1-Gathering and Prepping Ingredients: First, pull out all your ingredients to make things easier. Chop the onion and mince the garlic ahead of time, which takes about 5 minutes. This prep step ensures everything moves smoothly, and for low-calorie diets, you can use less oil to cut down on fats.

2-Cooking the Base: Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of canola oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the 1 large onion and cook until it’s tender, about 5-6 minutes. Then, reduce the heat and stir in the 2 cloves of minced garlic, cooking for 1 more minute to build that aromatic base. If you’re adapting for a vegan diet, skip the meat steps and use vegetable broth here.

3-Building the Stew: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of tomato paste with 1/4 cup of the 2 ¼ cups low sodium chicken broth until smooth, then add it to the pot. Pour in the rest of the chicken broth, the 1 can (14.5 ounces) of fire roasted diced tomatoes, 1 ½ cups frozen corn, 1 ½ cups frozen lima beans, ¾ cup barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce, ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper, and 1-2 pinches of cayenne pepper.

3-Building the Stew: Bring the mixture to a low boil over medium-high heat, which should take 5-7 minutes. Once it boils, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This is a good time to taste and adjust seasonings for diet-conscious folks who might want to reduce the sodium.

4-Adding Proteins and Finishing: Stir in the 2 ½ cups of pulled smoked pork and the 1 ½ cups of cooked diced chicken. Let everything simmer for another 5 minutes until the meats are heated through and the flavors meld. For those with restrictions, like using ground beef instead, add it earlier to ensure it’s fully cooked.

4-Adding Proteins and Finishing: Season with salt and more pepper to taste, then spoon the stew into bowls and drizzle with extra barbecue sauce for a final touch. This whole process takes about 30 minutes of cook time after a quick 10-minute prep, making it perfect for busy lifestyles. Serve it hot, and enjoy how this Brunswick stew brings warmth to your table.