Ultimate Homemade Chicken Base
Elevate your dishes with our Ultimate Homemade Chicken Base. Crafted from roasted chicken, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs, this rich, concentrated broth adds a deep, savory umami boost to soups, sauces, and more.
Ingredients
- Chicken Parts: 3 lbs a mix of bones, wings, necks, or carcass
Vegetables:
- 2 carrots coarsely chopped
- 2 celery stalks coarsely chopped
- 1 large onion quartered (leave the skin on for extra flavor)
Aromatics:
- 3 garlic cloves smashed (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 –5 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
- A small handful of fresh parsley
Seasoning:
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
Liquid:
- 12 cups cold water or enough to fully cover ingredients
Instructions
Roast the Chicken:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the chicken parts on a baking sheet and roast for 30–40 minutes until they develop a rich, golden-brown color.
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, add the roasted chicken parts, chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic (if using), bay leaves, thyme, parsley, and peppercorns.
- Pour in 12 cups of cold water, ensuring all ingredients are fully submerged.
- Warm the mixture over medium-high heat until it starts to simmer gently. Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer partially covered for 3–4 hours. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface.
- Remove the large solids with a slotted spoon, then strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into another container.
- For an even more concentrated flavor, return the strained liquid to the pot and simmer until it reduces by about half.
- Let the chicken base cool to room temperature. Pour it into glass jars or freezer-safe containers. Refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for several months.
- Adjust salt and other seasonings as needed when using the base in recipes.
Notes
No Salt Now: Avoid adding salt during cooking if you plan to store the base long-term; season your dishes later.
Versatile Use: Dilute with water or use as is to add rich flavor to soups, sauces, stews, risottos, and more.
Extra Flavor: The optional white wine deepens the flavor profile; feel free to experiment with additional aromatics like a splash of apple cider vinegar or a few peppercorns.
Versatile Use: Dilute with water or use as is to add rich flavor to soups, sauces, stews, risottos, and more.
Extra Flavor: The optional white wine deepens the flavor profile; feel free to experiment with additional aromatics like a splash of apple cider vinegar or a few peppercorns.