Most of us do the same thing after a roast chicken dinner.
The meat gets picked clean, leftovers are packed away, and the bones head straight for the bin.
But those leftover chicken bones still have plenty to give.
In fact, they’re the secret to making one of the most useful staples you can keep in your kitchen: rich homemade bone broth.
If you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget, reduce food waste, or simply make your family meals taste better, this is one kitchen habit worth learning.
The best part? It costs almost nothing.
Instead of throwing away what looks like scraps, you can transform those leftover bones into litres of flavour-packed broth that can be used in soups, casseroles, risottos, slow cooker meals and sauces. Once you’ve made your own, you’ll quickly notice the difference between homemade broth and the supermarket versions.
Rich, golden and full of flavour, homemade bone broth turns simple meals into comfort food.
During winter, I always keep a few containers in the freezer. It’s perfect for making soups on cold nights, adding depth to family dinners, or warming up in a mug when someone in the house is feeling under the weather.
And if you’re looking for easy ways to make groceries go further, this might be one of the simplest tricks you’ll ever learn.
Why You’ll Love Homemade Chicken Bone Broth
- Uses leftover chicken bones that would otherwise go to waste.
- Helps stretch your grocery budget.
- Freezes beautifully for future meals.
- Adds incredible flavour to soups, stews and casseroles.
- Perfect for winter meal prep.
- Easy to make with ingredients you already have at home.
Tips for Richer, More Flavourful Bone Broth
The secret to a rich broth isn’t complicated.
Allow the bones plenty of time to simmer, add vegetables like onion, carrot and celery, and avoid rushing the process. The longer the broth gently cooks, the more flavour develops.
Many home cooks also keep a freezer container specifically for leftover chicken bones, making it easy to save enough for a large batch when needed.
What To Do With Homemade Chicken Bone Broth
Once you’ve made a batch, you’ll find endless ways to use it.
Try it in:
- Homemade soups and winter warmers.
- Slow cooker meals.
- Risottos and rice dishes.
- Casseroles and family dinners.
- Gravies and sauces.
- Noodle soups and Asian-inspired meals.
Chicken Bone Broth
Nourishing and flavorful chicken bone broth, perfect as a base for soups, sauces, or a healthy warm drink.
5
servings10
minutes12
minutes300
kcal22
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
8 Chicken Carcasses
3 Carrots
5 Sticks Celery
1 Brown Onion, Skin On
1/2 cups Mushrooms
1 tbsp parsley
1 tsp Ginger
1 Head Garlic
1 tbsp Rosemary
1 tbsp Thyme
1/3 cups Apple Cider Vinegar
Directions
- Place chicken carcases in a 10 litre pot. Cover with cold water and cook over medium heat until the water starts to simmer.
- Drain the water, rinse the chicken carcases, and fill the pot with water again, apple cider vinegar and place over medium heat.
- Simmer for 4 hours.
- Add half of the other ingredients and simmer for another 3 hours.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and cook for another hour.
- Strain the stock in a fine sieve and discard veg and carcases. You will need to drain it twice to remove the bits you don t want.
- Allow to cool and place in the fridge or divide into bags or containers and freeze.
More Comfort Food Recipes Worth Making
If you’re already making broth from scratch, these recipes are the perfect way to put it to good use:
- Creamy Chicken and Leek Casserole – a family favourite that’s even better with homemade broth.
- Creamy Pumpkin Soup – rich, warming and perfect for cold evenings.
- Lose A Kilo Soup – a budget-friendly soup that’s ideal for meal prep.
- Pasta Lamb Shank Soup – hearty winter comfort food in a bowl.
- Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Sausages – an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will eat.
Once you start making homemade bone broth, you’ll never look at leftover chicken bones the same way again. It’s one of the easiest ways to save money, reduce waste and make everyday meals taste even better.
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