December 7, 2024
Chicken

Slow Cooker Turkey Stock Recipe

Transform your leftover turkey into a rich, flavorful stock with this easy 24-hour slow cooker recipe. Packed with aromatic vegetables, fresh herbs, and the deep essence of turkey bones, this golden broth is the perfect base for soups, stews, and gravies, bringing homemade comfort to every dish.

Why This Recipe Works

Minimal Effort for Maximum Flavor: The gentle heat of a slow cooker gradually breaks down collagen in turkey bones into gelatin, creating a rich, full-bodied stock. The 24-hour hands-off cooking time allows for maximum extraction of flavors and nutrients from both the bones and vegetables, creating a deep, complex flavor profile that store-bought versions simply can’t match!

Versatile: The versatility of homemade slow cooker turkey stock is unmatched! Its flavorful profile makes it an incredible foundation for countless dishes, from soups to sauces. You can adjust its concentration by reducing it for more intense applications or diluting it for lighter uses.

Supplies Needed

Slow Cooker (this one is a great option for 24 hour cooking)

Ingredients

Turkey Carcass: A roasted or smoked carcass will add depth here. This is a great opportunity to use a carcass from Thanksgiving or a holiday turkey! Just break it down to fit into the slow cooker. Alternatively, you can make chicken stock with a chicken carcass.
Vegetables: You will need onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to add plenty of flavor and aroma to the stock.
Herbs: Fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley will infuse the broth with cozy, herby flavors. I also threw in a few dried bay leaves!
Whole Peppercorns: Whole peppercorns add a subtle heat and warmth without being overpowering.
Salt: I like to use kosher salt here, as it helps prevent the stock from becoming overly salty. I recommend not salting it too much, though, since you can salt it later according to what you’re making.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This is essential for extracting all the nutrients from the bones!
Water: Use enough water to cover the carcass and ingredients.

Preparation

Prep Turkey & Vegetables: Place the turkey carcass in the slow cooker. Break it into smaller pieces if necessary to fit snugly. Add the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic around and on top of the carcass.
Add Herbs: Toss in the thyme, parsley, rosemary (if using), bay leaves, peppercorns, and kosher salt.
Cover with Water: Pour in enough water to completely submerge the ingredients, leaving about an inch of space from the top. Add the apple cider vinegar.
Cook: Set the slow cooker to Low and cook covered for 24 hours. If desired, skim any foam or impurities that rise to the surface during the first few hours of cooking.
Stir: Occasionally stir the stock and check to ensure the ingredients remain submerged. Add a little more water if needed.
Strain: After 24 hours, turn off the slow cooker and let the stock cool slightly. Use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the stock into a large bowl or pot, discarding the solids (bones, vegetables, and herbs).
Cool & Store: Allow the stock to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate it overnight. Skim off any solidified fat from the surface before using. Use immediately in soups or stews. Additionally, it can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen in airtight containers or ice cube trays for up to 6 months.

Slow cooker turkey stock being prepped in the slow cooker with water

Tips For Storing

Let your slow cooker turkey stock cool completely, then store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to five days. A fat layer will form on top—either remove it before use or leave it in place to help preserve the stock.

For freezer storage, transfer the cooled stock to freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze the bags flat on a baking sheet for easy vertical storage later. Your stock will keep in the freezer for up to six months.

You can also try portioning out your stock before freezing based on how you typically use it. Freezing in common recipe amounts—like one-cup, two-cup, or four-cup portions—makes it easy to thaw exactly what you need. For smaller portions perfect for adding richness to sauces or braising vegetables, try freezing the stock in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag for easy access to small portions whenever you need them.

What To Use Slow Cooker Turkey Stock In?

The options are endless! You can keep this turkey stock on hand to use in many different recipes. Typically, wherever you would use chicken broth you can substitute for turkey stock! Here are some ideas for how you can use your homemade stock.

Soups

Slow cooker turkey stock would make a great base to any of these soup recipes:

Sauces

Loads of sauces use a stock as a base! Here are some of my favorite to use turkey stock in:

Grains & Starches

Instead of cooking your grains and starches in water, cook them in turkey stock for extra flavor!

More Recipes To Try