Our easy Brunswick stew recipe with potatoes recipe with shredded beef, tomatoes and lima beans is a simple leftover recipe that takes very little prep time to throw together in the morning.
Looking for a super hearty meal? This one pot meal is great with pork, shredded beef recipe, or use ground beef for a cheaper meal. Potatoes, lima beans and corn add some texture and voila dinner is served. One of many easy Crockpot recipes we love on our site.
What is Brunswick Stew?
It is a hearty, traditional Southern American dish, known for its rich thick consistency and savory flavor. It’s typically made with a tomato base and a variety of vegetables and meats. There are some regional variations, but the core elements are; meat, vegetables and seasonings with some sort of thick sauce like bbq or tomato.
It is super versatile too because you can use just about any type of leftover meat you have on hand. Made pulled pork the other night and had a few cups sitting in the fridge so I made this with it too! Use shredded Beef Chuck Roast Slow Cooker if you like those flavors and you have that instead.
What meat is best for Brunswick stew?
You want to start with beef with some fat on it so it shreds easily and has a lot of flavor, diced chuck roast is great for that. Most of the time I will make this with leftover beef though which adds an amazing flavor, and a great way to not waste food!
Brunswick Stew with Frozen Beef
Can you use frozen meat to make this? For sure, you’d just have to prepare that the day or early in the morning to begin with. You can follow our frozen roast in slow cooker recipe, use Shredded Beef From Frozen and then continue on with the rest of the directions
Best Potatoes to Add
Now these are optional but definitely a must for us because it makes this meal a lot heartier. I actually prefer Yukon Gold or Russets for this and I will likely leave the skin on so they don’t fall apart as easily. Red will remain a bit firmer and can work too.
What vegetables belong in stew?
For the sauce you are going to start with canned Diced tomatoes to make it easy. I do like the petite variety but pick your favorite brand and size. Tomato sauce is needed to thicken the gravy, you could use bbq sauce instead though for more of a kick.
Vegetables added in there we use typically are diced Onions, sweet corn kernels, onions, celery and Lima beans dry or canned works.
Beef broth is better than water for the necessary liquid to add a lot more flavor to this dish. Seasonings we add are typically simple like salt and pepper really.
How to Make Stew Spicy
Then add the seasonings you like, the ones added here are listed below in the printable recipe card below. If you want to make this a bit spicy, add a bit of hot sauce into your Crock pot or you can sprinkle in some of our jalapeno powder.
Brunswick Stew Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs shredded beef, precooked
- 28 oz diced tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 2 cup corn, frozen kernels
- 30 oz lima beans, canned, drained
- 2 large potatoes, cubed
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 24 oz beef broth, or water, more to thin out if desired
Instructions
- If you want to soften the onions do this in a saucepan with celery and minced garlic together. Once onions are transluscent turn off and pour contents into slow cooker. Not a must but will bring out more flavor.
- Add all other ingredients into slow cooker and stir so they are mixed together and get tender.
- Stir and cook on low for 7-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Cooking Tips
If you are going to add onions I do recommend that you soften them a bit with some oil first before adding in with remaining ingredients. You can do this in just a few minutes in a skillet over medium heat to bring out a better flavor and tenderize too.
I always recommend low and slow all day for better flavor and a more tender texture overall. Food cooked on high is necessary only when you have large pieces of meat that are frozen like chuck roast, other than that don’t do it friends.
Once the protein in your Crockpot Brunswick stew is pre-cooked you just dump it all in and go. It truly is an easy cheap Crockpot meal for sure. Especially if you’re using leftovers for a second dinner, it’s like a 2 for 1.
Slow cooked all day and ready for y’all to enjoy it after a busy day, it’s a great meal that feeds lots of bellies. If you do have leftovers you can totally save them and they reheat quite well.
Can leftover stew be frozen?
Yep! If you love to batch cook, this one, our venison chili, and Puerto Rican stew are great one to make a double serving of. You can freeze before cooking and then throw it into your pot on low and let it cook all day, or better yet allow it to defrost overnight and then cook. If you had a helping but have a lot left allow it to cool completely first. Then transfer to a gallon freezer bag.
That is the best way so that you can zip it closed and lay it flat so it saves a lot of space. Then you can make other dishes and stack a few with very little space used up. Airtight containers work well too. In the fridge this will stay well for up to 3 days, or a month in your freezer so decide for yourself.
