Rotisserie Chicken Stock

5 from 10 votes

Rotisserie Chicken Stock: A great way to use a leftover carcass from a rotisserie chicken, to get the most out of it! Combine the leftover rotisserie chicken carcass with water, vegetables or vegetable scraps, and herbs to create a homemade stock that’s full of so much flavor.

Rotisserie chicken stock in mason jar, surrounded by other jars.

It’s delicious in soup recipes like this homemade chicken soup, and even hearty recipes like chicken and noodles. Or, store it for later when you need it for an easy dinner recipe!

There are different ways you can make homemade chicken broth, and the great thing about it is that it’s really flexible with the types of chicken, fresh vegetables, and herbs that you can use.

For instance, we also use raw chicken when we make this whole chicken bone broth recipe. You could also use leftover bones from a cooked chicken (or even something like these smoked cornish hens or from a bone-in chicken thighs recipe.) But using a rotisserie chicken that you pick up from the grocery store, is a great way to utilize the leftovers after using the meat.

Jump to:

What does rotisserie broth taste like?
Rotisserie Broth Ingredients
Substitutions
Equipment
How to Make Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Stock
Recipe Pro Tips
Recipe FAQs
Storage
Recipes for Stock
Recipe
Comments

What does rotisserie broth taste like?

The combination of chicken bones, vegetables, and herbs gives the stock a savory and slightly sweet flavor, with hints of garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. The fresh thyme and parsley add a layer of herbaceousness to the broth, while the long simmering time helps to extract all of the flavors from the ingredients.

Rotisserie Broth Ingredients

Labeled ingredients on white counter, for rotisserie chicken stock.

1 leftover rotisserie chicken carcass
2 onions, roughly chopped and unpeeled
2-3 carrots, roughly chopped and unpeeled
2-3 stalks of celery, roughly chopped
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme OR 2 teaspoons dried thyme
4 garlic cloves, smashed and unpeeled
2 bay leaves
¼ cup fresh parsley leaves, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns OR ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
3 quarts water (12 cups of water), or fill up to the top of your pot

Substitutions

Carrots: If you don’t have carrots, you can try using parsnips, turnips, or celery roots to add a similar earthy sweetness.
Celery stalks: Fennel or bok choy are a great substitute for a similar flavor and texture to celery.
Thyme: If you don’t have fresh, you can use dried thyme.
Garlic cloves: If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves, garlic powder, minced garlic, or roasted garlic can be used in this recipe.
Bay leaves: Try using dried thyme or dried oregano if you don’t have bay leaves on hand, to add a similar flavor.
Black peppercorns or ground black pepper: White peppercorns or red pepper flakes can be used in place of black peppercorns or ground black pepper to add a different heat and flavor.
Italian seasoning: You can substitute Italian seasoning with dried basil or dried rosemary for a similar flavor.
Fresh parsley leaves: You can use dried parsley instead or for a slightly different flavor, you can use fresh oregano.

Equipment

Large stockpot
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Ladle
Airtight containers for storage (e.g. mason jars, plastic containers)
Cutting board

How to Make Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Stock

*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*

First, remove all the meat from the rotisserie chicken carcass, and set it aside for another use, such as this easy chicken pot pie casserole, a chicken caesar pasta salad or this chicken grilled cheese!

Break the carcass into several pieces so it will fit in your pot, optional.

Fresh herbs and vegetables in stock pot for chicken broth. — Image 1

Water added to vegetables, chicken and herbs for Rotisserie chicken stock. — Image 2

In a large stock pot, combine the chicken carcass pieces, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, black peppercorns, Italian seasoning, parsley, thyme, and salt.
Then, fill the pot with water until the ingredients are completely covered. (This could be around 3 quarts of water, but this can vary depending on the size of your pot.)

Cooked rotisserie chicken stock in stock pot. — Image 3

Drain vegetables and herbs from broth. — Image 4

Bring the water in the pot to a boil over high heat on the stove top, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Let this chicken stock simmer for at least 4 hours, or until the liquid has reduced by half and the vegetables are very soft.

Tip: Note that the total time will vary slightly depending on how long you let the stock simmer on the stove. The longer it simmers, the more concentrated and flavorful it will become. After cooking, the stock will need to be strained and cooled, which will add additional time to the process.

Once the rotisserie chicken stock has finished cooking, use a slotted spoon to remove the solids from the pot.
Next, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any remaining solids. Then, discard the solids.
Now, taste the stock and add salt as needed to bring out the flavor, if desired. You may choose not to add more salt, so you can add salt to the recipe later, that you plan to use the stock for.

Rotisserie chicken stock in glass pitcher.

If not using the rotisserie chicken bone broth right away, let the stock cool to room temperature, and then transfer it to airtight containers and store in the refrigerator. See the tips below for freezing for later, to use in your favorite recipes.

Close up of homemade rotisserie chicken stock.

Recipe Pro Tips

Amount it makes: As a general rule, you can expect to yield about 8-12 cups of stock from a recipe like this, depending on the size of your pot and the concentration of the stock. If you cook the stock longer, you will be left with a more concentrated stock, but it will produce less liquid.
Flexible. This recipe is very flexible, so feel free to add other vegetables or herbs to the pot to suit your tastes. Some great options to consider might include mushrooms, rosemary, or sage. You could also add some crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.

Pouring homemade Rotisserie chicken stock in to mason jar.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use rotisserie chicken bones for stock?

Yes! There’s so much flavor that can come from a rotisserie chicken, especially if it was cooked with seasonings. But the delicious broth that can come from any leftover skin left and the bones themselves, is fantastic.

Can I use this stock in place of water in other recipes, such as soups or stews?

This is a great stock to use in place of water in other recipes! However, keep in mind that if the recipe calls for salt, the broth will already have a saltiness to it, unlike water.

Is chicken stock the same as chicken broth?

They’re very similar but stock is usually created when using bones, and broth is usually made using the meat. However they are often used interchangeably.

Spoonful of homemade rotisserie chicken stock being lifted out of mason jar.

Storage

To store: To store leftover rotisserie chicken stock, it is best to let it cool to room temperature before transferring it to airtight containers. Some even pour stock in ice cube trays, so they can pop out small servings as needed.
Refrigerate: The stock can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and to keep on hand to make recipes like my tortellini soup recipe.
To freeze: It can be stored in the freezer, in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag, for up to 3 months. it is recommended to leave enough headspace in the container to allow for expansion as the liquid freezes.
To thaw: When ready to use, simply thaw the stock in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stove until hot and simmering.

Mason jar full of rotisserie chicken stock.

Recipes for Stock

Looking for ways to use your new rotisserie chicken stock, other than a chicken noodle soup? We think you’ll love these ways to use chicken broth:

Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

Recipe

Comments

5 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)