Published 11/2/2020 • Updated 10/3/2023 This broth recipe was inspired after a kitchen day with lots of food scraps. Have you ever noticed when you are preparing a chicken dinner that there are so many bones and vegetable chunks left over? We decided to use up those scraps by making homemade chicken broth. Making homemade chicken broth from scratch is a bit time-consuming, but it’s worth it. All you need is vegetables (or vegetable scraps), chicken, herbs, and salt! After that, you simmer all day long and BOOM, you’re ready.
What You Need to Make Chicken Broth
Chicken carcass: For this chicken broth recipe we used the carcass and meat from our herby whole roasted chicken. It is already flavored with a delicious dry rub and some butter. We scraped all of the herbs, fat, and leftover chicken pieces into the pot for this chicken broth. Salt: we recommend that you do not skimp on the salt for this chicken broth recipe! The salt in this recipe helps bring out all the delicious flavors! If you are hoping to make a lower sodium broth feel free to salt to taste! Vegetables and vegetable scraps: Most chicken broth and chicken stock have mirepoix as a base which is a mixture of onion, carrot, and celery. We use mirepoix and red pepper for extra sweetness. As for the vegetable scraps, you can use whatever scraps or even fresh vegetables that you have on hand. We put old vegetable scraps in the freezer to use in broths and sauces. Below is an example of scraps that you can save and use in broth or stock.
Garlic paper Onion peel Bell pepper core and seeds Any rind or skin from any vegetable Carrot shavings
Herbs: we simmered this chicken broth with parsley, thyme, and rosemary. We also used a chicken carcass that had some tasty flavors on it already (chili powder, salt, paprika, sugar). If you want to add extra flavor to you chicken broth feel free to add chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, dried basil, dried Italian seasoning, or a few teaspoons of your favorite spice mix!
Swaps + Variations
If you don’t have a whole chicken, use any chicken meat that you have around the house. You could also use a rotisserie chicken that you can buy at the store. Switch out the herbs for lemongrass or fresh ginger to change up the flavor of the broth.
Storage
To store the chicken broth, let the broth cool completely before pouring it into mason jars. Tightly seal the mason jars and place them in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months! Chicken stock tends to be made with more bones and simmers for more than 2 hours. Stock also is made with chicken and vegetables. Chicken broth tends to be made with chicken meat and bones, vegetables, and seasonings. It can have a lower simmer time. Broth generally has more flavor because it is seasoned!
Healthy Soup Recipes
Slow Cooker Noodle Soup Hearty Vegetable Soup Recipe Chicken Quinoa Soup Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Chili Chicken Quinoa Soup
How to use Homemade Chicken Broth
Use this chicken broth in any of our soup or chili recipes. We highly recommend this one-pot golden curry soup or this classic minestrone soup.
How to Freeze Soup & Chili
