Homemade Chicken Broth and Veggie Chicken Soup in the Crockpot
Remember the chicken that I posted a couple weeks ago? The butterflied and broiled chicken recipe that Hubby loves to make (I think it’s because he loves using his big sharp knives). Well it yields a delicious chicken that is sure to impress. But it also yields some great chicken brother and veggie chicken soup.
I read about making homemade chicken broth in a crockpot and was shocked at literally how easy it is. Now I do this every time Hubby makes a chicken and we always have homemade chicken broth in the freezer. Not to mention the pureed veggie soup (Hubby loves taking it in his lunch).
I like to have my crockpot cook overnight and then let the broth cool during the day while we’re at work. It takes all day for that pot of deliciousness to cool down enough to be able to handle it.
To start, place all the ingredients in your crockpot and turn it on LOW for about 8-10 hours. Then turn crockpot off and allow to cool another 8-10 hours.
Once the broth has cooked and chilled, place a colander in a large bowl. Pour the contents of the crockpot into the colander so it catches all the solid veggies and bones.
Next, if you plan to make the pureed veggie soup, sort through what’s in the colander. Place the bones in one bowl (for trash)and the chicken pieces that fell off the bones and the soft, mushy veggies and garlic in another bowl. If you don’t want to make the veggie soup, throw the veggie out as well.
Place the veggies and garlic in a blender along with a cup or two of the chicken broth. Puree until smooth. I like to then portion out the broth and soup using a 1 cup measuring cup and a plastic bag.
Place the bags in a pan and freeze. Once frozen flat, place bags in freezer and be ready to enjoy your homemade chicken broth and pureed veggie soup!
One Year Ago: Almond Joy Cupcakes
Homemade Chicken Broth – adapted from A Year of Slow Cooking
Printable Recipe
chicken carcass and leftover veggies from butterflied and broiled chicken
OR
store bought rotisserie chicken carcass
chopped onion
bunch of celery, chopped
2 cups baby carrots
small bunch of green onions, chopped
head of garlic, pealed
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
6 cups of water
Place chicken carcass, vegetables, and garlic into crockpot. Add Italian seasoning and water. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.
Turn off crockpot and allow to cool completely (another 8-10 hours).
Place a colander in a large bowl. Pour the contents of the crockpot into the colander so it catches all the solid veggies, chicken pieces, and bones. Throw away the veggies and bones.
Portion out the broth using a 1 cup measuring cup and a plastic bag.
Place the bags in a pan and freeze. Once frozen flat, place bags in freezer.
Homemade Pureed Veggie and Chicken Soup – adapted from A Year of Slow Cooking
Printable Recipe
chicken carcass and leftover veggies from butterflied and broiled chicken
OR
store bought rotisserie chicken carcass
chopped onion
bunch of celery, chopped
2 cups baby carrots
small bunch of green onions, chopped
head of garlic, pealed
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
6 cups of water
Place chicken carcass, vegetables, and garlic into crockpot. Add Italian seasoning and water. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.
Turn off crockpot and allow to cool completely (another 8-10 hours).
Place a colander in a large bowl. Pour the contents of the crockpot into the colander so it catches all the solid veggies, chicken pieces, and bones. Sort through what’s in the colander. Place the bones in one bowl (for trash) and the chicken pieces that fell off the bones and the soft, mushy veggies and garlic in another bowl.
Place the chicken, veggies, and garlic in a blender along with a cup or two of the chicken broth. Puree until smooth.
Portion out the soup using a 1 cup measuring cup and a plastic bag.
Place the bags in a pan and freeze. Once frozen flat, place bags in freezer.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I’ve tried a bunch of recipes and can never get the rich beefy broth that you find at most steak houses. But yours looks really dark… so maybe it’s what I’ve been looking for. I often think about going all out and roasting bones first to make it. Ha. Love the cheesy toasts on top. Jeff is weird and only likes the cheese and not the bread. So difficult to get the cheese to stay on top without bread!
beantownbaker — January 9th, 2013 @ 8:48 am
Ok that is weird that he likes the cheese and not the toast… This was definitely nice and rich and super easy.
