Cozy Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe For Cold Nights
Brunswick stew embodies a hearty Southern symphony of flavors that dances between tradition and comfort.
This legendary pot of deliciousness brings together tender meats, vibrant vegetables, and generations of culinary wisdom.
Regional chefs have long celebrated its versatility, transforming humble ingredients into a soul-warming masterpiece.
Smoky undertones mingle with rich protein combinations, creating a meal that feels like a warm embrace.
Every spoonful carries whispers of old family recipes and weekend gatherings.
The stew’s complex layers tell stories of resourceful cooks who knew how to craft magic from simple ingredients.
Experience a taste of Southern hospitality that will make your taste buds sing with pure, unapologetic joy.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Calories: 410 kcal
Servings: 11
Everything That Goes Into Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
For Aromatic Base:For Protein Components:For Flavor Enhancers:Items You’ll Need for Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
Process to Complete Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
Heat olive oil in a large pot, creating a sizzling foundation for your mouthwatering stew. Toss in chopped onions and celery, letting them dance and caramelize until they release their sweet, aromatic magic.
Introduce ground pork and beef into the pot, stirring and browning them until they develop a rich, golden exterior. The searing process locks in incredible depth of flavor that will make taste buds sing.
Blend shredded chicken, chopped tomatoes, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce into the mix. Drop in a whole green bell pepper for an extra layer of complexity. Season with salt and pepper, creating a symphony of tastes that meld together perfectly.
Reduce heat and let the stew simmer lazily for several hours. Occasionally stir to prevent sticking and allow flavors to intertwine and develop a robust, hearty character. The slow cooking transforms simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.
Stir in cream-style corn during the last hour of cooking, giving the stew a creamy texture and sweet undertone. Decide the fate of the green pepper – remove, chop, or discard based on your preference. Ladle into bowls and savor the comforting, rich flavors of this classic Southern-style stew.
Creative Variations for Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
Explore exciting ways to make this classic dish uniquely yours.
Kick the heat level by adding cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or your favorite hot sauce. Start with a small amount and adjust to your taste buds’ desire.
Swap or mix meats for a personalized twist. Try pulled chicken, smoked turkey, or even lamb for an unexpected flavor profile. Wild game meats like rabbit or venison work wonderfully too.
Experiment with different corn styles – fresh corn kernels, different corn varieties, or even grilled corn can add unexpected texture and sweetness to the stew.
This stew tastes even better the next day. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze for a quick future meal that develops deeper, richer flavors over time.
Perfect Pairings for Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
How to Store Leftovers from Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
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Hearty Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 11 1x
Description
Pioneer Woman’s Brunswick stew combines hearty chicken, tender pork, and zesty barbecue sauce in a comforting Southern classic. Home cooks will savor this rich, satisfying one-pot meal that brings Southern kitchen warmth to dinner tables.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground pork
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 3 lbs whole cooked chicken, deboned and shredded
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 3 (14.5 oz / 411 g) cans whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- 0.5 cup hickory-flavored barbecue sauce
- 3 (14.75 oz / 418 g) cans cream style corn
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp hot sauce to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat, introducing diced onions and celery. Allow vegetables to soften and become translucent, releasing their aromatic essence for about 5 minutes.
- Protein Integration: Add ground pork and beef to the vegetable base, methodically breaking down the meats while stirring until they transition from pink to a uniform brown color, approximately 10 minutes of consistent cooking.
- Flavor Layering: Fold in shredded chicken, chopped tomatoes, ketchup, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Simultaneously incorporate a whole green bell pepper to enhance the stew’s complexity.
- Simmering Process: Reduce heat to lowest setting, allowing the mixture to gently simmer and concentrate flavors. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching and promote even thickness over 2 hours.
- Final Refinement: Introduce creamy corn during the last hour of cooking, continuing the slow simmering process. Remove or chop the green pepper according to preference before serving, ensuring the stew reaches a rich, thick consistency.
Notes
- Meat Mixing Magic: Combine ground pork and beef thoroughly to create a rich, layered protein base that ensures deep flavor development.
- Slow Simmer Technique: Keep heat extremely low to allow flavors to meld and develop complexity, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and promote even cooking.
- Texture Transformation: Allow stew to reduce significantly over 2-3 hours, concentrating flavors and creating a thick, hearty consistency that defines traditional Brunswick stew.
- Corn Control: Add corn towards the end of cooking to maintain its fresh texture and prevent overcooking, which can make the stew mushy and less appealing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing, Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.