An easy way to make a flavorful homemade chicken broth from the bones of a roast chicken in two hours on the stove!
The flavors of a homemade chicken broth are simply the best and much more intense than anything from a store carton. Celery, onions, carrots and salt always accompany this chicken broth to enhance the flavor. Best of all you control the flavors, salt, and amount of broth that you want! Just one time making this homemade chicken broth and you will never want to go back to store bought if you don't have to.
The thought of making homemade chicken broth with two kids running around and tired from working sounded like too much to me when I could just use the broth from the store. That was until one night after buying a roast chicken from the store, I decided to just toss in the chicken bones and some leftover celery, onion, and carrots into a pot. The result was amazing! Making homemade chicken broth was simple! It doesn't have to take hours either. If you have all day to slowly simmer the broth, then definitely go for it because the flavor will only become better. But if you don't have all day just an hour or two will do!
Cozy Tips for Homemade Chicken Broth
- Using a whole roast chicken carcass work the best for flavor, but any chicken bones will do.
- When making a roast chicken for dinner, save the cooled carcass in a bag to make chicken broth the next day or during the week. For an easy roast chicken in the oven, check out my recipe here!
- Add the leaves of the celery for better flavor along with onion and carrots.
- Salt to taste, there are times when you need more salt and times when you need less salt.
- Save the broth in a mason jar with a pour spout such as this one.
- Make the broth into a meal plan, such as if you make a roast chicken then use the broth in a chicken soup or in a chicken pot pie. This makes it easy to get more homemade meals from one dinner and simplifies meal planning!
Best Length of Time for Cooking Chicken Broth
The longer a broth can simmer on the stove slowly, the more flavorful that broth will be. Ideally, between 4-6 hours is the traditional chicken broth simmer time. However, we don't always have that kind of time on our hands. This chicken broth is best bought to a boil and simmered for 1-2 hours on low. The flavor is always intense and perfect!
Whole Chicken Carcass or Bones
Using a whole chicken carcass has been the best option for making chicken broth. This is due to the variety of bones and flavors that come from a completely whole roasted chicken. However, random bones will do just fine and I usually will freeze my spare bones to make a broth when I don't have a whole chicken.
Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Broth
- Whole Cooked Chicken Carcass (with meat removed or random chicken bones)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onion
- Salt
- Water
You will also want a large pot and a large mason jar, such as this one with a pour cap lid.
The Cozy Details
Step 1: Gather all of your ingredients and slice in large pieces the celery, carrots, and onion.
Step 2: Place all of the veggies and chicken carcass into a large pot. I will place the chicken carcass into the pot first and fill in the veggies around. Add in the salt to taste.
Step 3: Fill the pot with water to cover most of the carcass and veggies. Bring to a boil on the stove.
Step 4: Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for at 1-2 hours. Add water if needed, but usually you do not have to add any additional water.
Step 5: Drain the broth with a colander over a bowl or remove the carcass and veggies. At this point you can strain the broth through a cheese cloth or filter funnel or you can simply remove any large unwanted pieces. I usually just remove the large pieces.
Step 6: Store the broth in a mason jar in the fridge to use for cooking for up to a week.
Making your own homemade chicken broth for your family or friends feels so empowering to be able to cook them such a nutritious meal and with such little effort. What will you make with your chicken broth?
Homemade Chicken Broth
An easy way to make a flavorful homemade chicken broth from the bones of a roast chicken in two hours on the stove!
Ingredients
- Whole Chicken Carcass or Bones
- 2 Carrots
- 3 Celery Stalks and Leaves
- ½ Onion
- Salt
- Water
Instructions
- Gather all of your ingredients and slice in large pieces the celery, carrots, and onion.
- Place all of the veggies and chicken carcass into a large pot. I will place the chicken carcass into the pot first and fill in the veggies around. Add in the salt to taste.
- Fill the pot with water to cover most of the carcass and veggies. Bring to a boil on the stove.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for at 1-2 hours. Add water if needed, but usually you do not have to add any additional water.
- Drain the broth with a colander over a bowl or remove the carcass and veggies. At this point you can strain the broth through a cheese cloth or filter funnel or you can simply remove any large unwanted pieces. I usually just remove the large pieces.
- Store the broth in a mason jar in the fridge to use for cooking for up to a week.