Learn the easiest way to turn leftover roasted turkey into turkey broth for use as a nutritious base for soups, stews, chilis, and more.
Turkey Broth
Every Thanksgiving after we roast our turkey, I look forward to the future bowls of Turkey Noodle Soup and White Turkey Chili. This method for making the bone broth base is super easy, very straightforward, and great to store. Use it in place of store-bought broth or stock in any recipe you like.
I love this as a way to make the most of ingredients you already have on hand and to get my money’s worth from an expensive turkey.
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this homemade broth, you need the bones from a turkey. If you roast a turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another meal or holiday, that is a great time to plan to make broth.
Then you’ll add water and you’re set.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in making this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information, including the amounts and timing.
- Gather the carcass or bones from a fully cooked turkey, turkey breast, or tenderloin, or parts you have with the bones.
- Add to a large pot and fill with water.
- Place over medium heat and simmer for at least an hour and up to 3 hours.
- Let cool. Strain and store the broth.
How to Store
Once cooled, you can store the turkey broth in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or, you can freeze the broth in a freezer tray or freezer container to use in future recipes.
Recipes to Use Turkey Broth
Here are some of the recipes I use with this turkey broth.
Best Tips for Success
- Use the bones left from the roasted turkey, at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another meal or holiday.
- Remove the skin before adding to the pot.
- Cool before storing.
- Store in the fridge or the freezer to use in future soup, stew, and chili recipes.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please rate and comment below!
Easy Turkey Broth
Ingredients
- 1 turkey carcass (fully cooked)
- 12 cups cold water
- 1 chopped carrot (peeled; optional)
- 2 chopped celery ribs (optional)
- 1 small onion (peeled and halved; optional)
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Add the turkey carcass to a large pot and cover with at least 2 inches of water.
- Add any optional ingredients.
- Bring the pot to a simmer over medium heat, then simmer on medium-low for at least an hour or up to 4 hours. (The longer it simmers, the more intense the flavor and color. And also the less you wind up with at the end.)
- Remove from heat and let cool. Strain and store in containers.
Equipment
- pot
- storage
Notes
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- Once cooled, you can store the turkey broth in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or, you can freeze the broth in a freezer tray or freezer container to use in future recipes.
- Use the bones left from the roasted turkey at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another meal or holiday.
-
- Remove the skin before adding to the pot.
-
- Cool before storing.
-
- Store in the fridge or the freezer to use in future soup, stew, and chili recipes.
