If you’ve ever grabbed a store-bought rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store, you already know what a great deal it is. You stretch it even further when the chicken dinner is over because those leftover rotisserie chicken bones can be used to make something incredible… homemade rotisserie chicken bone broth.

This liquid gold is packed with nutrients, amino acids, and health benefits that can help support your immune system, aid digestion, and become the great base for soups, sauces, and grains. Making it is such an easy way to stretch your food budget while getting that extra flavor you can’t find in store-bought stock or regular broth.

The first step is simple. Save your rotisserie chicken carcass (and even any leftover skin or little bits of chicken meat if you want). With just a few simple ingredients or food scaps… like yellow onion, carrots, celery, and garlic cloves, plus some bay leaves and herbs, you’ll be able to make a nutritious staple in your kitchen.

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Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Bone Broth

Homemade broth is always a better option than the carton at the store. Sure, regular chicken stock or store-bought stock is convenient, but it’s often watered down and loaded with tons of salt. By using the leftover carcass of a whole chicken, you’re making something that’s richer, more nutritious, and super frugal. I love that I can take scapes and make something so delicious.

• Stretch your meals: One Costco chicken can feed your family for dinner, become chicken salad or sandwiches the next day, and then turn into a delicious broth for chicken noodle soup the next evening. I make it every week in my family meal planning.
• Health benefits: Bones, cartilage, and skin release amino acids like glycine and proline when simmered a long time. This is the good stuff that makes homemade bone broth so nourishing.
• Extra flavor: Using roasted bones gives a depth you can’t get from regular broth. It’s a great way to make your favorite recipes taste even better and become heartier.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to get started on your homemade chicken broth:

• 1 rotisserie chicken carcass (or leftover chicken carcass, including bones, dark meat, and skin)
• Optional: 2 medium yellow onions, quartered (no need to peel)
• Optional: 2–3 carrots, rough chop
• Optional: 2 celery stalks, rough chop
• Optional: 3–4 garlic cloves, smashed
• Optional: 2–3 bay leaves (or a single bay leaf if smaller)
• 1–2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (helps pull nutrients and minerals from the animal bones)
• Enough cups of water to cover everything in your large stock pot or slow cooker

Optional for extra flavor: Add chicken feet, mushroom stems, or extra herbs if you want an even more flavorful stock.

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Equipment Options for Homemade Stock

The great thing is you can make this broth no matter what you have at home:

• Large stock pot or large pot – Best for a traditional stovetop slow simmer.
• Slow cooker / crock pot – The easiest way to make broth overnight. Just set it and forget it until the next morning.
• Pressure cooker / Instant Pot – A quicker option if you’re short on time. Use the high pressure setting for 2–3 hours and let it natural release. Avoid a quick release to keep from losing liquid.
• Cutting Board
• Fine Mesh Strainer
• Ladle
• Storage Containers

For more kitchen ideas, check out 35 Practical Kitchen Tips for Homemakers

Grab our free 100 Weekly Meal Prep Ideas.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Bone Broth

1. Pull off any chicken meat you want to save for later. It’s great to use in chicken soup, sandwiches, or chicken salad. Use the parts of the chicken that are left, such as bones, cartilage, skin, and even some dark meat bits.

2. In a large bowl, toss in some veggies or veggie scraps. Rough chopped onion, carrots, celery, garlic cloves, and bay leaves are all great additions. Add them to your large pot along with the rotisserie chicken carcass.

3. Cover the chicken carcass with 12–14 cups of water, depending on the size of your pot. Stir in a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This helps draw minerals from the animal bones.

4. Cooking Methods:

– Stock pot method: Bring to a rolling boil, then immediately lower to a slow simmer. Skim off any foam. Cook 6-12 hours.

– Slow cooker / crock pot method: Set on low for 12–18 hours.

– Pressure cooker method: Set to high pressure for 2–3 hours, then natural release.

Personal preference matters here because the longer cooking gives more collagen (that jiggly “gel”) but shorter cooks still give a more flavorful stock.

5. When finished, pour through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Allow it to cool at room temperature before transferring.

6. Pour into glass jars or a heat safe container with lids. For later use, freeze in ice cube trays for smaller portions. Store in the fridge to up to 5 days or freezer up to 6 months.

Tips for Success

• Don’t add salt until the end. It’s easier to season based on how you’ll use it. The skin from the chicken is also already full of salt.
• Avoid a long high heat boil; a gentle slow simmer brings out more flavor.
• If you don’t have a rotisserie chicken, you can use whole chicken bones, beef bones, or even roasted vegetables. The process will be the same.
• If your broth doesn’t gel the first time, don’t worry, it’s still full of health benefits and makes a great base for cooking.
• Chicken bones can be reused a second time, though the flavor may be lighter. You can use the bones to draw out minerals until the bones easily snap.

How to Use Your Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Stock

Here’s are some ways I like to use this homemade rotisserie chicken stock:

• As the base for homemade soups like chicken noodle soup, chicken tortilla soup, or chicken pot pie.
• To cook rice, grains, or beans for extra flavor. Use in place of water to cook pasta too.
• Warm in a mug and sip plain for a comforting boost to your immune system.
• As a base for sauces, gravies, or braises.

It’s the easiest way to add extra nutrients to your favorite recipes.

FAQ’s

Can I use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for chicken stock?

Absolutely! A Sam’s Club or Costco rotisserie chicken are great for the price. Or really any store-bought rotisserie chicken is perfect for making homemade chicken stock.

What if there isn’t much meat left?

That’s just fine. You don’t need much meat honestly. The animal bones, leftover skin, and cartilage are what give you the bone broth.

Can I freeze homemade chicken stock?

Yes. You can freeze in large amounts, like half gallon jars, or in ice cube trays for smaller portions. Make sure the broth is cooled to room temperature before freezing.

Do I need chicken feet to make chicken stock?

Not required, but they do add collagen and make the broth more likely to “gel”.

Why use vinegar?

A couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar help extract minerals from the bones. It’s an easy way to boost nutrition.

What’s the difference between bone broth and stock?

Regular chicken stock simmers a long time to extract nutrients, while regular broth cooks for a shorter time. Bone broth is thicker, richer, and more nourishing overall.

Enjoy Homemade Rotisserie Chicken Bone Broth

Making homemade rotisserie chicken bone broth from a leftover carcass is the easiest way to transform kitchen scraps into hearty nutrition. Whether you use a large stock pot, slow cooker, or pressure cooker, this homemade broth is a great way to stretch meals, boost your immune system, and add extra flavor to your favorite recipes.

So the next time you pick up a store-bought rotisserie chicken, don’t toss those leftover bones. Turn them into homemade soups, sauces, and more.

I hope this resource blesses you and your family this year!

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