbread is the main character on the plate! The recipe for my corn sticks is included in my new The Cornbread Collection eBook, along with a link to the exact corn stick pan I use to get that classic shape and those delicious crispy edges.
The eBook includes 21 sweet and savory cornbread recipes, ranging from the old-school Southern recipes I grew up eating to some fun, creative twists. You'll find recipes like hoecakes, hot water cornbread, corn sticks, scallion cornbread waffles, apple cider cornbread donuts and more.
GRAB THE CORNBREAD COLLECTION eBOOK-
Make Grocery Shopping Easy
Want to make this Brunswick stew at home? I've made that easy, too!
I've included a grocery shopping list below so you can save it, screenshot it or take it with you to the store. Grab everything you need for the stew, and don't forget your corn sticks!
A Little Taste of Home
Recipes like this are why I love sharing Southern food. Food has a way of taking you back to a place, a person or a moment in time. For me, a big pot of Brunswick stew takes me straight back to Eastern North Carolina. It's simple, hearty, comforting and made to be shared a round the table. Add a few crispy corn sticks on the side, and now you've got yourself a true Memory on a Plate.
And as my mama always said, when you cook at home, you know what you are eating.
Enjoy, Sweet Tea family! 💛
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