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Home » Recipes » Soup and Stew Recipes

Classic Chicken Bone Broth Recipe

Modified: Mar 27, 2024 by Kori Butler · Published: Mar 27, 2024

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This chicken bone broth recipe is very easy to make and cost-effective! Homemade chicken stock is made using raw bones, vegetables, and aromatics, simmering slowly to release all the nutrients, such as collagen and protein, as well as flavor. It's healthy, loaded with vitamins, minerals, and protein, and a bonus—you can freeze the leftovers easily!

Chicken stock in freezer containers and in a large metal stock pot.Pin

Why You'll Love This Chicken Stock Recipe

Easy to Make. Making bone broth is super easy and simple! Add the chicken bones and water to a large stock pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Add your aromatics, such as carrots, onion, bay leaf herbs, and peppercorns, and let it combine slowly for the best-tasting bone broth.

Cost-effective! Making chicken bone broth is considerably cheaper than buying bone broth. Once I learned how to properly cut apart a whole chicken, making my own broth became really cheap—just save the carcass, two wings, and the neck to freeze and use later. (P.S. You can freeze the finished stock as well!)

Healthy. Bone broth has really grown in popularity for all of its health benefits! It is low-carb, keto, gluten-free, paleo, and loaded with vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids, collagen, and electrolytes. It's perfect for pairing with so many recipes, or just drinking on its own!

Is Bone Broth a Stock or a Broth?

Did you know that despite the name on the container of store bone broth that you buy (a marketing term) - it is actually a chicken stock? Stocks are made by simmering bones for a long period of time to coax the collagen and protein from the bones. Actual broth relies on the chicken meat for the flavor.

What is The Difference Between Stock and Broth?

The main difference is that stock relies on bones for its flavor, while broth relies on the meat. Stocks simmer for long periods of time (hours), whereas broth is simmered for a relatively short period of time.

When chilled, stocks will thicken and gelatinize (turn a little "jello-y") due to the breakdown of collagen. Broth will not; it will remain liquid.

What Are The 4 Main Components of a Chicken Stock?

Water, chicken bones, classic mirepoix, and aromatics/spices.

A classic mirepoix consists of celery, carrots, and onion. The aromatics can vary depending on how complex you want to make your stock, but some examples are bay leaf, basil or thyme leaves, parsley, whole peppercorns, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

Chicken Bone Broth Recipe Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe for chicken bone broth:

  • Chicken Carcass: use an uncooked chicken carcass, including the wings and the neck. Using uncooked chicken bones will yield the most collagen protein, nutrients, and flavor. Chicken bones such as wings, neck, and chicken feet (high in collagen) may be used.
  • Cold Water
  • Vegetables: for this stock I used a classic mirepoix made of carrots, celery, and onion—use white or yellow onions in this recipe.
  • Herbs and Seasonings (Aromatics): bay leaf and dried thyme leaves. Whole peppercorns—leaving these whole releases the best flavor from the peppercorns' oils.
  • Salt and Pepper: add to taste or leave it unsalted.
  • Optional Apple Cider Vinegar: this can be used to balance the flavors and give it a little freshness. Add it to taste, or omit completely.

For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!

Be sure to pin this pin to Pinterest to save for later! 🙂

Pinterest pin with chicken stock transfered from a stock pot to freezer safe containers.Pin

Variations and Substitutions

  • Batch prep - prepare this bone broth in larger batches and freeze the leftovers for future use.
  • Use this technique with leftover beef bones to make homemade beef bone broth. Add any herb aromatics you want for a personalized flavor.
  • Use other herbs and seasonings (aromatics) in this recipe, such as a whole garlic clove, basil, rosemary, oregano, or sage. Fresh or dried may be used.
  • Adjust any seasonings to taste.
  • Don't have a whole chicken carcass? You can use other raw chicken bones, including wings, drumsticks, thighs, chicken feet, and breasts in this recipe. The skin and meat from the thighs and breasts should be removed and used for other purposes. Tip: chicken feet are very high in collagen!

