Famous Alabama Camp Stew
This recipe is as old as the hills and is often known as Brunswick stew outside of my stomping grounds. Hearty and delicious this stew will fill you up and keep you and your family grinnin’ like a possum eating a sweet tater.
Famous Alabama Camp Stew
If you happen to live anywhere near Alabama and go to the grocery store to get the ingredients for this, chances are the cashier will ask “You making camp stew?”.
Mama remembers having Camp Stew as a child, around campfires, at family gatherings, and even in the school lunchroom. The name came from it being so easy to make while camping since it can be made entirely out of canned goods.
Many Variations of This Stew…
Some people add potatoes, some leave out the onion and opt only for canned goods, and others add Worcestershire or hot sauce. Add more corn, less corn, lima beans instead of butter beans, etc. This is easily modified so go with your favorites. I would try to keep the meat the same, though, because a lot of the flavor comes from the sauce in that.
However, I have seen other brands of this meat and they work just fine as well – we tend to stick with Castlebury’s but don’t let another brand be a deal breaker. Either way you go, this is one of the most delicious flavorful stews to ever touch a spoon and my friend Jyl has a firm policy in her family that she always doubles the recipe because folks can’t help but come back for seconds, thirds, and often fourths. The recipe below will serve about 6 people.
Make it how you like but I suggest trying it this way first, because you’ll likely be hooked from the get go and the first bite will tell you exactly why this stew is so famous.
Ingredients You’ll need for this Alabama Camp or Brunswick Stew Recipe Are:
- Canned Pork in BBQ sauce and Canned Beef in BBQ sauce Or 2 cans of one or the other
- Canned Chicken in water or Rotisserie works too.
- Diced tomatoes
- Butter beans or lima beans
- Canned corn
- Onion
How To Make Alabama Camp Stew also known as Brunswick Stew
Note: Peel and dice your onion. Open all your cans and don’t drain them. Toss it all in there, liquid and all. No salt or pepper is needed unless you just really want to add it but I’d suggest tasting it first.
Put all of this in a pot over medium heat and stir often until it comes to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring from time to time, for about an hour.
*If you are cooking this over a fire, just stoke the fire, put ingredients in the pot, stir it a lot, and try your best not to let the bottom scorch. Eat it when you get tired of messing with it. 🙂
Enjoy your delicious camp stew!
If you are making my Bags To Dishes meals, this is a great addition! Simply leave out the onion and the entire recipe is shelf stable.
Ingredients
- 3-14 ounce cans diced tomatoes
- 14 ounce can whole kernel corn
- 14 ounce can butter beans baby limas, or limas
- 1 onion chopped
- 2-10 ounce cans beef bbq in sauce I use Castlebury's
- 10 or 12 ounce can chicken
Instructions
- Dump all contents into a medium sized stockpot, including liquid in all of the cans.
- Place over medium heat, stirring often, and bring just to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer, stirring from time to time, for 30 minutes to an hour.
Nutrition
You may also enjoy these stew recipes:
Lentil Stew Budget Friendly & Delicious
Ground Beef Stew (with a secret!)
Chicken Stew Recipe 30 Minutes To Your Table
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
I’ve printed this recipe out when it was first posted years ago. Then at the beginning of the pandemic when I stocked up on groceries, I bought everything for the recipe and put it all together (with the recipe) in a box. In my mind it was an “emergency” recipe.
Well, my pandemic pantry stash is nearly gone. And today I went through the remaining non-perishables I had stored and checked dates. The canned tomatoes boxed up for this camp stew needed to be used
I made this for supper and was totally surprised at how good it was. Hubby went back for seconds and thirds. I used 2 cans of Castlebury’s Pork in BBQ sauce. It’s got a little kick!
The only thing I would change is the weather. This would be even better in a cold night. And it’s 73 degrees on this November night. Weird, right?
Happy to know this is so good and so easy.
Thank you so much Dianne, this is wonderful to hear. Am so glad you love it!
I just finished putting together a crockpot together. I have a hard time finding the Castlebury’s so I have started using LLoyd’s barbeque chicken, pork and beef. Works well.
Thanks for the tip Bobbie!
If you have time or leftovers, using slow smoked pork and smoked sausage as the meat is primo!
November- camp stew season is here
With all due respect this recipe is not “Alabama camp stew” . Since I was a child me and my family and families like ours have been making camp stew and it’s almost offensive knowing that someone is making camp stew from ingredients from a can. I normally don’t comment on these boards no matter how offensive or silly they may be but I couldn’t let this one go, sorry Christy. Camp stew is something put together from fresh meats and vegetables hopefully locally harvested and by no means put in a crock pot. I’m not saying your recipe is not going to be fantastic but respectfully from all the families who spend the time and trouble to make the unforgettable Alabama stew please don’t call this recipe “Famous Alabama Camp Stew”.
Ok, I know I’m late to the party, but can anyone tell me if it tastes like BBQ sauce once it’s all mixed together? It looks delicious but I can’t quite get my mind around making a soup/stew that tastes like BBQ. The three meats doesn’t bother me, BTW. 🙂
Ok, I thought I’d asked this before but couldn’t find my comment to see the answers. Once I submitted more comments loaded. So never mind!