Make no bones about it, homemade chicken stock is one of the easiest things to make in the kitchen!
In addition to it being easy to make, did you know it's very healthy for you, economical, you can control the sodium level, it freezes like a dream, and it comes in handy for all sorts of recipes?
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Table of Contents Found Here
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- The ingredient list:
- Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- Can the same process be used for making turkey, beef, or ham stock?
- What is the difference between stock and broth?
- Can healthy homemade chicken stock be made from store-bought rotisserie chicken?
- Additional add-in ingredient suggestions:
- What are the benefits of making homemade chicken stock?
- What is the key to getting the most nutritious and deeply flavored stock?
- Freezer friendly meals using homemade chicken stock:
- Printable Recipe Card
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
The ingredient list:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
- chicken bones, roasted
- celery
- carrots
- onions
- whole black peppercorns
- coarse salt
- assorted herbs (optional)
- bay leaves (optional)
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- large stockpot or pasta pot
- strainer
- freezer or refrigerator containers
- chef's knife
- cutting board
- soup ladle
Can the same process be used for making turkey, beef, or ham stock?
Yes!
Roasting the bones before making homemade stock is the best way to get the most flavorful end result.
Place any bones on a baking sheet or pan and roast in a preheated 375-degree oven for 30 minutes and then continue the stock making process from that point.
What is the difference between stock and broth?
A stock (as in this recipe) is made from bones.
A broth is made from meat or vegetables.
Can healthy homemade chicken stock be made from store-bought rotisserie chicken?
Heck yeah!
Remove the meat from the bones (and reserve to use in your favorite recipe) like...Chicken Pot Potatoes, Easy Avocado Chicken Salad, Creamy Chicken and Artichoke Pasta.
Add the bones to a baking sheet and roast according to (the instructions above.
Additional add-in ingredient suggestions:
Just about anything will work. Here are some inspirational options...
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What do you have in your pantry or fridge?
- shallots
- garlic
- parsnips
- spinach
- kale
- Brussels sprouts trimmings
- kohlrabi
- celeriac
- rutabaga
- turnip
- radishes (a few will go a long way)
- potato peels (sounds weird, but why not?)
- leeks
- green onions
- broccoli stems
What are the benefits of making homemade chicken stock?
It's very cost-effective and you'll get a lot of bang-for-your-buck by making it yourself.
By using items in your refrigerator, that you'd otherwise dispose of (think of remnants such as vegetable and onion peels, bell pepper tops, bases of things like leeks and celery stalks), you'll flavor the stock while eeking out the very most you can from your grocery store dollars.
Letting homemade stock simmer on the stovetop for several hours will ensure a golden broth with more flavor than you could ever get from a store-bought broth.
Not to mention you'll be filling your home with the comforting aroma of the freshest nourishing goodness that you made yourself!
What is the key to getting the most nutritious and deeply flavored stock?
While it may sound counterintuitive...leave the peels on!
Yep. Onions too.
Of course, you have to make sure you've washed and cleaned them all before adding them into the soup pot, but once that's done drop them all in!
Since the peels are the most nutritious part of most vegetables, adding them to the pot will yield a tastier, deeper colored broth that's far healthier for you and your family!
Freezer friendly meals using homemade chicken stock:
The following meals are all freezer-friendly making them budget-friendly as well as nutritious and comforting for the entire family!
*Chicken and Leek Soup with Kale and Noodles (pictured below)
"Sit down to a big bowl of chicken and leek soup with kale and noodles to cure whatever ails you. It’s comfort food for the body and soul!"
*Black-Eyed Pea Chicken Chili (pictured below)
"Black-Eyed Pea Chicken chili is a delicious fast and healthy dinner recipe with a surprising Tex-Mex flair thanks to warm spices, avocado, and lime."
*Chicken Barley Soup for the Slow Cooker (pictured below)
"Healthy Homemade Chicken Barley Soup is a light and delicious slow cooker soup that is easy to assemble in the morning, and then have a hearty, healthy family dinner at the end of a long day."
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
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Printable Recipe Card
Homemade Chicken Stock
Equipment
- strainer optional
- baking sheet for roasting the bones
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds chicken bones meat removed, roasted for 30 minutes at 375 degrees F/190 degrees C
- 1 large onion cut in half (with the skin still on)
- 3 large carrots cut into chunks (washed but not peeled)
- 4-5 ribs celery cut into large pieces (washed, with the leaves still on)
- 1 head garlic cut in half (skin still on)
- 4-5 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt or to taste
Instructions
- In a large stockpot (or pasta pot with removable strainer), add the roasted chicken bones, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns.
- Add in enough water to fill the pot, and to cover the ingredients inside. Add the salt.
- Bring the stock to a simmer (uncovered) on the stovetop for at least 2 hours (longer is better), stirring occasionally.
- As the stock simmers it will reduce slightly in volume and intensify in flavor.
- Slowly and carefully, remove the strainer basket from the stockpot base If using) and discard the contents.
- Cool the stock completely and then strain it into air-tight freezer and/or refrigerator containers.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's cost-effective and budget-friendly condiment recipe for homemade chicken stock as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Renee says
Thanks Paula. The soup was so tasty and so easy. I'll post it as soon as possible.
Paula says
I have a pot like that and love it! Great for making stock and pasta. Now that turkey soup looks wonderful, looking forward to the next post 😉