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Home » Recipes

Easy Low Sodium Chicken Stock Recipe

Apr 14, 2023Last Modified: April 14, 2023

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Low Sodium Chicken Stock Recipe!

A glass jar containing homemade chicken stock.

There is almost nothing better than a homemade chicken stock. Making your own stock is extremely satisfying and incredibly useful. Here I'll show you how to make a chicken stock with a rich flavor that is also low sodium that you can use in your favorite recipes!

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Want To Make This No Added Salt Chicken Stock!
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • A Few Notes About Your Low Sodium Chicken Stock
  • FAQ
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
  • Easy Low Sodium Chicken Stock Recipe

Why You Will Want To Make This No Added Salt Chicken Stock!

Homemade chicken stock is far superior to store bought stock. You'll want to make this homemade no added salt chicken stock because:

  • This chicken stock is made with a whole chicken which includes the chicken bones and the meat. The resulting stock is rich and delicious with natural flavors, and perfect for use in all your favorite homemade meals!
  • You can control the amount of salt. In this recipe we will not add any salt so if you are on a low sodium diet or trying to consume less sodium in your diet, this stock is perfect for you.
  • Making this stock is super easy! There's a tiny bit of prep, but it's mostly hands off after you throw all the ingredients into your stockpot
  • Chicken stock is good for you! Our stock will contain collagen protein which seeps out of the bones during the long period of time that it will take to make the stock. The collagen is good for your immune system, so enjoying this stock should help our health! (Source is WomensHealthMag.com)

There is EVERYTHING to love about making your own low sodium chicken stock so let me show you what you'll need!

🥘 Ingredients

A whole uncooked chicken on a white plate. There is a wooden cutting board with celery, carrots, onions, bay leaves and peppercorns on it.

You only need 6 ingredients (plus water) to make this wonderful homemade chicken stock. They are:

  • Whole chicken - select one approximately 4 pounds in weight
  • Large celery rib
  • Large Carrots
  • Onion
  • Bay leaf
  • Black pepper (use black peppercorns)
  • Cold Water

I love that this low sodium chicken stock can be made with just a few simple ingredients that are easily found at your local grocery stores.

So now allow me to show you how easy it is to make this flavorful stock!

🔪 Instructions

Begin by rinsing the vegetables to prepare them for use. Quarter the onion, chop the celery and carrot into 3 or 4 equal pieces.

Remove any giblets that come with the chicken, and place the whole chicken in a large stockpot. Add the rest of the ingredients (carrot, celery, onion, bay leaves, and black peppercorns) to the stockpot and then add water so that the stockpot is ¾ full. The water should be enough to cover all of the ingredients in the stockpot.

A large stockpot containing water and onions, celery, bay leaf, carrots, chicken, and peppercorns are visible.

Place the stockpot on a high heat on your stove and bring this to the boil. Watch for the scum to form as the contents heat up. Use a skimmer spoon to skim off the scum as it surfaces. Continue to remove the scum until no more scum is being produced.

A large stockpot containing water and onions, celery, bay leaf, chicken, and peppercorns are visible. There is scum forming at the top.
Scum will form as the contents heat up.
A large stockpot containing water and onions, celery, and peppercorns are visible. There is scum at the top and a strainer spoon is scooping up some of the scum.
Remove the scum with a skimmer spoon.

Now lower the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and then simmer on a low heat for 4 hrs.

A large stockpot containing water and onions are visible in the water. There is someone holding the lid for the stockpot just over the pot.
Cover the stockpot when simmering.
A time setting of 4:00 hrs with the words bake, start, and cancel/off visible.
Simmer for 4 hrs, covered.

At last your stock is ready! Remove all the solids from the stockpot using the skimmer spoon or other kitchen utensils, or use a large strainer to strain the stock from the stockpot.

Homemade chicken stock in a large stockpot. There is a strainer spoon containing cooked celery, onions, and carrots that is closer to the camera and the large pot is in the background.
Remove the solids from the stockpot.
Homemade chicken stock in a large stockpot. There is a blue spoon containing some of the stock which is closer to the camera and the large pot is in the background.
Look at your delicious and rich chicken stock!

Your beautiful and delicious stock is now ready for use!

A Few Notes About Your Low Sodium Chicken Stock

A plastic container with homemade chicken stock.

The amount of stock will vary but typically you should expect around 6-7 cups of stock, but could be a little less. 

Cool the stock to room temperature prior to refrigerating for later use.  Store cooled stock in an airtight container. I typically use glass mason jars or large plastic containers that used to contain yogurt that I recycle.

After refrigerating for a few hours, you will notice a layer of chicken fat that forms on the top.  You can remove this solidified fat and discard, or save it for use in cooking!  

