Savory Simmered Chicken and Broth
This flavorful boiled chicken recipe is a cherished family favorite, perfect for creating wholesome dishes like chicken and noodles, chicken and dumplings, or comforting chicken rice soup. The tender chicken becomes incredibly versatile, easily adaptable for any recipe requiring cooked chicken. Don't forget to save the rich, homemade broth! It's perfect for freezing in one-cup servings to have on hand for any future recipe calling for chicken broth, ensuring you always have a stock of delicious flavor at your fingertips.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
9
Ingredients
Ingredients
whole chicken
1 (3-4 lbs, cleaned)
large onion
1 (chopped into large chunks)
carrots
3 (chopped into chunks)
celery
2 stalks (chopped into chunks)
whole peppercorns
1 tablespoon (whole)
garlic cloves
2 (diced)
bay leaves
2 (whole)
dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon (dry)
salt
2 teaspoons (to taste)
Instructions
1
Thoroughly wash the whole chicken under cold water to ensure it's clean.
2
In a large pot, combine the chicken, onion chunks, chopped carrots, chopped celery, whole peppercorns, diced garlic, bay leaves, dried parsley, and salt.
3
Cover the ingredients with enough water to completely submerge them. Place the pot on the stove, cover it with a lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape, and bring to a vigorous boil over high heat.
4
Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle boil, and let the mixture cook for 1 to 1.5 hours, adding more water as needed to keep the chicken submerged.
5
When the chicken is cooked through and the meat easily falls off the bone, remove the pot from heat. Carefully take the chicken out of the broth and allow it to cool to room temperature.
6
Once cool, remove the skin and bones from the chicken and discard them. Chop or shred the remaining meat into bite-sized pieces.
7
Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve to remove the vegetables and spices. Let the broth cool in the refrigerator. Once chilled, the fat will solidify on the surface; remove and discard this fat.
8
Store the strained broth in freezer-safe containers, portioning it into one-cup servings for convenience.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Savory Simmered Chicken and Broth?
It is a flavorful boiled chicken recipe used to create versatile meat and homemade broth for dishes like chicken and noodles or soup.
What size whole chicken is recommended?
A whole chicken weighing approximately 3 to 4 lbs should be used.
How many carrots are needed for the broth?
The recipe calls for 3 carrots chopped into chunks.
Which vegetables are used to flavor the broth?
The broth uses a large onion, carrots, and celery stalks.
How should the onion be prepared?
The onion should be chopped into large chunks.
How much water should I add to the pot?
You should add enough water to completely submerge the chicken and all other ingredients.
What is the recommended simmering time?
The mixture should cook for 1 to 1.5 hours at a gentle boil.
What spices and herbs are included?
The recipe includes whole peppercorns, diced garlic, bay leaves, dried parsley flakes, and salt.
Should I wash the chicken before cooking?
Yes, the instructions recommend thoroughly washing the whole chicken under cold water.
How should the pot be covered during boiling?
Cover the pot with a lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape.
At what temperature should I start the cooking process?
Start by bringing the ingredients to a vigorous boil over high heat before reducing to a gentle boil.
How do I know when the chicken is finished cooking?
The chicken is ready when the meat is cooked through and easily falls off the bone.
What do I do after removing the chicken from the broth?
Carefully take the chicken out and allow it to cool to room temperature before handling.
What parts of the chicken should be discarded?
Once cooled, remove and discard the skin and bones.
How should the chicken meat be prepared for recipes?
The meat should be chopped or shredded into bite-sized pieces.
How do I remove the vegetables and spices from the broth?
Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve to remove all solids.
Why should the broth be chilled in the refrigerator?
Chilling allows the fat to solidify on the surface so it can be easily removed and discarded.
How should the finished broth be stored?
Store the strained broth in freezer-safe containers.
What is a convenient way to portion the broth for freezing?
Portioning the broth into one-cup servings is recommended for convenience in future recipes.
Can I use this recipe for chicken and dumplings?
Yes, the tender chicken and rich broth are perfect for chicken and dumplings.
Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Yes, it is excellent for meal prep as both the meat and broth are versatile and freezer-friendly.
How many celery stalks are required?
The recipe requires 2 stalks of celery chopped into chunks.
How much garlic is used?
The recipe calls for 2 cloves of garlic, diced.
What is the measurement for dried parsley?
Use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley flakes.
How many bay leaves are needed?
The recipe uses 2 whole bay leaves.
How much salt should I add?
Add 2 teaspoons of salt, or adjust to taste.
How many peppercorns are used?
Use 1 tablespoon of whole peppercorns.
What should I do if the water level drops during simmering?
Add more water as needed during the cooking process to keep the chicken submerged.
What type of pot is best for this recipe?
A large pot is necessary to fit the whole chicken and all vegetables.
Is the broth useful for chicken rice soup?
Yes, the homemade broth provides a rich, savory base for chicken rice soup.