busy day brunswick stew (crock pot)
Brunswick stew was a specialty of my father's, and his recipe was his mother's which dated back to her grandmother way before the Civil War. The original started out: "Skin a squirrel, rabbit, or get a good chicken if no game is available ..." Actually, my father had traced our ancestry all the way back to before the first Alstons came to America in the 1600's. So the Brunswick Stew recipe was definitely Colonial. I have adapted it to crockpot cooking. And like my father, I always believe it tastes better reheated on the second day.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
Brunswick stew is extremely popular in the South and supposedly dates back to the 1800's. It's basically a vegetable soup with meat and everyone has their own twist on the recipe. We absolutely loved Susan's savory and hearty recipe. Every bite is full of shredded chicken, bits of salted pork, corn, and potatoes. When you add the little tang of the tomatoes and spice from the pepper, you have a well-rounded stew that is sure to bring warmth and comfort to the dinner table.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds rabbit or chicken pieces, cut up, skin removed
- 3 tablespoons shortening or lard (I use olive oil)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 4 ounces salt pork, fat back or thick bacon
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cans diced or stewed tomatoes with juice
- 1 can green lima beans
- 1 can white shoepeg corn
- 1 large potato, peeled and cubed
- 8 ounces tomato sauce or puree (optional)
- - lots of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (or more) crushed dried red pepper
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- - salt, to taste
How To Make busy day brunswick stew (crock pot)
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Step 1In a heavy skillet, heat shortening or oil and brown the rabbit or chicken pieces very well, until they are turning golden brown on the outside. -
Step 2Remove the meat to a slow cooker set on high.
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Step 3In the same skillet, cook onion in the salt pork (chopped fine) until salt pork is turning crispy and onion is golden brown.
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Step 4Put this into the slow cooker.
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Step 5Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with juice, lima beans, corn, potatoes, and tomato sauce (if desired) to the slow cooker. Add water if necessary to fill slow cooker at least 3/4 full. Cook on high power, covered, for about 1-2 hours, then turn to low and cook 6 or more hours stirring ocassionally. NOTE: Tomato sauce is not traditional in this recipe, but can be added if you like a stronger tomato flavor.
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Step 6Remove the chicken pieces from the Crock Pot. Take the pieces off the bone, shred with a fork and return to the Crock Pot.
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Step 7One hour before serving, stir in black and red peppers to taste, cider vinegar, and salt to taste. Heat through to blend flavors. May heat about an hour or longer if desired. This is good now, but really better heated up the next day.
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Step 8NOTE: I sometimes make this using pre-cooked leftover chicken meat from a rotisserie chicken or another source. Use at least 3-4 cups of meat, and omit the shortening/browning stage. Just put the meat in the slow cooker. Proceed with browning the salt pork. Some cooks will put about 1/2 pound of cooked crumbled sausage in, too. It really depends on what you have on hand. Sometimes they add okra, but my father always said okra makes it Gumbo, not Brunswick Stew.
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