Oyster Stew Recipe
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This delicious fresh Oyster Stew recipe is full of flavor and an easy recipe to make! It’s a family favorite that is ready in minutes!
This oyster stew recipe is a family classic. My granddaddy loved it more than any other dish on a cold winter day.
I always looked forward to the days my grandmother would make her recipe because it was a favorite of mine, too. I would watch as she prepared the stew. She always made cooking look so easy! And this oyster stew is definitely a simple recipe my family has enjoyed for years.
Oyster Stew Recipe
This recipe makes the best oyster stew I’ve ever had. And I love that this is so easy to make on any cold night when the craving hits! There’s nothing like the deliciously rich seafood flavor of the oysters and the creaminess of the onions and milk from this stew! It is so comforting, satisfying and is ready in minutes.
The best oysters for this oyster stew are fresh. As in, the fresher, the better. But, if I have a craving for this stew and am nowhere near fresh oysters, I have found that the seafood section of my grocery store usually has a very good selection of oysters that work perfectly.
How to Make Fresh Oyster Stew
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- fresh oysters – pint packed in their juice
- butter
- yellow onion – chopped
- whole milk
- half-and-half
- salt and pepper – use to taste
Step by Step Instructions
Prep. Drain juice from the pint of fresh oysters into a small bowl and set aside for later use. Do not discard the juice, or “oyster liquor”.
Melt butter. Add butter to a large saucepan and melt over medium-low heat until completely melted.
Cook onion. Add chopped onions to melted butter and cook until translucent and tender, about 8-10 minutes.
Cook liquids. Stir in your reserved juices, or oyster liquor, and cook until reduced mostly reduced, about 10 minutes. Then add in the milk and half-and-half and heat to simmer. Do not let the liquids reach a boil as this will cause your milk to curdle.
Add oysters. Now stir in the fresh oysters and allow to simmer until the edges of the oysters begin to curl, about 8 minutes.
Remove from heat. Once edges of oysters have started to curl, removed the oyster stew from the heat. Allow to cool slightly.
Season and serve. Then, stir in salt and pepper to taste and serve with crackers.
Other Favorite Stews and Soups
There’s nothing like a delicious soup or stew when you want a comfort food, especially on a chilly day! Here are a few more of our family favorites you may want to try as well.
Southern Chicken and Dumplings
Here’s my Grandmother’s Oyster Stew Recipe. Hope you like it as much my Granddaddy and I always have.
Oyster Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pint oysters,, fresh, packed in their juice
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup half-and-half
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Drain juice from oysters into small bowl. Set aside.
- Add butter to large saucepan. Heat on medium-low heat until melted.
- Add chopped onions and cook until translucent and tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add oyster liquor and cook until mostly reduced, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in milk and half-and-half and heat to simmer. Do not allow to boil as it will cause your milk to curdle.
- Add oysters and continue on simmer until outer edges of oysters curl, about 8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, allow to cool slightly, and add salt and black pepper, to taste.
- Serve with mini saltines or oyster crackers.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
We had this as my Dad’s Christmas Eve wish when I was little. He passed when I was 10. So now that I’m 70…..it’s been a few years!
I hope you enjoy this oyster stew just as much now, Keith.
Never made oyster stew with onions, or reducing the oyster liquor before. But, thought I’d give Robyn’s recipe a try. This is the best oyster stew I have ever made. Outstanding! Thanks, Robyn!
Brian, I’m so glad you tried the oyster stew the way I make it and loved it. My family loves it this way!
I’ve been eating this recipe for many years My grandmother made the same thing Except no onions I’ll have to try it with onions😋
i’m about to try this but i live on Cape Cod and rake/shuck my own oysters. I’ve never used/bought canned oysters. How many and what size FRESH oysters would you use in place of the canned? Thanks in advance.
Lisa, this stew is made with fresh oysters. I use about a pint of small to medium size oysters. Hope you enjoy!
This was the SO GOOD! WUZ <3 Merry Christmas
Love Oyster Stew Your method of reducing the oyster liquid sounds like a excellent idea. I have made this basic recipe for a long time. I finely chop celery and saute with the onion.
Once done salt pepper to taste and sprinkle with paprika to your liking.
This is how my family makes it and I love it. 🙂 With all those oysters floating around in the buttery milk and cream oh so good and they are all mine since my Grandparents Passed away no one else likes the oysters, but they do like the way the oysters flavor the stew/soup and So that means more for me. LOL
P.S. My mother-in-love (law) puts potatoes, carrots, and celery in hers with a dash of Worcestershire sauce, the Worcestershire sauce I’m not a fan of in my stew. But each to their own.
Grandpa said it always had to be served with oyster crackers.
I love your story. There are a few in my family who don’t eat the oysters but love the stew, too. Your Grandpa was right; the stew is great with oyster crackers.
Just made oyster stew
I never made it myself but have ate it when someone else did .
I dont think he put onions in it.
I loved it the why your grandmother made it.
Thank you, Joyce. I always loved the way my grandmother made it best, too.
If mom didn’t have oysters she would make scolding milk. Just Milk, butter, and salt and pepper. I remember when can of oysters use to have little pearls in it
This is how my mother in law made it but she always cooked elbow macaroni then added the stuff as you have. I don’t like oysters but love the flavor it gives to the stew and the noodles just added a great filler.
I’ve never thought about adding macaroni to this stew. I know a few people who also love the stew but don’t eat the oysters. Thanks, Connie!