Classic Brown Chicken Broth - Soup So Fine Print
clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon

Classic Brown Chicken Broth

Recipe by Pam Flinn

  • Total Time10 hours
  • YieldAbout 8 cups 1x

Classic brown chicken broth has a deeper shade and more intense flavor than the golden variety we normally think of. That’s because we first start developing color and flavor by oven-roasting the chicken pieces and aromatic vegetables.

Next, these ingredients are simmered with fresh, cold water, herbs, and spices.

The result is a beautiful, dark broth with outstanding flavor! Use this chicken broth as a flavor foundation for many of your favorite dishes.

Two bowls of Classic Brown Chicken Broth surrounded by some of its ingredients.

Ingredients

Units Scale
2-1/2 pounds chicken thighs and wings2 medium red onions, peeled and quartered2 large carrots, peeled and cut into thirds2 stalks celery, washed and cut into thirds1 head of garlic, halved around the middlevegetable oil for drizzling1 tablespoon kosher salt2 tablespoons dry sherry (or 1 tablespoon cider vinegar)8-10 cups cold, fresh water2 bay leaves2 tablespoons dried parsley1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Place a single layer of chicken pieces on a cookie sheet with sides or a shallow roasting pan

3. Roast: Roast for 1 hour or until chicken is well-browned

4. Add: Layer onions, carrots, celery, and garlic over the roasted chicken. Drizzle oil over the vegetables and sprinkle with kosher salt

5. Reduce temperature: Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Roast: Roast for 45 minutes or until vegetables are brown on the edges, but not burned.

7. Using tongs, carefully move chicken and vegetables to slow cooker while the pan is still warm.  If there is more than a couple tablespoons of fat in the bottom of the pan, spoon it off and discard. Only take out the excess fat and leave the caramelized juices and browned bits. These contain lots of wonderful flavor!

8. Deglaze: Add the sherry or vinegar to the pan. Scrap up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add some water if more liquid is needed to easily free all of the flavor from the bottom of the pan. Pour this rich mixture over the roasted and vegetables in the slow cooker.

9. Add water: Cover the contents of the slow cooker with fresh, cold water. About 8-10 cups.

10. Add: Add the bay leaves, parsley, and peppercorns.

11. Cook: With lid on, cook on LOW for 8 hours.

12. Strain: Strain contents through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids.

13. Cool: To properly cool, lower the container of freshly strained broth into a sink filled with a few inches of ice water.

14. Within 2 hours, the broth needs to be cooled to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Stirring the broth will help release heat and promote faster cooling.

15. If you’re planning to freeze the broth, divide it among freezer-safe containers now.

16. Label with date, name of broth, and amount.

17. Allow the broth to finish cooling in the refrigerator overnight. If freezing, place in the freezer in the morning.

Notes

It may be tempting to immediately place hot broth in the refrigerator after straining. However, doing so can lower the refrigerator’s temperature too much and possibly place your other contents at risk.

Refrigerated broth should be used within 3 days.

Frozen broth is flavorful for up to 3 months.


  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 9 hours 45 minutes
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
Pin
Share
Email
More