Kentucky Burgoo Stew Is Perfect For Derby Day (2024)

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder or country ribs, cut into large pieces (3 to 4 inches wide)

• 2 to 3 pounds chuck roast, stew meat, or other inexpensive cut of beef, cut into large pieces (3 to 4 inches wide)

• 3 to 5 chicken legs or thighs (bone-in)

• 1 green pepper, chopped

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 2 celery ribs, chopped

• 5 cloves garlic, chopped

• 1 quart chicken stock or broth

  See Also

  Western Kentucky BBQ Trail

• 1 quart beef stock or broth

• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

• 2 large potatoes (we used russets)

• 1 bag frozen corn (about a pound)

• 1 bag frozen lima beans (about 14 ounces)

• Salt and pepper

• 4 to 8 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• Tabasco or other hot sauce on the side

1. Brown the meats:

   Heat vegetable oil on medium-high heat in a large soup pot (at least 8 quart size). Salt the meats well on all sides. When the oil is shimmering hot, working in batches brown all the meats.

   Do not crowd the pan or the meat will steam and not brown well. Do not move the meat while browning a side. Let the meat pieces get well seared.

   Remove the browned meats to a bowl.

2. Sauté onions, carrots, celery, and green pepper:

   Add the onions, carrots, celery and green pepper to the pot and brown them. If necessary, add a little more oil to the pot.

   After a few minutes of cooking, sprinkle salt over the vegetables.

3. When the vegetables are well browned, add the garlic:

   Cook for 30 seconds more, until fragrant.

4. Add back the meats as well as the chicken, beef broths, and the tomatoes:

   Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 2 hours.

5. Remove the meat pieces, strip from bones, cut into smaller pieces, and return to pot:

   Uncover and remove the meat pieces. Strip the chicken off the bone and discard skin if you want.

   Break the larger pieces of meat into smaller, more manageable pieces. The reason you did not do this at first is because the meats stay juicier when they cook in larger pieces.

   Return all the meat pieces to the pot and bring it up to a strong simmer.

6. Add potatoes:

   Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks about the same size as the meat pieces (if using new potatoes, you can skip the peeling, but russets you'll want to peel). Add them to the stew and cook them until they are done, about 45 minutes.

7. When the potatoes are done, add the Worcestershire sauce:

   Mix well and taste for salt. Add more Worcestershire sauce to taste if needed.

8. Add the corn and lima beans:

   Mix well and cook for at least 10 minutes, or longer if you’d like. Here is the point where you decide whether you want a burgoo that’s been hammered into a thick mass or a stew with bright colors in it. It’s your call.

   To serve, taste one more time for salt, and add either Worcestershire or salt if you want. Serve with crusty bread or cornbread and a bottle of hot sauce on the side.

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Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.