Chicken Broth: the basic recipe for making it at home

Chicken broth is an easy, healthy basic preparation for making many traditional recipes such as soups, risottos, tortellini. It is nourishing, invigorating and delicious. You can also enjoy chicken broth with egg noodles, pasta, stews or casseroles.

For the recipe, you can use both whole chicken or hen; in both cases you will get a very tasty and savory broth. For an impeccable result, we suggest you buy a free-range chicken raised without the use of antibiotics. In this case, just be careful to lengthen the cooking times (about a couple of hours in all), as the meat is firmer and more tenacious.

Once filtered, the chicken broth is ready to be enjoyed as it is or used in your recipes. You can also use the chicken meat to make a delicious chicken salad, a sandwich, meatballs or a simple main course to be served with a side dish of seasonal vegetables.

So let’s find out how to make a perfect chicken broth by following our step-by-step procedure and tips.

Chicken Broth vs Chicken Stock

Don't confuse chicken broth with chicken stock. The two are very similar, but they have some differences.

The chicken stock has a richer flavor as it also uses the bones.  which then release the gelatin.

On the other hand, chicken broth is made with more meat and has slightly fewer calories than stock, so it's perfect for soups.

Tips for making the Best Chicken Broth

You can also make chicken broth from leftover roasted chicken carcass. However, add the raw chicken to the pot because otherwise the broth will be thin and fail to retain the flavors.

Pay attention to cooking times because you may overcook the chicken broth. If vegetables simmer for too long, the broth will have a strong, bitter flavor.

Depending on the season, you can add other vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, potatoes or zucchini, spices and aromatic herbs.

How to store Chicken Broth

You can store the chicken broth in the refrigerator, in a tightly closed glass container, for a maximum of 2-3 days.

Can you freeze Chicken Broth?

If you have used fresh ingredients, you can also freeze the chicken broth for up to 3 months.

Divide the broth in freezer-safe containers to make single portions to be defrosted when you will need them.

How to make Chicken Broth

Clean the celery; remove the external filaments, wash it thoroughly and cut it into pieces.

Transfer the celery to the saucepan.

Peel and trim the carrot.

Also add the carrot to the saucepan with the celery.

Add the garlic.

Wash and clean the onion. You can also leave the peel, which will give the broth a nice golden color.

Add the onion to the other vegetables.

Clean the chicken; remove any residual feathers, rinse it under cold running water and then pat it dry with absorbent kitchen paper.

Transfer the whole chicken to the saucepan.

Cover with cold water.

Flavor with pepper in grains.

Add the aromatic herbs.

Season with a pinch of salt.

Put the saucepan on the heat, bring to a boil and cook the chicken broth for 1 hour and 40 minutes over low heat, skimming from time to time.

When cooked, remove the chicken from the broth and then filter the broth through a colander.

Transfer the chicken broth into individual bowls and enjoy hot.