Chicken Stock For The Soul
We know, that’s not the title of the book! But we think that many soul-satisfying recipes start with a luxuriously golden chicken stock, with bits of healthy fat running through it. Pouring a batch of homemade chicken stock into containers for future use feels like the most rewarding type of savings plan, because it means there will be tons of enriched soups ahead. Next time you have an afternoon to tend to a pot of simmering chicken stock, we encourage you to give this recipe a try. You’ll be so glad you did on your next soup night!
To Salt Or Not To Salt, Our Best Homemade Chicken Stock Recipe
Part of building our pantry includes supplementing the store-bought chicken broth we always have on-hand with homemade chicken stock. Making chicken stock from scratch is not only more nutrient-dense and flavorful, it’s also healthier because we can control the amount of sodium. Salt is an optional ingredient in our best chicken stock recipe, because it allows the chicken stock to serve as a neutral base for whatever recipe we use it in. We count these as the main benefits of making homemade chicken stock. Making homemade chicken stock can also be a great way to use vegetable scraps. We keep a container in the freezer to store carrot, celery, and onion ends until we need them for the next batch of chicken stock.
Is Chicken Stock The Same As Chicken Broth?
While recipes often call for chicken stock or chicken broth, and they can be used interchangeably, chicken stock is made with bones and chicken broth is made with meat. This means that chicken stock contains gelatin, the component that turns chicken stock into liquid gold with a viscous texture. The gelatin from chicken bones is also the reason why chicken stock becomes jelly-like when it’s stored in the fridge. Chicken stock and chicken broth are not the same, but you can use chicken stock instead of chicken broth in the same way for recipes, you’ll just get a lot more flavor (and nutrients and protein!) from chicken stock. What are the 4 main components of a chicken stock? To get the most nutritious, flavor-packed chicken stock, you’ll need water, chicken bones, aromatics (onion, carrot, celery, and garlic) and herbs (bay leaf and parsley). And, perhaps the most important, fifth ingredient–TIME! The longer your chicken stock simmers, the more nutrients you’ll squeeze out of the chicken bones and vegetables. If you’re short on this ingredient, yet still want to reap the benefits of homemade chicken stock, you can follow our Instant Pot Chicken Stock recipe.
How To Make Flavorful Chicken Stock
Get out your big stock pot and add the chicken parts (or whole chicken carcass), onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, peppercorns, and salt, if using. Fill the pot with cold water until the carcass is almost completely covered. You can do the same for turkey stock as well!
Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce the heat to low.
Simmer, undisturbed for 6 hours. Remove pot from heat and let cool completely.
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl. Using tongs, remove and discard the chicken parts and vegetables. Strain the stock into the bowl.
Keep your chicken stock in airtight storage containers for up to one week in the fridge or in the freezer for up to three months.
Tools You’ll Need
Airtight containers for storage, preferably 1-cup, freezer-safe containers
Recipes With Chicken Stock To Make Great Meals
Once you have a supply of homemade chicken stock lined up and ready to roll, you’ll find yourself using it to enhance the flavor of all your home cooking. Here’s some recipes that will shine with the addition of that rich, golden stock you’ve made:
Parmesan Risotto and our Creamy Polenta Recipe will both drink up a few cups of chicken stock
Everyone loves a tender and juicy bread stuffing, and chicken stock plays a main role in adding flavor to our Classic Sausage Stuffing
Enrich your soups with a homemade chicken stock base: Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale, Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup, and 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chili! Our delicious Green Chicken Chili Soup is calling your name.
Stock Up And Show Us Your Work
Did you stock your freezer full of healthy and delicious homemade chicken stock? Future you is going to be so grateful! Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy cooking!
