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–+ servings
A glass jar filled with homemade chicken stock on a wooden counter with carrots and other vegetables surrounding it.

Homemade Chicken Stock

Rich, golden, and packed with savory flavor, this homemade chicken stock is the perfect base for soups, stews, and sauces. Made from simple ingredients like chicken bones, veggies, and herbs, it’s comforting and delicious.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Ingredient, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 cups
Calories 14 kcal

Equipment

  • Large stockpot, crockpot, or Instant Pot
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Large spoon or ladle
  • Storage containers or jars

Ingredients
  

  • chicken bones carcass, wings, necks, or leftover bones
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 3 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 2 bay leaves
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh herbs (like parsley, thyme, or rosemary)
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 8-10 cups water enough to cover ingredients (about 8-10 cups)

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken bones, vegetables, and spices into the pot.
  • Add enough water to fully cover the ingredients by 1–2 inches.
  • To Cook on Stovetop/in Crockpot: Cover and simmer on low for 4–6 hours.
    To Cook in Instant Pot: Secure the lid and pressure cook on low for 1 hour.
  • Once the stock has cooked, separate the liquid from the solids by carefully pouring everything through a fine-mesh strainer and into a large bowl. Discard or compost the solids.
  • Let the stock cool. Then divide it into airtight storage containers. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or you can freeze for up to six months.

Notes

  • I like to use wide-mouth, quart-sized glass jars to freeze my homemade stock. These reusable storage containers are affordable, and they package up the stock in the amount I use in many recipes.
  • Leave about an inch of space at the top to allow the liquid to expand when it freezes.
  • For easy-to-use, 2 tablespoon portions, freeze some of the homemade chicken stock in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag for easy storage and access.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 14kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.004gSodium: 460mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 19mgIron: 0.1mg

Please Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated. It should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!