Slow Cooker Brunswick Stew Recipe
Crockpot Brunswick Stew Recipe: This simple crock pot version is the Best Brunswick Stew we’ve ever tasted… And it’s SO easy to make!
Our Best Brunswick Stew Recipe
Brunswick stew is a dish that is hard to describe.
Smoky. Hearty. Southern. Those are the three most prominent qualities we can think of.
The smoky flavors come from the original method of using leftover smoked meats in the recipe. Yet nowadays, we add barbecue sauce, and liquid smoke to create smokiness at home. You don’t need a smoker to capture all these flavors.
This stew’s heartiness comes from the numerous chunky ingredients that create thickness and texture.
The “southern-ness” of our Best Brunswick Recipe comes from the mere fact that it was created in the South… It also takes into account the array of different Southern ingredients found in Brunswick Stew, such as pork, lima beans, corn, and okra.
All in all, Classic Brunswick Stew is bold and zesty, rich and meaty, and packed with comfort.
We love this recipe, and think it’s the best, because it captures the essence of classic Brunswick Stew found in southern barbecue joints, yet it is easily made in the crockpot!
What Is Brunswick Stew?
(And where did it come from??)
Apparently, there’s a rivalry between Brunswick County, Virginia, and Brunswick, Georgia over this detail. These two communities go head to head over who deserves the credit for the original recipe for Brunswick Soup.
In an effort to stake their claim, Brunswick County in Virginia hosts an annual Taste of Brunswick Festival, in which people compete to earn the title of “Brunswick County Stewmaster.”
Despite the rivalry, most historians agree that Native Americans were the first to create any sort of Easy Brunswick Stew variation.
They made this stew with all sorts of wild game and the vegetables they grew. Originally, the recipe consisted of meat from squirrels, groundhogs, bear, deer, and then hominy, corn, and squash.
Slow Cooker Stew Recipe
Brunswick Stew is an easy dish to make.
It’s as simple as throwing meat, vegetables, and a mixture of sauces into a slow cooker. Just set and forget… Until the irresistible aroma draws you back to the kitchen.
This slow cooker stew is the perfect dish to make on a chilly night when you’re craving rich barbeque flavors and plan to relax near the fire.
It’s a cozy comforting stew that can be enjoyed on any number of occasions!
Brunswick Stew Ingredients
Crockpot Brunswick Stew is often made with:
- Leftover pulled pork
- Smoked chicken
- Chopped beef
- Or a combination of meats.
That’s why it’s a barbecue restaurant favorite!
For the sake of convenience we are using just pork, but feel free to use any or all of the meats.
- Butter
- Sweet onion
- Celery
- Bell pepper
- Garlic
- Pork roast
- Baby lima beans
- White corn
- Okra
- Crushed tomato
- Bbq sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Brown mustard
- Hot sauce
- Liquid smoke
- Bay leaf
How To Make Brunswick Stew
- Sizzle. Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, onions, celery and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes to soften. Dump the sautéed vegetables into a large slow cooker.
- Chop. Cut the pork roast into large chunks. Place all the pieces, including the bone, into the slow cooker.
- Load. Add all remaining ingredients to the crock pot.
- Cook. Cover and slow cook for 6-7 hours on high or 10-12 hours on low.
- Shred. Once the pork is fork-tender, remove the bone and bay leaf. Shred the pork chunks into the stew.
Get the Full (Printable) Brunswick Stew Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
The meat choice is up to you, but we definitely recommend pulled pork, chicken, or beef. Use any or all three!
This stew lasts up to five days in an airtight sealed container, in your refrigerator. It’s a great dish to make in advance if you have a busy week of work and activities!
Yes! You can use cooked or leftover pulled pork, chicken, or beef for the stovetop version. Saute your vegetables, and then add the pulled meat, and other ingredients. Then simmer for 30 minutes.
Pack it in a freezer zip bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3-6 months.
This recipe is pretty thick. However, you can always make it thicker by adding cornflour or cornstarch to the broth of your Brunswick Stew!
Traditional Brunswick stew is hearty and can be served on its own. However, it would also go well with some simple sides for an even more satisfying meal! Try serving it with cornbread, biscuits, dinner rolls or even some garlic bread.
More Meaty Comfort Foods
- 5-Ingredient Pulled Pork
- Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Chili
- Tuscan Beef Cassoulet
- Beef and Lentil Stew
- Pressure Cooker Corned Beef Irish Stew
- Jamaican Oxtail Stew Recipe
- Carne Adovada (New Mexican Red Chile Pork)
- Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie (With Biscuits)
- Spicy Crockpot Barbacoa
- Ethiopian Chicken Doro Wat
See ALL our Slow Cooker Recipes!
Slow Cooker Brunswick Stew Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large sweet onion, peeled and chopped
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 4-6 cloves garlic minced
- 3 pounds pork roast, fat trimmed
- 1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped, any color (I used red)
- 14 ounces frozen baby lima beans
- 14 ounces frozen white corn (or white and yellow mixed)
- 28 ounces crushed tomato
- ½ cup bbq sauce
- 3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown mustard
- 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 ounces frozen okra
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, onions, celery and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and sauté for 5 minutes to soften. Dump the sautéed vegetables into a large 6+ quart slow cooker.
- Cut the pork roast into large chunks. Place all the pieces, including the bone, into the slow cooker.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, along with 1 ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Cover and slow cook for 6-7 hours on high or 10-12 hours on low.
- Once the pork is fork-tender, remove the bone and bay leaf. Shred the pork chunks into the stew. Taste, then season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce as needed.
I love the smoky flavors here! This is a keeper!
I enjoy Brunswick stew and have tried several recipes, but this one is my favorite. When I tried this recipe, I skipped the liquid smoke because I used pulled pork and pulled chicken that I smoked over lump charcoal (oak and hickory) and a few chunks of apple wood. Thanks for the recipe!
This Crockpot Brunswick Stew Recipe sounds so good! I searched for and read many other Brunswick Stew recipes, and yours wins, hands down!! Like that this recipe doesn’t go overboard with BBQ sauce, like so many others do. Did you use a Pork Loin Roast, or a Pork Shoulder? Thanks for sharing :)
This is such an amazing recipe and I suggest that everyone try it!
love all of these ingredients, a new stew for me but the perfect slow cooker recipe, thank you!
I usually wouldn’t make this on my own, but a friend asked for it and they thought it was just amazing.