The next time you bring home a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, don't throw away the carcass! Instead, use it to make your own homemade Rotisserie Chicken Broth. It's a great way to reduce waste and comes together easily in the slow cooker with fresh veggies, seasonings, and herbs. Use this flavor-packed broth as a base for soups, stews, gravies, and more!
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Making chicken stock from a rotisserie chicken in the slow cooker is the perfect way to stretch your grocery budget. Enjoy the meat from the rotisserie chicken for a quick weeknight dinner, and then use the leftover bones and skin for a tasty broth that works in soups, stews, gravies, and casseroles.
Not only is it an easy way to get more value out of your purchase, this homemade crockpot chicken broth also tastes so much better than any boxed version. The best part is that you control what’s in it, so you can avoid the additives and preservatives and just stick to natural ingredients.
Plus, you can set it right after you finish your rotisserie chicken dinner, and it’ll be ready come morning for a super simple overnight chicken stock!
For more chicken recipes, check out my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta, Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs, and French Onion Chicken.
Ingredients
- Rotisserie Chicken: While there are often a few different seasoning choices, I prefer original or traditional, but feel free to use whatever flavor you’d like! You can use just the carcass or the whole chicken for a little more flavor. Note that if you do use the whole chicken, you most likely won’t be able to eat any of the remaining meat, as it will have been slow-cooked twice at that point.
- Veggies: Carrots, celery, and garlic give the broth depth of flavor.
- Vinegar: Use apple cider vinegar for the best results. If you don’t have any on hand, white wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar will work in a pinch but may add a slightly sharper flavor.
- Seasonings and Herbs: I used salt, black peppercorns, a bay leaf, and fresh parsley to flavor the slow cooker broth. Feel free to use different herbs or throw in some additional fresh herbs if you’d like. While fresh is best, you can use dried herbs if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add Parmesan: Place a Parmesan rind in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. It will melt into the broth, creating a savory depth of flavor that’s perfect for making Italian-style soups and risottos.
- Spice it up: Add one or two dried chilies to give the broth a subtle kick of heat, which would be great for making a spicy soup or stew.
- Asian-Inspired: Throw in some onion and fresh ginger, and then add a splash of soy sauce at the end to give this broth an Asian twist. Try using it for miso soup or ramen!
How to Make Chicken Broth in a Crockpot
Get started making this rotisserie chicken broth in a slow cooker by first chopping the carrots and celery and smashing the garlic cloves.
Step 1: Add ingredients to the slow cooker. Put the chicken carcass (or whole rotisserie chicken if preferred) into the slow cooker. Place the veggies, seasonings, and herbs around it, and then add the water and vinegar.
Step 2: Cook. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 12 hours. When the time is up, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove any large solids. Then, place a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl and strain the broth.
Serving Suggestions
This slow cooker chicken broth recipe is perfect for soups, casseroles, and more! Here are some great ways to use it:
- Use this rotisserie chicken broth in place of store-bought broth in your favorite soup recipes, such as this creamy chicken noodle soup and this crockpot 15 bean soup.
- It’s also perfect for making gravies like this creamy mushroom sauce.
- This broth works well in casseroles too, such as this crockpot chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole.
- You can also replace boxed broth with this homemade version in pasta dishes like this slow cooker chicken spaghetti.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken Broth
- Don’t skip the vinegar: The apple cider vinegar helps break down the bones during cooking, drawing out nutrients and enhancing the flavor of the broth.
- Let it cool: Be sure to allow the broth to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to cool before refrigerating or freezing.
- Storing: Store the broth in airtight containers or sealed mason jars for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Recipe FAQs
A cloudy broth typically means it was stirred too much during cooking or boiled too rapidly. For best results, be sure to cook on low without disturbing it and strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
Yes, this is totally normal and comes from the skin and drippings of the rotisserie chicken. Once the broth has cooled in the fridge, the fat will rise to the top and solidify, making it easy to skim off with a spoon.
More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken Broth
Ingredients
- 1 rotisserie chicken carcass skin on
- 10 cups water
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 3 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 bay leaf
- Fresh parsley or herbs
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by placing the rotisserie chicken carcass, with skin on, into the pot.
- Add the chopped carrots, celery, smashed garlic, bay leaf, black peppercorns, salt and a few sprigs of parsley to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the water and stir in the apple cider vinegar.
- Cover and cook on low for 12 hours, allowing the flavors to develop.
- Remove the large solids using tongs or a slotted spoon, then strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl.
- Transfer to storage jars and allow to cook 30 minutes before storing.
Notes
- Cook on low and without opening the lid of the slow cooker for best results.
- If desired, use a spoon to skim the fat from the top of the broth after it solidifies in the fridge.
- The broth will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer when stored in airtight containers.
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