Few kitchen staples rival the richness of homemade Chicken Broth, especially when made with aromatic carrots, onion, and garlic. A long, gentle simmer coaxes deep flavor from the bones and vegetables while you periodically skim the surface for clarity and purity. This from-scratch soup base is a nourishing foundation for everything from weeknight dinners to restorative meals when someone needs a little extra comfort.
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Ingredients for Chicken Broth
Gathering your ingredients is the first step toward a truly savory homemade stock with vegetables. I like to pull everything out on the counter before I start—it makes the process feel so much more relaxed. Here’s what you’ll need for this chicken broth recipe.
For the broth
- Chicken Bones – Use backs, necks, or wings for a rich, flavorful base.
- Yellow Onion – Leave the skin on and quarter it for added depth of flavor.
- Carrots – Roughly chopped into 2-inch pieces for sweetness.
- Celery Stalks – Roughly chopped into 2-inch pieces to complement the savory notes.
- Whole Black Peppercorns – Adds a subtle warmth and spice.
- Bay Leaves – Essential for that classic aromatic touch.
- Garlic – Halve a whole head crosswise to infuse the broth with bold, savory depth.
- Kosher Salt – Just enough to enhance all the flavors without overpowering.
- Fresh Parsley – A bright, herbaceous finish that ties everything together.
- Cold Water – Starting with cold water ensures a clear, clean broth.
Cook Time for Homemade Chicken Broth
I know a 4-hour simmer might sound like a long time, but trust me, it’s mostly hands-off. While I’m working from home or tidying up the house, my pot of chicken bone broth is quietly working its magic on the stove. The active time is wonderfully short, making this a perfect weekend project. For a quicker soup using a similar method, you might enjoy my white chicken chili.
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Total Time | 4 hours 45 minutes |
How to Make Chicken Bone Broth
Making this slow-cooked broth from roasted bones is a simple, almost meditative process. I love the way it fills my kitchen with the most comforting smell. Follow these steps for a perfect, flavorful clear broth for soups every time.
Step 1: Combine Your Ingredients
Place the chicken bones, onion, carrots, celery, black peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, kosher salt, and parsley in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Pour in 1 gallon of cold water, ensuring all ingredients are fully submerged by at least 1 inch.
Step 2: Bring to a Simmer
Set the pot over high heat and bring the liquid to a rolling boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer, with occasional bubbles rising to the surface.
Step 3: Simmer and Skim
Allow the broth to simmer uncovered for 4 to 6 hours. Use a ladle to skim off any foam or impurities that accumulate on the surface throughout the cooking process.
Step 4: Strain the Broth
Remove the pot from the heat and strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large clean pot or bowl. Press gently on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
Step 5: Cool and Chill
Let the strained broth cool to room temperature, then transfer it to the refrigerator. Chill until completely cold, allowing the fat to solidify into a thin layer on the surface, approximately 4 to 6 hours.
Step 6: Skim and Store
Once chilled, use a spoon to carefully skim off and discard the solidified fat from the surface of the broth. Use the broth immediately or store it in airtight containers for later use.
Pro Tips & Tasty Tweaks
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks that make this hearty stock with herbs and spices even better. Here are my favorite ways to customize and perfect your easy soup base.
- Boost the Flavor: For a richer, more complex simmered bone broth with aromatics, try roasting the chicken bones and vegetables in the oven at 400°F for 30 minutes before adding them to the pot. It adds a wonderful depth.
- Make it Lighter: If you’re watching your sodium, feel free to omit the salt during cooking. You can always add a pinch to individual bowls later. This approach works beautifully in my healthy soup recipes.
- For a Clearer Broth: The key to a beautifully clear broth is starting with cold water and maintaining that gentle simmer. A rolling boil will make it cloudy, so patience is your best tool here.
- Storage Smarts: Your homemade broth will keep in the fridge for about 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it in ice cube trays or one-cup portions. It’s a lifesaver for whipping up a quick cream of broccoli soup on a busy night.
