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Leftover-Roast-Chicken-Stock

This homemade roast chicken stock is the perfect way to make the most of your Sunday roast leftovers. By simmering the chicken carcasses with aromatic root vegetables, garlic, and fresh herbs, you create a deeply savoury and golden liquid that far surpasses any shop-bought cube. It is an essential, dairy-free kitchen staple that provides a nutritious and collagen-rich base for your favourite home-cooked meals.

Using this stock in soups, stews, or a classic risotto adds a wonderful depth of flavour and a silky mouthfeel. It is incredibly simple to prepare and can be frozen in batches for future use, ensuring you always have a healthy, additive-free foundation ready for a midweek dinner. Simply skim away the fat once cooled for a clear, professional finish.

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Ingredients for Leftover-Roast-Chicken-Stock

  • 2 chicken carcasses left over from roast chicken, any herbs in cavities discarded

  • 1 onion, quartered

  • 2 celery ribs, chopped

  • 1 large carrot, chopped

  • 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise

  • Scant 1/4 teaspoons black peppercorns

  • 2 thyme sprigs

  • 8 parsley sprigs including long stems

  • 3.8L water

How to make Leftover-Roast-Chicken-Stock

Bring all ingredients to a boil in an 8-qt stockpot. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming foam occasionally, 2 hours.

Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. If you have more than 1450ml , boil to reduce; if less, add water. If using stock right away, skim off and discard fat. If not, chill stock (covered once cool) and discard fat after it solidifies.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 16 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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