From nourishing, hearty soups to show-stopping main dishes, chicken broth is an integral ingredient that deserves a place among your kitchen cupboard essentials.

It certainly is for this farmer’s wife.

Chicken broth is a nutrient-rich liquid made by simmering chicken bones, connective tissue, vegetables, and herbs in water for around 24 hours. This creates a rich, flavourful mixture packed with collagen, vitamins, and antioxidants. 

Chicken broth is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and a great way to minimize waste and be more environmentally conscious in the kitchen. 

From our regenerative grazing practices to offering a variety of cuts from our ethical pasture-raised chicken to our customers, we believe in sustainable farming that supports animals, the environment, and your well-being.

So, whether you make your own chicken broth using leftover chicken frames or buy Seven Son’s chicken broth, here’s a look at how to use this flavorful, nutritious ingredient in your own cooking.

Chicken Broth vs. Chicken Stock: What's the Difference?

Before we discuss the recipes, let’s clarify a common source of confusion: the difference between chicken broth and chicken stock. 

While you can make both liquids by simmering chicken bones, leftovers, vegetables, and herbs, bone broth is superior in nutritional value and flavor. 

That’s because chicken bone broth cooks for around 24 hours, while chicken stock cooks for only one or two. The longer simmering time deeply infuses the broth with the chicken bones’ exceptional nutritional properties. Collagen, electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins–give it a rich, savory flavor. 

In addition, the quality and quantity of the ingredients that go into making bone broth are unmatched. To make it, you need to use specific parts of the chicken carcass that contain connective tissue, allowing them to slowly cook to release their nutritional value. 

With chicken broth, on the other hand, you’ll use any leftover parts and bones like chicken back letting them simmer for a couple of hours to make a tasty liquid–but with a lower amount of protein and nutrients.

While both ingredients can add a meaty flavor to your cooking, chicken bone broth undoubtedly has a richer taste and more health benefits. 

The Shelf Life of Chicken Broth: Maximizing Freshness

If you’re ready to use chicken broth in your recipes, you’ll be pleased to know that once opened, this ingredient has a shelf life of three to four days. This means you can use it in countless recipes over the week. 

Plus, if you have leftover broth, you can always freeze it in batches in Ziploc bags or ice cube trays. Once frozen, we recommend using the broth within three to four months. 

Why Choose Broth Over Water in Cooking?

The beauty of bone broth is its versatility. If a savory recipe requires water, swap the same amount of bone broth for a richer, umami-laced flavor that will elevate your dishes. 

The fact that bone broth is highly nourishing helps. It’s packed with healthy nutrients like proline, glycine, collagen, calcium, and more. Bone broth has a range of health benefits, including: 

• Immune system boost: Research shows that the amino acids in chicken broth reduce inflammation and boost immune system function, helping to combat common ailments like asthma, heart disease, and arthritis.
• Heals the gut: Bone broth is easy for our bodies to digest and soothe the gut. It can even positively change the gut microbiome and ease the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS). 
• Mood-busting: Bone broth is rich in calcium and glycine, both of which are crucial to healthy brain function, mood regulation, and high-quality sleep. Not to mention the aroma and soothing warmth that is so comforting on cold winter days.
• Healthy weight support: Packed full of protein and low in calories, bone broth helps to regulate the appetite by reducing hunger hormones like ghrelin and increasing satiety hormones. 

Recipe Inspirations: Making the Most of Chicken Broth

By now, you’re probably ready to put the wonders of bone broth to good use in your kitchen. 

Here are some of our go-to recipes for what you can make with chicken broth.

Soups and Stews: Heartwarming Classics

A sure-to-please dish is chicken and vegetable stew. It’s rich in nutrients, great for a cozy night in, and simple to make!

All you need to do is gather the ingredients:

• 1.5 Pounds chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Large onion, diced
• 2 Cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Large carrots, sliced
• 3 Celery stalks, sliced
• 6 Cups chicken broth
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

And how to make this recipe:

1. Cut the chicken into one-inch cubes, dice the onion, carrots, and celery, and mince the garlic.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot, then saute the chicken and vegetables over medium heat. Add the chicken and stir until it starts to brown (roughly 5 minutes). Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
3. Using the same pot, add in the onions and saute until softened. Add in the garlic and saute for a minute or two, then toss in your vegetables, making sure to stir so they don’t burn.
4. Now it’s time for the chicken broth and spices! Add in the broth, the bay leaf, dried thyme (and any other favorite seasonings you have), and mix it. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat.
5. Grab the chicken you put aside, put it back in the pot, and simmer on low for about half an hour, making sure the chicken is cooked through.
6. Season with salt and pepper, add any garnish of your choice, and serve!

Rice and Grains: A Flavorful Foundation

Chicken broth infuses rice and other grains with a mouth-watering, savory depth. A great dish is a Mexican chicken quinoa skillet, loaded with veggies and ready in just 25 minutes. 

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 Pound chicken breast, cut into cubes
• 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Small onion, diced
• 1 Bell pepper, diced
• 2 Cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Cup quinoa
• 2 Cups chicken broth
• 1 Can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 Can diced tomatoes (15 oz)
• 1 Cup corn, frozen or canned
• 1 tsp chili powder (or more if you like some kick!)
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro

And the steps to making this recipe: 

1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, dice the onion and bell pepper, mince the garlic, and rinse the quinoa.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until lightly browned, about 6-8 minutes. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
3. Using the same skillet, saute the onion until soft, then add the garlic and bell pepper, sauteing for about 3 minutes.
4. Now, add the chicken broth, quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, corn, and spices. Mix well and slowly bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer until the quinoa is light and fluffy and the broth has been absorbed - about 25 minutes.
6. Add the chicken to the skillet to warm, mixing all the ingredients. Check that the chicken is cooked through, adding salt and pepper to taste.
7. Garnish and serve!

Sauces and Gravies: Elevating Everyday Meals

Chicken bone broth elevates many of the best comfort recipes. For example, try this quick and easy chicken broth gravy to turn mashed potatoes into a crowd-pleasing side or ensure there’s no biscuit left after dinner.

To make this recipe, all you need is:

• 2 Cups chicken broth
• 2 TBSP butter
• 2 TBSP all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs for garnish

For this quick and easy gravy, all you need to do is:

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add flour and whisk until it forms a roux. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the roux turns golden.
3. Pour in the chicken broth slowly while whisking. Make sure there are no lumps.
4. Continue whisking while bringing the mix to a slow boil. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring every minute or so.
5. Once it reaches your desired thickness, add the salt, pepper, or garlic powder to taste. 
6. Serve hot on your dish of choice.

Tip: If the gravy gets too thick while cooking, add more chicken broth to thin it.

The Healing Elixir: Sipping on Chicken Broth

While bone broth enhances the flavor and health benefits of many meals, you don’t always have to cook with it! One of our favorite ways to consume chicken broth is to warm it up on the stove and drink it–especially if we feel under the weather. 

The number of powerful antioxidants in chicken broth, along with its herby, savory flavor, also makes this drink a great post-lunch pick-me-up or pre-dinner snack.

However, not all chicken bone broth is created equal. If you’re going to drink it regularly, make sure you either make your own or buy from a company that doesn’t use artificial ingredients or lots of added sodium, which can undermine its health benefits.

At Seven Sons, we’re proud to say that our ethical, pasture-raised chicken breeds are 100% free from growth promotants, antibiotics, and GMOs–with no artificial ingredients or MSG.

Ready to taste the difference? Order Seven Sons’ chicken broth or make your own using our bone broth kit today! As always, we love to see your recipe creations–so let us know what you’ve made in the comments.