How To Make Chicken Bone Broth

This is intended as an overview only. For detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below. Enjoy!

Stovetop Method

  1. Add water and all chicken bones to the stock pot. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 3 to 4 hours.
  2. Add vegetables and aromatics to the pot. Continue to simmer, stirring periodically for another hour.
  3. Carefully strain to separate the solids from the chicken bone broth.
  4. Let it cool and then refrigerate. After chilling remove any fat that has accumulated at the top.

Slow Cooker Method

  1. Place the water and chicken bones into a large slow cooker. Cover and cook on low at least 6 hours.
  2. Add the vegetables, seasoning, and any spices. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 hours more.
  3. Using a colander, strain to separate the solids from the bone broth.
  4. Let it cool and then refrigerate. After chilling remove any fat that has accumulated at the top.
Chicken stock in a large pot and two plastic freezer containers.Pin

Ways To Use Chicken Stock

  • Use in any recipe (like chicken soup) that calls for chicken broth or stock.
  • It can be used in place of water when cooking rice, quinoa, and even pasta.
  • Your chicken broth can be seasoned to taste and then sipped on. By the way, if you are specifically making it to sip on, I recommend you start by adding 1 teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper with the vegetables. You can add more to taste after simmering.
  • Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar to add a little acidity to balance the flavors.

Top Tips

  • This is an unsalted stock, which will give you more control over the salt content in any future recipe you use it in. If you are making it for sipping, you will want to add salt and pepper to taste.
  • This recipe will make about 2.5 to 3 quarts of stock. If desired, freeze the stock in quart-sized, or smaller, for future uses.
  • If freezing, leave at least 1 inch of head space at the top to allow for expansion when frozen.

FAQs

How To Store

Store the cooled bone broth in air tight containers in the fridge and use within 4 days of preparing.

How To Reheat

From the fridge: you can reheat in a microwave-safe dish in the microwave, heating in 30-second increments until your desired temperature. You can also reheat in a pot on the stove stirring occasionally until your desired temperature is met.

From the freezer: thaw your homemade chicken bone broth in the fridge overnight. Once thawed you can follow directions to reheat from the fridge.

How To Freeze

Store your bone broth in pint or quart sized air tight freezer save containers containers, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top to allow room for expansion. Freeze for up to 4 months.

Recipes That Use Chicken Stock

  • Italian Kale and White Bean Sausage Soup
  • Creamy Buffalo Chicken Soup Recipe
  • Homemade Minestrone Soup
  • Creamy Chicken Bake Recipe
  • Crock Pot Chicken Curry
  • Pork Shoulder Roast Recipe
  • Ham and White Bean Soup Recipe
  • Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
  • Red Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk
  • New Orleans Gumbo Recipe (Easy!)
  • Barbacoa Chipotle Recipe
  • Easy Cheesy Homemade Cheddar Broccoli Soup
  • Homemade Salsa Verde Recipe

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📖 The recipe.

Chicken bone broth in a stock pot and plastic freezer containers.

Classic White Chicken Stock Recipe

Making chicken stock is healthy, inexpensive, and easy to make. Homemade bone broth has the best flavor, and while it does require 3 to 4 hours of simmering time to extract nutrients from the chicken bones and vegetables - don't worry - once it's gently simmering, you can walk away, coming back periodically to check on it. Use it right away or freeze it!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Author Kori Butler
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 hours hrs
Total Time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course Soup and Stew Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 36 kcal

Equipment

  • 8-quart or larger stock pot
  • fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and a regular strainer (to strain all of the solids from the stock)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 chicken carcass (include 2 wings and the neck)
  • 16 cups water (plus extra to top off water level if needed)
  • 1 medium carrot (peeled and cut into 2" pieces)
  • 1 stalk celery (cut into 2" pieces)
  • ½ medium onion (remove the skin and halve the onion)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 whole peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • optional: salt and pepper to taste, added after simmering is complete.

