This homemade chicken broth is the ultimate comfort food base, crafted from scratch using stewing chicken for maximum flavor and body. By simmering the meat slowly with aromatic vegetables like carrots, onions, and garlic, you create a deeply savory liquid that far surpasses store-bought alternatives. The gentle cooking process extracts collagen and gelatin, resulting in a silky texture and robust taste. Perfect for sipping on a cold day, using as a base for risottos and grains, or freezing for future meals, this versatile broth adds an authentic, home-style richness to any dish. It’s a simple yet rewarding project that transforms basic pantry ingredients into culinary gold.
Homemade Chicken Broth
Description
This homemade chicken broth is the ultimate comfort food base, crafted from scratch using stewing chicken for maximum flavor and body. By simmering the meat slowly with aromatic vegetables like carrots, onions, and garlic, you create a deeply savory liquid that far surpasses store-bought alternatives. The gentle cooking process extracts collagen and gelatin, resulting in a silky texture and robust taste. Perfect for sipping on a cold day, using as a base for risottos and grains, or freezing for future meals, this versatile broth adds an authentic, home-style richness to any dish. It&# 226;ÂÂs a simple yet rewarding project that transforms basic pantry ingredients into culinary gold.Ingredients
Directions
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Place the stewing chicken in a large 8- to 10-quart pot.
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Add 5 quarts of cold water to the pot, ensuring the chicken is covered.
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Add the quartered carrots, quartered onion, unpeeled garlic, and black peppercorns to the pot.
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Bring the pot to a boil over high heat.
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Reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer.
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Cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
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Skim any foam or impurities from the surface of the broth as they rise.
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Remove the pot from heat and discard the solids, including vegetables, bones, and chicken meat.
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Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean container.
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Refrigerate the broth for at least 2 hours to allow fat to solidify on the surface.
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Skim the solidified fat from the surface before serving or storing.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 59.8kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 3.0g5%
- Saturated Fat 0.8g4%
- Cholesterol 22.2mg8%
- Sodium 20.5mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 0.0g0%
- Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
- Sugars 0.0g
- Protein 6.8g14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Storage: The broth can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days or frozen for longer preservation.
Ingredient Variation: If you do not have a whole stewing chicken, you can substitute with 2 smaller roasting chickens (2 1/2 - 3 lbs each), quartered.
Tip: Keeping the lid slightly ajar during simmering helps prevent the broth from becoming cloudy and allows excess moisture to evaporate, concentrating the flavor.
Safety: Ensure the broth is cooled completely before refrigerating to avoid raising the internal temperature of your fridge.