🍗 Homemade Chicken Stock (Soup Week Kickoff!)
Rich, golden, and full of flavor — perfect as the base for all your cozy fall soups 🍂
INGREDIENTS:
3 leftover chicken carcasses (frozen or fresh)
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 onions, quartered (optional if you prefer mild)
1 bulb garlic, halved (optional or skip for gentle flavor)
2 bay leaves
1 tsp whole peppercorns
A few sprigs fresh thyme + parsley
Cold water (enough to fully cover the bones — about 4–5 quarts)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Add chicken carcasses to a large stock pot or slow cooker.
Add all vegetables, herbs, peppercorns, and apple cider vinegar.
Fill with cold water until everything is covered.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low.
Simmer uncovered for 4–6 hours (or up to 12 hours for deeper flavor).
Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the top.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve into another pot or large bowl.
Cool completely before refrigerating or freezing.
The stock will gel slightly when chilled — that’s a good sign! 💛
STORAGE:
Keeps 5 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer (freeze in portions for easy soups later).
SERVE WITH:
Use as the base for creamy soups, risottos, gravies, or cozy noodle bowls 🍜
#soupweek #homemadestock #cozybaking #soupseason #deliciousnessbakery
Making homemade chicken stock is a wonderful way to add depth and warmth to your seasonal cooking, particularly when autumn arrives and you crave comforting dishes. This recipe centers around using leftover chicken carcasses, which not only prevents food waste but infuses your stock with natural collagen and flavor. When simmering the stock, adding apple cider vinegar helps extract minerals from the bones, enriching the broth's nutritional profile and contributing to its golden richness. While the recipe includes an optional garlic bulb and onions to tailor the flavor to your liking, don't hesitate to customize with other garden-fresh herbs such as rosemary or sage for an aroma that suits your palate. Simmering low and slow for up to 12 hours allows the flavors to meld perfectly and creates that desirable gel-like consistency when chilled, indicating a well-made stock with plenty of body. Storing the stock properly is essential: refrigerate for up to five days or freeze in portioned containers for up to three months. Using ice cube trays is an excellent method for freezing small quantities that can be conveniently added to sauces or sautés. This versatile homemade chicken stock serves as the foundation for a wide range of recipes beyond soup, including creamy risottos which gain a deeper flavor, savory gravies, and hearty noodle bowls. Embracing homemade stock preparation also means you control the ingredients, avoiding preservatives and excess salt commonly found in store-bought versions. Homemade stock elevates your cooking and adds a rustic authenticity that store-bought cannot replicate. For anyone looking to maximize flavor while practicing resourcefulness in the kitchen, mastering homemade chicken stock is an indispensable skill—especially during chilly months when a bowl of warm soup feels like a soothing embrace.
thanks 🔥