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Homemade Chicken Broth

This frugal, nutrient-rich homemade chicken broth is a staple on our homestead. Using leftover vegetable scraps and a chicken carcass, you can create a flavorful broth perfect for soups, stews, and sauces — all in the crockpot with no babysitting required!
Course Pantry Staples, Soup
Cuisine American, Homestead
Keyword crockpot chicken stock, DIY broth, frugal broth recipe, homemade chicken broth, make-ahead broth, pressure canned broth, vegetable scrap broth

Equipment

  • Crockpot or slow cooker
  • Freezer-safe bags (for scraps)
  • Strainer
  • Large bowl
  • Quart jars (for storage or canning)
  • Pressure canner (optional)
  • Ladle

Ingredients

  • 1 Chicken carcass (fresh or frozen)
  • 2–3 cups Frozen vegetable scraps (such as carrot ends, celery tops, onion peels)
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Whole peppercorns
  • Water (enough to fill the crockpot)

Instructions

  • Add ingredients to crockpot: Place chicken carcass and vegetable scraps into a large crockpot. Sprinkle in salt and peppercorns. Fill the crockpot with water to just below the top.
  • Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on High for 16 hours. You can also cook on Low for 24 hours if preferred.
  • Cool and strain: Once the cooking time is complete, turn off the crockpot and let it cool to room temperature. Then strain the broth using a fine-mesh strainer to remove all solids.
  • Store or can the broth: Pour strained broth into airtight containers.
    To refrigerate: Store up to 4–5 days.
    To freeze: Let cool completely and transfer to freezer-safe containers, leaving room for expansion.
    To can: Ladle hot broth into hot quart jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Pressure can at 10 lbs for 25 minutes.

Notes

  • Use what you have: This recipe is flexible — toss in garlic skins, herb stems, or even a bit of leftover lemon for brightness.
  • Label and rotate: If freezing or canning, always label with the date so you can use the oldest batch first.
  • No crockpot? You can also make this in a large stockpot on the stovetop — just simmer gently for 4–6 hours, adding water as needed.
  • Zero waste bonus: This method stretches your groceries further and makes use of scraps you might otherwise toss!