Chicken Broth
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken bones such as backs, necks, and wings
- 1 large yellow onion unpeeled and quartered
- 2 large carrots roughly chopped into 2-inch pieces
- 3 large celery stalks roughly chopped into 2-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp whole black peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 head garlic halved crosswise
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 bunch fresh parsley
- 1 gallon cold water
Method
- Combine all ingredients in a large stockpot or Dutch oven, ensuring the cold water covers everything by at least 1 inch.
- Place the pot over high heat and bring the liquid to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Simmer the broth for 4 to 6 hours, occasionally skimming off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface with a ladle.
- Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large clean pot or bowl, pressing gently on the solids to extract all the liquid.
- Let the broth cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it until completely cold and the fat has solidified on the surface.
- Skim off and discard the layer of solidified fat from the top of the chilled broth before using or storing.
Nutrition
Notes
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Nutrition and Health Benefits
Beyond its incredible flavor, this simple Chicken Broth is a powerhouse of nutrition. I always feel a sense of pride knowing exactly what’s in the pot, with no hidden additives, just pure, wholesome ingredients. For a deeper look at the health aspects of making your own stock, you can check out this WebMD’s Chicken Broth Guide.
This slow-cooked broth from roasted bones is naturally rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are gently released from the bones during the long simmer. It’s also a wonderful source of hydration, especially when you’re feeling under the weather. For more ways to incorporate healthy, simple meals into your routine, my collection of healthy soup recipes is a great place to start.
| Nutrient | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Collagen & Gelatin | Supports joint health and gut integrity. |
| Electrolytes | Helps replenish fluids, perfect for a soothing Tom Kha Gai soup. |
| Amino Acids | The building blocks of protein for overall wellness. |
A Lighter Version of Chicken Broth
If you’re looking for a simpler, leaner version of this homemade chicken broth, it’s incredibly easy to adapt. The beauty of making your own is that you control every ingredient that goes into it, creating a truly easy soup base tailored to your needs.
For a lighter take, I simply skip the salt during the cooking process entirely. This allows me to season individual bowls later, which is a great trick for managing sodium intake. This method works wonderfully in my sweet potato chicken soup.
You can also shorten the simmering time to about 2 hours. The flavor will be a bit lighter, but it’s a fantastic quick option for a weeknight fall soup. The key is to still start with cold water and skim off any foam for the clearest, purest result.
Thoughtful Tips for Special Diets
I believe good food is for everyone, and a little creativity can make classic recipes work for many different needs. In my kitchen, I often experiment with making dishes more diabetic-friendly and lower in sugar, focusing on natural flavors from herbs and aromatics.
For a sugar-conscious approach to this broth, remember that the natural sweetness comes from the carrots and onions. If you want to reduce that even further, you can use a bit less carrot. For seasoning, I sometimes add a pinch of a natural sweetener like stevia at the end to balance acidity if I’m using the broth in a tomato-based soup, but it’s rarely needed for the broth itself.
Portion control is another simple way to enjoy this broth as part of a low glycemic meal plan. A small, warm cup before a meal can be very satisfying. The high protein and mineral content from the bones make it a great, blood sugar friendly option that’s both nourishing and comforting.
How to Serve Chicken Broth
One of my favorite childhood memories is coming inside on a chilly afternoon to find a pot of my grandmother’s Chicken Broth simmering on the stove. She’d serve it in her favorite ceramic mugs, and we’d sip it while she told stories. To this day, a simple cup of this flavorful clear broth for soups feels like a warm hug.
Of course, this hearty stock with herbs and spices is also the perfect starting point for countless dishes. It forms the foundation of my favorite classic chicken soup, and it’s essential for creating a rich, creamy butternut squash soup. Don’t be afraid to get creative—your homemade broth will elevate any recipe it touches.
For a simple, elegant presentation, pour the hot broth into warmed bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or a thin slice of lemon. It’s a humble dish that speaks volumes about the care and love you put into making it from scratch.
Mistakes to Avoid
Over the years, I’ve learned that even the simplest recipes have their little pitfalls. Making this homemade chicken broth is wonderfully straightforward, but a few common missteps can affect the final flavor. I want to share these with you so your first batch turns out perfectly.
