Easy Chicken Carcass Soup Recipe

When temperatures drop and it gets darker earlier, it feels like the only thing that can chase away those cold weather blues is a piping hot bowl of soup. But, please put down that can of chicken soup! If you've never made chicken soup before, this chicken carcass soup recipe from recipe developer Ting Dalton of Cook Simply is easy enough for a soup beginner to feel like a master chef in no time at all.

"This is the perfect winter warmer and is so easy to make," says Dalton. "It's also a fantastic way to use up leftover chicken so that nothing goes to waste." All you need is some leftover roast chicken, some vegetables, a pot, and some water. You'll also need enough time to let the chicken flavor the broth, so save this recipe for a day that you can give it enough time to simmer on the stove. Don't let the title freak you out — the chicken carcass just refers to leftover chicken.

For this recipe, you'll need a chicken carcass, including any bones and leftover meat. You'll also want to add any leftover gravy, au jus, or juice from the chicken. Other than chicken, you'll also need some vegetables. Dalton recommends chopped carrots, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, frozen spinach, and canned chickpeas.

"You can add other vegetables — any you want," Dalton says. "From greens, such as kale or cabbage, to other root vegetables or different pulses, from lentils to butter beans, you can really make this soup your own." She also recommends using russet potatoes but says any type of potato will work.

Dalton also doesn't personally feel a need to use additional seasoning in this recipe, but you can season to taste. "I've never felt the need to add seasoning here, as the natural flavors are enough," she says.

Add the chicken carcass, meat, gravy or au jus, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and half of the spinach and chickpeas to a large stockpot. Pour boiling water over the ingredients until they are just covered, and then bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Then, turn the heat down to low and simmer for two hours. Over the two hours of simmering, stir the pot occasionally. If you think the water level looks a little low, add some more.

When there's an hour left of cooking time, add the chopped potatoes. Don't add the potatoes at the beginning, as they'll disintegrate and lose their shape if cooked for too long. If you use a starchy potato like a russet potato, it will also change the texture of your soup if it disintegrates.

When your soup is almost done, add the remaining spinach and cook for five minutes. Why add some of the spinach late? According to Dalton, "This means you will have lovely green spinach that has retained its vibrant color."

That's it! Your chicken soup is cooked and (almost) ready to go. Before serving the soup, make sure to carefully remove the chicken carcass and bones with tongs. Dalton recommends serving this soup in large bowls on its own or with some chunky bread. It can keep in the refrigerator for up to three days and will freeze in a suitable container for up to three months. If you do freeze this soup, just make sure to defrost thoroughly before reheating. Next time you have some leftover chicken, you have a healthy, delicious way to put it to work.

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If you still want homemade stock but want it quicker, you can use an Instant Pot. About 45 minutes to one hour at high pressure with a natural release will give you the same results as this two-hour stovetop simmer. Another option involves your slow cooker; set to low, this appliance can make chicken stock in 12 hours but can simmer for as long as 24. That's a long time, but it's perfect if you're planning your meals ahead of time but won't be physically in your kitchen to stir a stock pot until closer to dinner time.

If you're even more pressed for time, you can outfit this recipe with store-bought stock and shredded rotisserie chicken. In this version, you will just have to simmer the vegetables in the stock until cooked through and add the chicken and chickpeas toward the end to warm them up. This soup won't have the same rich, homemade flavor as the recipe on does, but it will dish up a somewhat comparable dish in a fraction of the time.

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