A glass with a layer of chicken fat on top of refrigerated chicken stock.

When refrigerated the stock will seem gelatinous.  This is normal, and all you have to do is heat it up for use.

A glass jar containing homemade chicken stock.

Here are some recipes for soups that this stock would be perfect for:

  • Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder
  • New England Clam Chowder
  • The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

This recipe is the recipe that keeps on giving! You still have all of the chicken! The meat from the chicken will be tender and delicious and you can use it for any number of recipes!  I actually make this on a weekly basis for my dog Toby. He gets the chicken, the carrots and celery, and of course, the chicken stock. 🐶

Cooked chicken which has been broken up so you can see some of the bones and the meat, and some cooked onions and carrots.

So whether you are watching your sodium intake, are on a low salt diet, or just need a delicious stock with much flavor, you'll love this homemade low sodium chicken stock!

FAQ

What is the difference between chicken broth and chicken stock?

The main difference between chicken broth and chicken stock is that chicken broth is prepared without bones, and chicken stock uses bones in its preparation.

Does homemade chicken stock have less sodium than store bought?

Homemade chicken stock typically has less sodium than store bought. Making the stock yourself is a great way to control the amount of sodium in your stock!

Can I freeze chicken stock?

You can freeze chicken stock in a freezer bag, or in ice cube trays. When the chicken stock cubes have frozen in the ice cube tray, you can store the frozen stock cubes in a freezer bag for ease of use.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:

  • How To Cook A Stewing Hen
  • Leek Stew Recipe For Welsh Cawl Cennin
  • Crispy Garlicky Roast Chicken Recipe

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A glass jar containing homemade chicken stock.

Easy Low Sodium Chicken Stock Recipe

Grace
This Easy Low Sodium Chicken Stock Recipe takes a bit of time but is so very worth it! You'll be rewarded with a rich and delicious stock which is perfect for gravies or soups, or just sipping!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 hours hrs
Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course basic ingredient, stock
Cuisine American
Servings 14 ½ cup servings
Calories 195 kcal

Equipment

  • 8 qt stockpot
  • 1 skimmer spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 4 lb whole chicken
  • 2 each bay leaves
  • 1 carrot select a large carrot and chop it into 3 or 4 equal pieces without peeling it
  • 1 onion quartered; no need to peel
  • 1 celery rib select a large celery rib and chop it into 3 or 4 equal pieces
  • ½ ts black peppercorns
  • water enough to fill ¾ of the stockpot and cover the chicken and other ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the vegetables and prepare them for use. Quarter the onion, chop the celery and carrot into 3 or 4 equal pieces.
    A whole uncooked chicken on a white plate. There is a wooden cutting board with celery, carrots, onions, bay leaves and peppercorns on it.
  • Remove any giblets that come with the chicken, and place the whole chicken in the stockpot. Add the rest of the ingredients (carrot, celery, onion, bay leaves, and black peppercorns) to the stockpot and then add water so that the stockpot is ¾ full. The water should be enough to cover all of the ingredients in the stockpot.
    A large stockpot containing water and onions, celery, bay leaf, carrots, chicken, and peppercorns are visible.
  • Place the stockpot on a high heat on your stove and bring this to the boil. Watch for the scum to form as the contents heat up. Use a skimmer spoon to skim off the scum as it surfaces. Continue to remove the scum until no more scum is being produced.
    A large stockpot containing water and onions, celery, bay leaf, chicken, and peppercorns are visible. There is scum forming at the top.
  • Now lower the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and then simmer on a low heat for 4 hrs.
    A large stockpot containing water and onions are visible in the water. There is someone holding the lid for the stockpot just over the pot.
  • At last your stock is ready! Remove all the solids from the stockpot using the skimmer spoon or other kitchen utensils, or use a large strainer to strain the stock from the stockpot.
    Homemade chicken stock in a large stockpot. There is a strainer spoon containing cooked celery, onions, and carrots that is closer to the camera and the large pot is in the background.
  • Your beautiful and delicious stock is now ready for use!
    Homemade chicken stock in a large stockpot. There is a blue spoon containing some of the stock which is closer to the camera and the large pot is in the background.

Notes

The amount of stock will vary but typically you should expect around 6-7 cups of stock, but could be a little less. 
Cool the stock prior to refrigerating.  After refrigerating for a few hours, you will notice a layer of fat that forms on the top.  You can remove this and discard, or save it for use in cooking!  
When refrigerated the stock will seem gelatinous.  This is normal, and all you have to do is heat it up for use.
The meat from the chicken will be tender and delicious and you can use it for any number of recipes! 

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 16gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 66mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1156IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chicken stock, low sodium stock, stock
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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