Instructions
 

Stovetop Method

  • Add water and all chicken bones to the stock pot.
    Adding a chicken carcass to cold water in a stock pot to make chicken bone broth.
  • Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat and bring to a gentle simmer (180-degrees) for 3 to 4 hours, periodically skimming any accumulated scum and foam that rises to the surface. Keep the water level covering the bones; topping off with more water as needed. (Tip: gently simmering keeps water evaporation to a minimum and prevents discoloration and cloudiness from occurring.)
    Bringing the chicken bone broth to a gentle simmer then skimming the top to remove any scum.
  • Add all remaining ingredients to the pot. Continue to very gently simmer for another hour, continuing to skim impurities as needed.
    Adding the vegetables and aromatics to the chicken stock in a large pot.
  • Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl or pot. (Tip: if you don't have a fine strainer, you can use a regular strainer lined with cheesecloth.) Carefully pour the hot stock and bones over the strainer to separate the solids from the broth.
    Separating the chicken stock solids from the broth through a colander lined with cheesecloth
  • Let the stock cool for 30 minutes, then place it in an ice bath or on an ice pack to cool quickly. Stir frequently and change the ice if needed. To prevent spoilage and contamination, you want the stock cooled to 40 degrees within 4 hours.
    Chicken bone broth in the stock pot cooling on an ice pack covered with a towel.
  • Transfer to smaller containers then refrigerate until ready for use. Remove any fat that has accumulated on top of the cold broth in the container before using.
    Transfering the chicken bone broth to a plastic container then removing any fat on the surface once cooled.

Slow Cooker Method

  • Place the water and chicken bones into a large slow cooker. Cover and cook on low at least 6 hours.
  • Add the vegetables, seasoning, and any spices. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 hours more.
  • Using a colander lined with cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer, separate the solids from the bone broth.
  • Let the stock cool for 30 minutes, then place it in an ice bath or on an ice pack to cool quickly. Stir frequently and change the ice if needed. To prevent spoilage and contamination, you want the stock cooled to 40 degrees within 4 hours.
  • Refrigerate to chill, remove any fat that has accumulated on the top.

Kori's Tips

  • Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
  • VARIATIONS:  If you have a big enough pot you can double this recipe - and freeze what you don't need for later. You can use chicken wings, the neck, and chicken feet (very high in collagen) if you don't have the bone remains of a whole chicken. 
  • TIPS: 
    • Unsalted stock will give you more control over the salt content in any future recipe you use it in. If you plan on sipping this broth, season what you want to sip with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Fresh herbs may be used in place of dried (1 tablespoon fresh for every 1 teaspoon of dried - or to taste). 
    • Herbs, peppercorns, and aromatics may be added to a cheesecloth sachet and floated in the stock as it simmers, but you are straining the broth in the end so this isn't necessary.
    • This will make about 2½ to 3 quarts of stock. Freeze in quart-sized (or smaller) containers if desired. Note: 1 quart = 4 cups, which is approximately 32 ounces.
    • If freezing, leave at least 1" of head space at the top of your container to allow for expansion.
    • Apple cider vinegar or a white wine vinegar may be added to taste after simmering to give it a little brightness and tang.
  • SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Use in any recipe calling for chicken broth or stock. Use it in place of water when making rice, quinoa, and even pasta. It can be seasoned to taste, heated, and then sipped on. 

Nutrition

Serving: 100gCalories: 36kcalCarbohydrates: 3.53gProtein: 2.52gFat: 1.2gSodium: 22mgPotassium: 105mgSugar: 0.58gVitamin A: 873IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.21mg
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Hey there, I'm Kori.

I’m a culinary school trained chef specializing in holistic nutrition and wellness. I’ve always been a major foodie, and as I’ve aged, the full impact of my love of food—and not-necessarily-healthy eating habits—caught up to me. In an effort to make positive changes in my life (and hopefully yours, too), I created this website where I could share great-tasting, craveable, healthy recipes.

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