How to Make Homemade Chicken Broth
If you’ve ever cooked soup or stew, you know how much flavor a good broth can add to your dish. Store-bought broths are convenient, but homemade chicken broth takes things to the next level. It’s tastier, healthier, and surprisingly easy to make. Plus, you can control what goes into it—no added preservatives or unnecessary sodium. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of making simple, homemade chicken broth.
Why Make Chicken Broth from Scratch?
Homemade chicken broth is packed with nutrients, especially if you simmer the bones for a long time. It makes a cozy base for soups, gravies, and sauces, and you can sip it on its own when you need a comforting drink. Making your own broth also helps reduce food waste—you can use leftover chicken bones, veggie scraps, and herbs.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a simple list of ingredients and tools to make chicken broth:
Ingredients:
- Chicken bones: You can use a whole chicken carcass, leftover bones from a roast chicken, or raw chicken wings and drumsticks.
- Vegetables: Common choices are onions, carrots, and celery. These build layers of flavor and give the broth a nice aroma.
- Herbs and spices: Bay leaves, thyme, parsley, garlic, or peppercorns all work well. Adjust based on your preferences.
- Water: Enough to cover everything in your pot.
Tools:
- Large stockpot or slow cooker
- Strainer
- Ladle
- Containers for storage
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Chicken Broth
Let’s break it down into simple steps.
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
Gather your chicken bones, vegetables, and herbs. If you’re using raw chicken pieces, trim off excess fat before adding them to the pot. Chop the vegetables into rough chunks—don’t worry about making them look fancy because they’ll be strained out later.
You can also use veggie scraps like onion skins, carrot peels, and celery leaves. This is a great way to use up odds and ends and reduce waste.
Step 2: Add Everything to the Pot
Place your chicken bones and vegetables into a large stockpot or slow cooker. Add a few sprigs of fresh herbs, a couple of bay leaves, and a handful of whole peppercorns for added flavor. Then pour in enough water to cover all the ingredients by two to three inches.
If you’re using a slow cooker, set it to low heat. If you’re using a stockpot, place it on the stovetop and turn the heat to medium-high.
Step 3: Bring to a Boil, Then Simmer
Once the broth comes to a boil, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the top—this helps keep your broth clear and clean.
Cover the pot with a lid and let the broth simmer for a long time. For the best flavor and nutrition, aim for 2–4 hours. If you want a super-rich broth, you can simmer it for up to 8 hours! Slow cookers are great for this because you can let it cook overnight.
Step 4: Strain the Broth
Once your broth is done simmering, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Let it cool slightly so it’s easier to handle. Use a strainer or colander to separate the liquid from the solids. Discard the bones, herbs, and vegetables—they’ve done their job of flavoring the broth.
If you see fat floating on the surface, you can skim it off with a spoon, or refrigerate the broth and scoop the fat off once it solidifies.
Step 5: Store Your Chicken Broth
Pour your chicken broth into clean containers. Glass jars, plastic containers, or freezer bags all work well. If you’re not using the broth right away, refrigerate it for up to 4–5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Frozen chicken broth is so handy—just thaw it when you need it for soups, casseroles, or even cooking rice. Make sure to label your containers with the date so you know when you made them.
Tips for Personalizing Your Broth
- For richer flavor: Roast the chicken bones in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes before making the broth.
- For added depth: Toss in a few dried mushrooms, a dash of soy sauce, or a splash of apple cider vinegar while simmering.
- For spice lovers: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
Final Thoughts
Making homemade chicken broth is incredibly rewarding. It’s simple to prepare, and you’ll always have a taste-enhancing base for your dishes. Once you try it, you might skip buying store-bought broth altogether!
Give homemade chicken broth a shot this weekend—it’ll fill your home with a warm, delicious aroma. With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can create something healthy, versatile, and deeply satisfying. Happy cooking!
