How to Make Chicken Stock (2024)

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by Stephanie on July 27, 2019 (Updated September 8, 2023)35*This post may contain affiliate links. Read more »

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This easy recipe for homemade chicken stock uses leftover rotisserie or roast chicken and simple vegetables and seasonings. This is the best way to fully enhance homemade soups, stews, sauces, and more!

The best part about homemade chicken stock? Enjoying Ina Garten’s perfectroast chicken recipe first!

It’s no big deal, I’ve only been meaning to put a homemade chicken stock recipe on the blog for like… 5 years now.

Welp, better late than never, folks!

I can’t stress enough how much better your soups, stews, sauces, and basicallyanyrecipe will taste when you use homemade chicken stock instead of the boxed or canned stuff.

Let’s get into some of the info you need to know!

Chicken Broth vs. Chicken Stock

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences between the two:

Chicken Broth:

Made from simmering the meatyparts of the chicken/turkey for a shorter amount of time.

Chicken Stock:

Made from simmering the bones (vs. meaty parts), for longer periods of time, (up to 24 hours.)

Chicken Stock tends to have a greater depth of flavor, as long-simmered bones release gelatin into the stock.

Best Vegetables for Chicken Stock

Carrots, Onions, and Celery are the most common vegetables used for making homemade chicken stock and are a great way to clean out your salad crisper!
The white part of a leek may also be used.
Certain vegetables such asbeetsshouldnotbe used as it will discolor the stock. Additionally, vegetables such as brussels sprouts or broccoli can overpower the flavor of the stock and are not ideal.

Seasonings for Chicken Stock

This recipe calls for fresh parsley, thyme, and bay leaves, however you can also add rosemary and peppercorns.

Fresh seasonings bring out the best flavor, however dry can be used if needed.

Can you Freeze a Chicken Carcass to Make Stock Later?

Yes! Wrapallof the leftover carcass, bones, and any meat in foil and place it in a labeled freezer bag to make stock another time!
No need to defrost the chicken prior to making the stock, it will defrost perfectly as it simmers.

Storage

Chicken stock can be store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 9 months.

Tools for This Recipe

Try These Next!
Ina Garten’s Roast Chicken
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Mom’s (BEST EVER) Split Pea Soup
Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Stew
Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
More Soup Recipes

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Homemade Chicken Stock

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

5 from 3 ratings

Servings: 7 quarts

Tap or hover to scale

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

▢ 1 leftover (cooked) chicken carcass, including any additional leftovers
▢ 2 large carrots, or 10-12 baby carrots
▢ 1 yellow onion, sliced into chunks, skins left on if desired
▢ 2 garlic cloves, peeled
▢ 1 celery head with the stalks sliced off
▢ 2 stalks celery
▢ 1 bunch parsley, including stems
▢ 10 sprigs fresh thyme
▢ 2 bay leaves
▢ Salt/Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Place the chicken carcass in a large stock pot and add all vegetables and seasonings.
Cover with enough water so that it rises 1-2 inches above the ingredients.
Bring the water to a boil.
Immediately decrease the heat to bring the pot to a very low simmer. Cover, and let it gently simmer for at least 4 hours. (Or longer for a higher concentrated broth.)
Use a Skimmer Spoon (or a Slotted Spoon) to lift out the vegetables and bones.
Pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a new pot.
Allow the liquid to cool completely and pour into labeled soup containers or canning jars for freezing, leaving a little extra room for expansion.
Use for homemade soups, sauces, or any recipe that calls for chicken stock. It will make your recipes taste so much better!

Notes

I used a 6 lb. chicken for this stock, which yielded 7 quarts of chicken stock.

Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Author: Stephanie

Chicken Recipes Freezer Food Pantry Staples Soup

posted by Stephanie on July 27, 2019 — 35 Comments »

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35 comments on “How to Make Chicken Stock”

Monika — March 26, 2024 @ 8:36 pm Reply

How much water did you use? I used 10 cups and it covered everything plus was 1 1/2 inch over as you said, but mine only yielded 1 quart! I used the carcass from a 5 lb chicken.
- Stephanie — March 26, 2024 @ 9:14 pm Reply
  
  Hi Monika! In this recipe, we boil the liquid for a minute, but then we cover it for the rest of the process to ensure the liquid doesn’t evaporate and stays in the pot. If you started with 10 cups and it reduced down to 4 (1 quart), it reduced by more than half. That could only happen over a higher heat setting than indicated or if the pot wasn’t covered. I think that must be what happened. I don’t measure my water but I only lose about an inch or two of liquid in the pot. ❤️
  - Moníka — March 27, 2024 @ 7:51 am
    
    Thanks for the reply! I did exactly all of that. Not sure what happened, but it’s delicious anyway! I just won’t share it! LOL. So, if you only lose about an inch and you yield 7 quarts, then you start with at least 29 cups of water? I know you said you don’t measure, but does that seem right? This was my first ever foray into stock making and I want to get it right next time. I prefer this over purchased for sure. Thank you!
  - Stephanie — March 27, 2024 @ 10:57 am
    
    Hi Monika! Depending on how much celery, carrots, and the size of the chicken, etc. will determine how much water it takes to cover it up. Since those things take up room in the pot, it’s hard for me to estimate how many cups of water I add until it’s all covered. When you do it next time around, just be sure the heat is on low and ensure that minimal steam escapes during cooking 🙂
donna — March 21, 2023 @ 3:29 pm Reply

Water?
- Stephanie — March 21, 2023 @ 3:30 pm Reply
  
  I need more information if you’re asking a question.
Becca — September 21, 2022 @ 9:56 am Reply

How much thyme should I add of using dry instead of fresh?
- Stephanie — September 21, 2022 @ 9:57 am Reply
  
  The general rule of thumb is 1 tbsp fresh for every tsp of dry 🙂
marion — September 17, 2022 @ 4:43 pm Reply

Sounds yummy! Just what is the celery hea….is it all the leafy top?
- Stephanie — September 19, 2022 @ 9:34 am Reply
  
  Hi Marion, the celery head is the large bottom part of the celery, not the leafy top 🙂
  - Marion — September 19, 2022 @ 6:15 pm
    
    Ohhh!. But maybe you should call it the bottom white root end. To me the head is the top although my initial thought on the “head” was the base white part but then l thought maybe you mean the top where all the leafy and narrow stalks are that some of us toss out, as we only want the celery stalks. Thank you😊
  - Stephanie — September 19, 2022 @ 9:09 pm
    
    I’m referring to it by it’s proper name. “Celery grows in a collective unit of ribs that grow together, joined at a common base. This unit is referred to as a head of celery.” Internet searches can resolve questions like this for you as well!
Rogayah Bachmid — February 22, 2022 @ 9:55 pm Reply

Omg what is wronh with you? All your recepies are incredebly tasty!!!!!!!! Seesh, thank you, i fond my passion again . Love you so much.
- Stephanie — February 23, 2022 @ 11:03 am Reply
  
  😂 I love your enthusiasm! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes, thanks so much for your support!
- Erin Lanning — November 7, 2022 @ 9:49 am Reply
  
  Can you use a crock pot for this?
  - Cathy — January 18, 2023 @ 8:45 am
    
    Could you can this?
  - Jennifer — February 1, 2023 @ 4:53 pm
    
    I did last time I made this. I just let it cook all day on low. Made my house smell delicious