Are you tired of bland, store-bought stocks that lack depth and soul? Prepare to revolutionize your culinary game with this foolproof slow cooker chicken stock recipe that will have home chefs and professional kitchen masters alike swooning! By using a whole chicken and simple, fresh ingredients, you'll create a rich, golden elixir that elevates every soup, sauce, and recipe it touches. Get ready to unlock restaurant-quality flavor right in your own kitchen with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 15 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 cups
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 10 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove giblets from the whole chicken and rinse the chicken thoroughly under cold water.
- Place the whole chicken in the slow cooker, positioning it at the bottom of the pot.
- Add chopped carrots, celery stalks, quartered onion, and smashed garlic cloves around the chicken.
- Carefully pour 10 cups of cold water into the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is mostly covered but not completely submerged.
- Add the bay leaf to the liquid, and season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set to low heat setting.
- Cook for 8 hours, allowing the ingredients to slowly release their flavors and create a rich, golden stock.
- After cooking time is complete, carefully remove the chicken and vegetables using tongs and a slotted spoon.
- Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl to remove any remaining solids.
- Let the stock cool to room temperature, then refrigerate or freeze in airtight containers.
- Optional: Skim off any fat that rises to the top of the cooled stock before storing or using.
Tips
- Use a whole chicken for maximum flavor extraction and richer stock
- Choose fresh, high-quality vegetables for deeper taste profile
- Keep the stock at a low, consistent temperature to prevent cloudiness
- Don't rush the cooking process - slow and steady develops the most complex flavors
- Allow stock to cool completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth
- Consider saving the cooked chicken meat for salads or other recipes
- For a clearer stock, avoid stirring during the cooking process
- Store in portion-sized containers for easy future use
- Skim off excess fat for a lighter, cleaner-tasting stock
- Freeze stock in ice cube trays for convenient small-portion usage
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 40kcal
Carbohydrates: 1g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 2g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 20mg
