How to Make Homemade Chicken Broth

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How to make homemade chicken broth is so easy to do. When boiling chicken, do not throw away that delicious stock. Save for your next recipe.

We boil chicken for many recipes, including making dog food for our fur-baby and homemade chicken noodle soup. But, instead of tossing out the chicken broth, we save it! So, I am going to share how to make homemade chicken broth. It is so easy!

Here are some ideas to add chicken stock to your recipes.

• When preparing side dishes like rice, couscous, or even noodles, use the stock instead of water to add a delightful flavor.
• We always make homemade chicken soup with a side of homemade bread, so we will use our homemade broth on hand. Delicious!
• Have a cold? Make a cup of broth to soothe the soul.

Do I have to use chicken on the bone to make broth?

No. However, in making chicken broth is best to use bone-in chicken to get all the nutrients & robust flavor; however, it can be done with boneless chicken as well!

Ingredients needed to make chicken broth

• 2 lbs of bone-in chicken
• Filtered Water
• 2-3 Boullion cubes

Additional Additives for your Stock!

• Vegetable Scraps (onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, zucchini)
• Fresh Garlic-1-2 cloves
• 2 tbs Peppercorn
• Add bay leaves, Thyme or Parsely

Directions on how to make chicken broth

1. Add water into the pot until the water has covered the bone-in chicken entirely. Then, add Vegetable Scraps, Garlic & peppercorns.
2. Boil chicken breast for 20 minutes or until the chicken is completely done.
3. Remove chicken from stock.
4. Use another stockpot and place a colander inside the pot or use a sifter.
5. Take the pot of stock and carefully pour it into the colander or sifter in the pot to collect the remnants of the chicken. 
6. Transfer your stock to 1-quart mason jars. Add lids & Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Tip: If canning your chicken stock, make sure your jars are sterilized first. Follow the guidelines for preparing your mason jars for canning.

Tools needed to make chicken stock.

• Stock Pot
• 4 qt pot
• Sifter or Colander
• 1-quart Mason Jars
• Funnel
• Tongs
• Wooden Spoon

How much water do I add to the chicken broth?

Dilute with water in a ratio of 2 parts broth to 1 part water (2 cups broth/1 cup water). Before adding water, taste your stock first as it may not need to be diluted.

How long does Chicken Stock stay good for?

If you are not canning it for shelf storage, it will need to be refrigerated and used within 4-5 days.

Is it worth making your own chicken stock?

Of course, you can grab chicken stock off the grocery store shelf. But, if you like to add it to many recipes such as soups and stews at home, then having the homemade chicken stock on hand is worth it. 

Do you need to dilute homemade chicken stock?

Chicken Broth used in any recipe that calls for it may want to dilute the stock because it’s very rich in flavor, which can sometimes overpower soups. However, taste your stock before adding water.

 Is it cost-effective

It really comes down to the cost of the ingredients that you use to make your stock. However, you will have a larger quantity to use when creating your broth. And with a robust chicken flavor and abundance of nutrients, it tastes better than anything from the supermarket.

Tips for Freezing broth

• If using a mason jar, leave an inch of space between the stock and the top of the jar you’re freezing it in; this allows enough room for the liquid to expand in the freezer.
• A freezer bag is another option. Fill the Ziploc bag with about three cups of broth. Before closing, release any air. Lay flat in the freezer.
• For smaller portions, ice trays work well too. Fill each ice tray with smaller portions for recipes.
• Thaw stock in the fridge a day or two before using. 

Note: Don’t forget to label & date your broth!

Stay warm y’all!

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