Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe

Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe is this smoky-sweet-meaty-simmered wonder that tastes like a Southern hug in a bowl. It’s cozy, fast-ish, and full of pantry/freezer staples — pulled pork, chicken, lima beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, all stewed down into something that feels way more complicated than it actually is. Not gonna lie… I made this once just to use up leftovers, and now it’s on repeat when I need comfort that doesn’t taste like compromise.

Ingredients Needed

• 1½ tbsp canola oil – neutral oil to sauté without overpowering.
• 1 large onion, finely chopped – brings sweetness and base flavour.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced – don’t skip, it builds depth.
• 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth – adjust salt later, not now.
• 2 tbsp tomato paste – adds body and richness.
• 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes – smoky, tangy, the fire-roasted bit matters.
• 1½ cups frozen corn – adds sweetness and a little pop.
• 1½ cups frozen lima beans – classic, filling, and fibre-rich.
• ¾ cup barbecue sauce – the backbone of the whole stew.
• 2 tbsp brown sugar – balances the tang.
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce – umami boost.
• 1½ tsp hot sauce – use your fave, dial the heat.
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper – tiny heat, adjust to taste.
• 1–2 pinches cayenne pepper – sneaky background heat.
• 2½ cups pulled smoked pork – store-bought or leftovers work fine.
• 1½ cups cooked diced chicken (breast or thigh) – roasted or smoked, your call.

How To Make Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew

Sauté Your Base:
Heat oil in a big pot or Dutch oven. Add onion, cook until soft and golden (5–6 mins). Toss in garlic, stir for 1 minute. Smells amazing already? Yep.

Build the Broth:
Mix tomato paste with a splash of broth (¼ cup). Pour that in first, then everything else: broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, corn, lima beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, hot sauce, black pepper, crushed red pepper, cayenne. Stir. Bring it to a lazy boil.

Simmer & Wait:
Lower heat, let it all stew gently for 15 minutes. Stir sometimes. Go check your email or start some cornbread.

Add the Meat:
Stir in your pulled pork and diced chicken. Let it simmer another 5 minutes — just enough to heat through without drying it out.

Taste and Serve:
Taste and tweak — salt, extra BBQ sauce, whatever you want. Serve it hot with a drizzle of BBQ on top. Maybe some bread on the side. Maybe not.

Recipe Tips

• Choose BBQ sauce wisely. It defines the flavour — smoky, sweet, vinegary, whatever you love.
• Frozen veg = easy win. If you’re using fresh, cook them a bit longer.
• Meat timing matters. Don’t add the pork/chicken too early or you’ll get dry stringy sadness.
• Adjust heat last. You can always add more cayenne, but you can’t take it back.

How to Store & Reheat

Room Temperature: Let cool no more than 1 hour.
Fridge: Airtight container, 3–4 days.
Freezer: Up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in fridge.
Reheat: Medium pot on stovetop, or microwave in bursts, stirring halfway.

Nutrition Facts (Approx. per serving)

Calories: 380
Sodium: 800mg
Protein: 20g
Fat: 8g
Carbs: 30g
Fibre: 5g
Sugar: 10g

FAQs

Pioneer Woman Brunswick Stew Recipe

Recipe by Marry ThompsonCourse: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

380

kcal

A warm, smoky, tomato-rich stew full of pulled pork, chicken, and hearty vegetables — cozy comfort food in under 40 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1½ tbsp canola oil

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)

• 1½ cups frozen corn

• 1½ cups frozen lima beans

• ¾ cup barbecue sauce (plus extra for drizzling)

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1½ tsp hot sauce

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper

• 1–2 pinches cayenne pepper

• 2½ cups pulled smoked pork

• 1½ cups cooked diced chicken (breast or thigh)

Directions

• Heat oil in large pot. Sauté onion 5–6 mins. Add garlic, cook 1 min.
• Stir tomato paste with ¼ cup broth, add to pot.
• Add rest of broth, tomatoes, corn, beans, sauces, sugar, and spices. Simmer 15 mins.
• Stir in pork and chicken. Simmer 5 more mins.
• Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with BBQ drizzle.

Notes

• Choose a BBQ sauce you actually like — it matters.
• Add meat last to avoid dryness.
• Can sub fresh veg, just cook longer.
• Freezes beautifully — perfect for meal prep.