One mistake I see often is using boiling water to start. Always begin with cold water to gently extract the flavors and minerals from the bones. Starting with hot water can cause the proteins to coagulate too quickly, resulting in a cloudy Chicken Broth. Another key point is skimming the foam. It’s a simple step, but if you skip it, those impurities can make your broth taste bitter.
Don’t be tempted to add too much salt at the beginning. Since the broth reduces as it simmers, the saltiness can concentrate. I prefer to season lightly at the start and adjust at the end, especially when I plan to use it as a base for my cream of broccoli soup. For more on technique, the BBC Good Food’s Broth Techniques offers great insights into achieving a clear stock.
Finally, avoid a rolling boil. A gentle simmer is your best friend here. A hard boil can emulsify fat into the broth, making it greasy. Keeping the heat low and steady yields a clearer, more refined flavorful clear broth for soups like my favorite white chicken chili. Trust me, a little patience makes all the difference.
How to Store Chicken Broth
My grandmother had a beautiful system for storing her Chicken Broth. She’d line up her glass jars on the countertop, each one filled with golden liquid that shimmered in the afternoon light. It felt like preserving sunshine for a rainy day. I still use her method today, and it never fails me.
Once your broth has cooled completely, I recommend storing it in airtight glass containers. This savory homemade stock with vegetables will keep in the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 days. For longer storage, freezing is the way to go. I like to freeze it in portion-sized containers or even ice cube trays. Those frozen cubes are perfect for quickly adding rich flavor to a weeknight crockpot cheeseburger soup.
When you’re ready to use frozen broth, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or place the container in a bowl of cool water. To reheat, warm it gently on the stove. I love having this easy soup base on hand to create a comforting Mexican sweet potato chicken soup on a moment’s notice. It’s like having a little piece of home-cooked comfort ready whenever you need it.
Try This Chicken Broth Yourself
I truly hope you feel inspired to try making this Chicken Broth in your own kitchen. There’s something so rewarding about filling your home with its comforting aroma. It connects us to generations of home cooks who found joy in a simple, nourishing pot of broth.
Don’t think of it as just a recipe—think of it as a foundation for countless meals. This simmered bone broth with aromatics is the secret to so many of my favorite dishes. It transforms a simple grilled chicken breast into something special and adds incredible depth to my bbq chicken breasts.
I’d love to hear how it turns out for you. Share your creations with me, and let me know what wonderful soups you make. Whether it’s a vibrant cilantro lime chicken dish or a cozy pot of fall soups, your homemade broth will make it unforgettable. Happy cooking!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make chicken broth?
You make chicken broth by simmering chicken bones with vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery in water for several hours. The long, gentle cooking time extracts flavor and nutrients, creating a rich, flavorful base for soups and other dishes. My guide above walks you through each step for a perfect homemade chicken broth every time.
Is drinking chicken broth good for you?
Yes, drinking Chicken Broth can be very good for you! It’s hydrating and provides minerals like calcium and magnesium from the bones. It’s especially soothing when you’re feeling under the weather. For a deeper look, check out the health benefits section in this article.
What exactly is chicken broth?
Chicken broth is a flavorful liquid made by simmering chicken bones, meat, and vegetables in water. It’s lighter than stock and is often seasoned, making it a delicious and versatile easy soup base on its own or in recipes.
Which is better, chicken stock or bone broth?
“Better” really depends on how you plan to use it. Chicken bone broth is typically simmered longer, making it richer in gelatin. Chicken stock is a fantastic all-purpose cooking liquid. I love using my homemade broth for both sipping and cooking, as it gives me control over the ingredients and flavor.
More Cozy Soup Recipes You’ll Love
Now that you’ve mastered the art of broth, let’s get simmering on your next cozy meal.
- Classic Chicken Soup – The ultimate comfort food, perfect for a nourishing weeknight dinner.
- Butternut Squash Soup – A velvety smooth and slightly sweet soup that feels like a warm hug.
- Tom Kha Gai Soup – A Thai-inspired coconut broth that’s tangy, creamy, and utterly addictive.
- Fall Soup Recipes – A collection of my favorite seasonal soups to celebrate autumn’s harvest.
