How to Make Turkey Broth (2024)

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After the feast, turn the leftover turkey carcass into a rich, flavorful broth using some simple vegetables and herbs. You’ll have about 2 quarts of homemade turkey broth, perfect for freezing or making soup.

Even if I’m a guest at Thanksgiving dinner, I secretly hope someone offers me the leftover carcass just so that I can make this broth. Yep, I’m that person toting the bones home. Not sad about it at all.

And why not when you can eke every last bit of flavor from the Thanksgiving bird? Turkey broth makes amazing soups, like leftover turkey noodle soup, but can also be used in place of chicken broth in all your favorite recipes.

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Turkey carcass:Bones and all. To help the turkey fit in a pot, cut it into 4 or 5 pieces with kitchen shears or a knife.
• Organ meats: The heart and gizzard can be added to the broth if desired, but the liver should be discarded or reserved for another purpose.
• Cold water:Always start with cold water. This helps keep the broth clear, not cloudy. The amount of water used and the length of simmering time will determine the intensity of the broth.
• Vegetables:Some cooks save old vegetable trimmings to add to their broth. I prefer to start with new, fresh vegetables because I think the broth will taste better. So yes, we peel the carrots, and save your vegetable scraps for composting!
• Herbs and spices:Asachetis a fancy term for parsley stems, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, and optionally, garlic or cloves, tied up in a piece of cheesecloth with twine. You could also use a tea ball or loose-leaf tea bag to hold them. It makes it easier to pull these small ingredients out of the broth later. Or, you can just add everything straight to the pot since you strain the broth at the end.

Step-by-step instructions

1. To a Dutch oven or large stock pot, add turkey carcass and enough cold water to cover it (see note 2). Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and skim the foam off the top.

2. To the pot add onion, carrot, celery, and salt. If desired, tie parsley stems, thyme, garlic, bay leaf, and peppercorns to make asachetor add loosely to the pot. Simmer gently (bubbles should barely break the surface at irregular intervals) until the turkey has released its flavor, at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours. The longer the broth simmers, the more flavor it will have.

3. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Place in a large bowl and chill covered overnight in the refrigerator.

4. The next day, scrape off the accumulated fat from the top of the stock and discard. Divide the broth into freezer-safe containers (leaving at least 1/2-inch for expansion), label, and freeze. Or, refrigerate and use within 4 days.

Recipe tips and variations

• Yield: This recipe makes about 8 cups (2 quarts) of turkey broth.
• Storage: Store turkey broth in the refrigerator and use within 4 days.
• Freezer:Divide the broth into freezer-safe containers (I like to use 16-ounce glass jars) and leave 1/2-inch head space for expansion. Label and date, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
• Turkey stock vs. broth:Technically, stock is made with just bones, while broth is made with bones and meat.