How to make homemade chicken stock in the slow cooker and freeze it! It's the perfect way to make the most of leftover chicken bones and vegetables that need to be used up.
If there is something I love, it's making something awesome out of nothing much. It's so fun! So chicken stock was a no-brainer. Since we started raising our own chickens to eat, we've been eating a whole lotta roast chicken. But you're left with the whole body and I'm starting to get all sorts of caught up in making sure it all goes to good use. A lot of work goes into raising those little chicks and I don't want it to go to waste! I've been freezing the carcasses and I made stock using 2 birds at once as my slow cooker is plenty big enough.
I was a bit skeptical about making my own chicken stock - it seemed like a lot of work when it's so convenient just buying the little powder cubes and using them when I need them. But making chicken stock is actually easier than getting into one of those fiddly foil wrapped cubes. I'm serious.
This is everything you need. Carrots, celery, onion, parsley, thyme and a couple of bay leaves...
And your chicken carcasses, either right after eating the roast or out of the freezer. (Mine were still frozen)
Throw everything into the slow cooker
Cover it in water, leaving only ½ inch at the top
And cook on low for about 12 hours. 12 hours later your kitchen will smell amazing and your stock will look like this.
Using a slotted spoon remove the large vegetable pieces and the bones.
Once you have taken out all the large pieces set up a sieve on a large bowl or saucepan and strain the liquid.
I did this once, and then emptied the sieve and poured the whole lot through again, just to be sure.
Then you are left with this beautiful rich chicken stock.
Let it cool down and then pour into smaller containers. I measured it out into 1 cup amounts and froze. I also froze some in ice-cube trays for those times when you only need a little stock for sauces or stews.
Keep in mind that as you are not adding salt to the stock you will need to add it to whatever you are cooking. You could add it to the stock, but I prefer to wait and see how much it will need, depending on the recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Stock
Ingredients
- 2 chicken carcasses
- 3 carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 onions
- Bunch of fresh parsley
- Bunch of fresh thyme
- 2 or 3 bay leaves
- Water
Instructions
- Put chicken carcasses, vegetables and herbs into the slow cooker and cover in water, leaving only ½ inch at the top. Cook on low for 12 hours.
- Using a slotted spoon remove all bones and large pieces of vegetables.
- Strain the stock through a sieve. Strain again if there are still bits in the stock.
- Refrigerate, or portion and freeze the stock.
Dee says
Easy, perfect, delicious. Thank you! Really like the added bits of practical advice too (like adjusting seasoning with salt later and freezing in icecube trays). Great!
Nessa says
I am wanting to make broth so I think the difference is leaving some meat in it with bones? Do you make broth?
Laura says
To my understanding, broth is cooked for much longer to draw the goodness out off the bones leaving you with a much more gelatinous broth rather than the thinner stock. I haven't yet made broth but I intend to try!
Ashley says
Done this with vegetables turned out great just wondering if you can use vegetable off cuts ? Thought it was on Instagram just checking first ?
Laura says
You sure can! I keep mine in the freezer until I have enough 🙂
Dee says
Did you know you can even save and freeze vegetable peelings from carrots and swedes (not potatoes), as well as the tops of celery AND even onion skins (nice brown ones) to use in stocks and broths? Same with cauliflower and broccoli stalks or cabbage ribs. The thing is not to use too much of any one veg in your crockpot. So good not to waste these nutrients although if you’re a home composter it’s not technically wasted.
Crafty Coin says
I just made some chicken stock last night in my slow cooker! Love that it's FREE and so easy 🙂
craftycoin.com
Laura says
Awesome!! It is so easy right? Slow cookers are amazing!
Pretend it's a Donut says
Yes, I always love looking at different ways people make stocks. your's look amazing!!
Laura says
Thanks so much! It was so much tastier than bought stock! And super easy!
Kylie Marie says
Yum, this looks great! I lovemaking my own chicken stock although I've never used veggies in mine. I'll give it a try!
Laura says
Hey Kylie! I've never made it without veges but that's good to know it's doable if I don't have any on hand. I think they add a little extra flavour...and they make it look pretty!
Sweet Tea Sweetie says
What a great idea to make it ahead of time and freeze it!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Laura says
It certainly makes it easy when it comes to making a recipe that needs it - one less trip to the supermarket, which for me is an hour away!
Julia says
This is brilliant! I am a huge fan of making my own stock, but hate waiting around for it. I love the idea of letting it sit in the slow cooker so I can get on with my life!
Laura says
Hi Julia. My slow cooker is my best friend! It is the greatest just being able to carry on with everything else while this cooks!
Emmy Kate says
This looks incredible! I always feel terrible tossing the chicken bones (I use every scrap of meat and even re use the fat when I roast a chicken, but I'm usually way too lazy to make my own stock) I'll have to give it a try!
Laura says
HI Emmy! I feel exactly the same, such a waste when it's thrown away. And this is a perfect lazy recipe!
Am says
Thanks for the great recipe, I'm a vegetarian but I'll definitely try to make a veggie stock myself now 🙂
Laura says
Thanks for visiting! A vege stock would definitely be good!
peeledwellness says
Ive always pondered making my own stock- I've always come to the same foil wrapped cube conclusion (its just so easy to pop one in!). This is the first crockpot recipe I've seen- that's a big selling point for me! Thanks for sharing! I'd love for you to share a post at my link up tomorrow, if you're interested!
xoxo K
http://peeledwellness.com
Laura says
Thanks so much for the comments! I'd love to! How do I do that?
peeledwellness says
Its super easy- I've got a simple explanation on my main menu under 'tell em tuesdays'- essentially its a way for awesome bloggers to network and share content 🙂
Laura says
Sorted!!...see you later! 🙂