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Making Slow Cooker Chicken Stock is a convenient and easy way to get a rich and flavorful broth. Simply place chicken bones, vegetables, and seasonings in the slow cooker and let it simmer for 12 hours on low heat. This low and slow cooking method allows all the flavors to fully develop, resulting in a delicious and nourishing broth.
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Check out my Slow Cooker Chili Recipe and my Pulled Chicken Crock Pot Recipe for more slow cooker recipes!
Chicken stock made in a slow cooker is a great way to utilize chicken bones and scraps to make a flavorful and nourishing broth. The slow cooking process allows all the flavors from the chicken, vegetables, and seasonings to fully develop, producing a rich and delicious broth. Making chicken stock in a slow cooker is also convenient, as it frees up stovetop space and can be left to cook for several hours without any attention, making it a great option for busy days.
This method of making chicken stock is versatile and can be easily adjusted to your taste preferences. With a slow cooker, you can enjoy a warm and comforting bowl of homemade chicken stock whenever you want.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Convenience. Making chicken stock in a slow cooker is an easy and effortless process, allowing you to set it and forget it.
- Rich and Flavorful. The slow cooking process allows the flavors from the chicken, vegetables, and seasonings to fully develop, resulting in a rich and delicious broth.
- Budget-Friendly. Using chicken bones and scraps to make chicken stock is an economical way to reduce food waste and add flavor to your meals.
- Versatile. This recipe is easily adaptable to your taste preferences and can be used as a base for soups, stews, sauces, and other dishes.
- Nourishing. Chicken stock is a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals and is considered to be a nourishing addition to a balanced diet.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Chicken Bones: Provides the foundation of flavor and richness in the broth. Using a mix of different bones, such as backs, necks, and wings, will result in a well-rounded flavor.
- Carrots: Contributes a natural sweetness to the broth, and also provide vitamins and minerals.
- Celery Stalks: Adds a mild, slightly bitter flavor to the broth and provides additional minerals and vitamins.
- Onions: Adds a depth of flavor to the broth and also help to sweeten it. They also contain sulfur compounds that are said to help support the immune system.
- Garlic Cloves: Adds a pungent and slightly sweet flavor to the broth, as well as being a natural antimicrobial.
- Whole Cloves: Adds a warm, sweet, and spicy flavor to the broth. They are commonly used in soups and broths, but should be removed before consuming the broth.
- Dried Basil Leaves: Adds a fragrant and sweet flavor to the broth.
- Dried Thyme Leaves: Adds a earthy and slightly minty flavor to the broth.
- Salt: Used to enhance the flavor of the broth. It should be added in moderation to taste.
- Ground Black Pepper: Adds a warm and slightly pungent flavor to the broth and is used to season the broth.
- Water: The base of the broth and helps to extract the flavors from the ingredients.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1:
Place chicken bones in the slow cooker.
Step 2:
Add chopped carrots, celery, and onion to the slow cooker.
Step 3:
Add salt, pepper, garlic, cloves, basil and thyme.
Step 4:
Fill the slow cooker with water until it covers all the ingredients.
Step 5:
Cover and cook on low heat for 12 hours, or until the broth is rich and flavorful.
Step 6:
Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a large container, discarding the solids.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Use a mix of bones. Using a mix of different bones, such as backs, necks, wings, and feet, will result in a well-rounded flavor.
- Brown the bones first. Browning the bones in a hot oven or on the stovetop before adding them to the slow cooker can add additional depth of flavor to the broth.
- Skim the foam. Skimming the foam from the surface of the broth as it cooks can help to produce a clearer and cleaner-tasting broth.
- Cook low and slow. Cooking the broth on low heat for 8-10 hours will allow the flavors to fully develop and result in a rich and flavorful broth.
- Strain the broth. Straining the broth through a fine-mesh strainer will remove any solids and result in a clearer broth.
Variations
- Add additional seasonings: Try adding additional seasonings such as rosemary, parsley, or bay leaves to enhance the flavor of the broth.
- Use different vegetables: Try using different vegetables such as leeks, turnips, or mushrooms to add additional depth of flavor to the broth.
- Add wine: Adding a splash of wine to the broth can add depth and complexity to the flavor.
- Add miso paste: Adding a spoonful of miso paste to the broth can add a rich and salty flavor, making it a perfect base for miso soup.
- Make it spicy: Adding spices such as cumin, coriander, or chili flakes to the broth can make it spicy and add a different dimension of flavor.
- Make it vegetarian or vegan: To make a vegetarian or vegan version of the broth, replace the chicken bones with vegetables such as carrots, celery, and onion, and add additional seasonings for flavor.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Let the broth cool completely to room temperature. Transfer the broth to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Let the broth cool completely to room temperature. Pour the broth into freezer-safe containers or freezer bags, leaving about 1 inch of headspace to allow for expansion. Store the broth in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use any type of chicken bones to make stock, including backs, necks, wings, and feet. A mix of different bones will result in a well-rounded flavor.
Skimming the foam from the surface of the broth as it cooks and straining the broth through a fine-mesh strainer will help produce a clearer and cleaner-tasting broth.
You can reheat chicken stock on the stove or in the microwave until hot.
Other Recipes You'll Love
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Slow Cooker Chicken Stock
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken bones rotisserie chicken bones work great
- 4 carrots chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 medium onions peeled and ends chopped off
- 4 garlic cloves peeled and minced
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 10 cups water
Instructions
- Place chicken bones in the slow cooker.
- Add chopped carrots, celery, and onion to the slow cooker.
- Add salt, pepper, garlic, cloves, basil and thyme.
- Fill the slow cooker with water until it covers all the ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 12 hours, or until the broth is rich and flavorful.
- Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a large container, discarding the solids.
Notes
- Use a mix of bones. Using a mix of different bones, such as backs, necks, wings, and feet, will result in a well-rounded flavor.
- Brown the bones first. Browning the bones in a hot oven or on the stovetop before adding them to the slow cooker can add additional depth of flavor to the broth.
- Skim the foam. Skimming the foam from the surface of the broth as it cooks can help to produce a clearer and cleaner-tasting broth.
- Cook low and slow. Cooking the broth on low heat for 8-10 hours will allow the flavors to fully develop and result in a rich and flavorful broth.
- Strain the broth. Straining the broth through a fine-mesh strainer will remove any solids and result in a clearer broth.
- Storing: Let the broth cool completely to room temperature. Transfer the broth to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Let the broth cool completely to room temperature. Pour the broth into freezer-safe containers or freezer bags, leaving about 1 inch of headspace to allow for expansion. Store the broth in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Jennifer Allen
I loved setting this up in the morning and then coming home to the amazing smell of this nutritious broth cooking! It made the most amazing soup!
shanna
I love how easy this is to make and that it is healthier.
Julia
Perfect recipe! I have all the ingredients and need to stock up on chicken broth 😍
Elizabeth
Homemade chicken stock is the best, and making it in the slow cooker makes it even easier and fuss free to make! Great recipe!
Michelle
This is my kind of fix it and forget it recipe. So easy, and so much better than store bought
Emily Flint
I make chicken stock all the time on my stovetop and never thought to do it in my slow cooker. What a great idea! I also like your flavor additions, just slightly different than I've done in the past but it made the stock extra yummy!