Oh yum, and I’ve been adding a bunch of crockpot recipes to add to my to-do list. This one is perfect…and can I tell you how much I LOVE LOVE the new site? It looks pretty fabulous. I love the colors!!!!!!!!
beantownbaker — January 9th, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
Crockpot recipes are the best. Just set it and forget about it and voila – you have dinner ready!
Thanks – I’m totally loving it too 🙂 It was like the best Christmas gift I could have given myself!
Wow our recipes for the crockpot look so similar and I can attest it is delicious!
I love French Onion Soup! My husband made a big pot of it when I was pregnant and had some cravings, but we agreed it just didn’t have that same restaurant flavor. Can’t wait to try this!
beantownbaker — January 9th, 2013 @ 9:10 pm
That was sweet of him to make it for you!
Is your design new? Maybe I haven’t been to your actual site in a while–Reader makes me lazy, heh.
Anyways, I need to make this! One of my gripes about french onion soup is that it is annoying to prepare but I do like it a lot–I’ll have to try the crock pot version 🙂
beantownbaker — January 10th, 2013 @ 1:43 pm
It IS new! As of late last year. It was my own little gift to myself. Reader makes me lazy too 😉
This is the only French onion soup I’ve ever made. I’m glad I started with a crockpot version because I’m definitely going to be making it again!
What a great idea to make this in the crockpot! I’ve been trying to find more good recipes to make in mine… and this one looks too good to pass up!
We’re also huge French Onion soup fans and this looks so easy in the crockpot. i need to get one! And now I might have to go eat some cheesy toast,… 🙂
beantownbaker — January 12th, 2013 @ 4:20 pm
I can’t believe you don’t have a crockpot! I use mine all.the.time.
We are living in a construction site and all I have is a crockpot (or two) to cook with. It’s amazing what you can do with a crockpot! This recipe was a pleasant surprise to find after cooking meat meals for weeks now. I’m starting the onions tonight. I’ll post back on the results 🙂
beantownbaker — February 24th, 2013 @ 10:35 am
That has to be tough! Let me know what you think of the soup.
Just licked the bowl clean… 🙂 Great recipe! I wasn’t certain how much Thyme to put in so I chopped up about a tablespoon full. I also added a tablespoon of soy sauce when I added the wine which seemed to give it a little bolder flavor. It was perfect! My husband agreed 🙂 thank you!
beantownbaker — February 26th, 2013 @ 7:57 am
So glad you guys like it!
I’ve been craving onion soup. My girlfriend and I always trying to outdo each other in the kitchen . She made an awesome jumbya in the crock pot the other day. Tonite I’m trying the French onion. Can’t wait till dinner tomorrow . I’ll let you know how she liked it.
beantownbaker — March 3rd, 2013 @ 11:10 am
That sounds like a fun healthy competition! Let me know how it goes.
I have made the Crock Pot French Onion Soup twice and tonight I started my third. My father-in-law, a French Onion Soup lover and connoisseur has tried my FOS and says this recipe rivals any restaurant any where! I consider this high praise from a man who has tasted FOS in restaurants all over the world. Thank you for this wonderful tasting and easy recipe soup.
I will definitely be trying more of the crock pot recipes. Thanks so much for sharing your delicious recipes with us.
beantownbaker — September 2nd, 2013 @ 9:38 am
So glad you guys enjoy this soup. As I mentioned, I am NOT a French Onion Soup connoisseur, so I’m glad to hear that someone who is enjoys this recipe!
Epic fail. Onions were burnt followed the recipe exactly. Used the paper towel and woke up with a huge mess of onion juice all over my stove ( crockpot sits on stove f Let’s hope the stove still works….
beantownbaker — September 25th, 2013 @ 4:17 pm
Bummer. Sorry this recipe didn’t work out for you 🙁
This recipe is AMAZING!!!!! I made it 2 years ago I when I found this recipe after searching for what seemed to be the perfect one! Then I lost this recipe and just came across it again and so happy I did! The onions are caramelizing over night now and I can’t wait to dig in tomorrow. It’s by far the best French onion soup recipe EVER! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I too ended up with burnt onions leaving them cook overnight on low. Not sure if it’s because of using the paper towel trick or that 8-10 hrs is too long. I’d recommend not cooking them overnight.