Leftover-Roast-Chicken-Stock
Peer reviewed by UK recipe editorsAuthored by UK recipe editorsOriginally published 16 Jan 2026
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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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