What To Do With Chicken Carcass: 10 Delicious Ways to Use Up Leftover Bones

Chicken carcasses and bones are incredibly versatile ingredients that most people toss out without a second thought. However with a little creativity you can transform leftover chicken bones into nutritious and delicious meals. Here are 10 great ways to use up chicken carcasses and make the most of your ingredients.

1. Make Chicken Stock

One of the most obvious uses for leftover chicken bones is to make homemade chicken stock. Simmering bones in water extracts collagen, vitamins, and minerals, resulting in a nutritious and flavorful liquid that forms the base for soups, stews, risotto, and more

Put the chicken carcass, any extra meat, and skin in a pot to make chicken stock. Add chopped vegetables like carrots celery, and onions. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to a simmer and cook for at least two hours. Remove any foam that rises to the top. After straining, you’ll have chicken stock that you can use in any recipe.

2. Prepare Bone Broth

To make chicken bone broth that is even healthier, simmer the bones for longer to get more collagen out of them. Bone broth is cooked over low heat for at least 12 hours, which lets more minerals, amino acids, and gelatin come out of the bones. Recently, this healthy liquid has become more popular because it might be good for you.

Making bone broth follows the same process as stock, but requires longer cooking times. Try simmering a chicken carcass with vegetables for 12-24 hours to get a mineral-rich, collagen-filled bone broth perfect for drinking on its own or using in soups and stews.

3. Make Chicken Soup

A hot bowl of homemade chicken soup is comfort food at its finest. To transform your chicken carcass into soup, start by making a stock or bone broth using the method above. Shred any leftover chicken meat and add it back to the pot along with vegetables, noodles, rice, or other mix-ins.

Chicken soup is a great way to get every last bit of flavor and nutrition out of your leftover bones. Try adding carrots, celery, onions, parsley, potatoes, or any vegetables you have on hand. Season with salt, pepper, bay leaves, or other herbs and spices. Serve piping hot with a side of crusty bread.

4. Prepare Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings is the ultimate one-pot comfort food, and the perfect way to stretch a single chicken carcass into multiple meals. Once you’ve made your stock, return the shredded chicken, stock, and any vegetables to the pot.

Make simple dumpling dough by mixing together flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and egg. Drop spoonfuls of dough into the soup, cover, and simmer until the dumplings are cooked through, about 15 minutes. The result is a hearty and soul-warming dish the whole family will love.

5. Make Chicken and Rice Soup

Another classic chicken soup variation is chicken and rice. Simply prepare stock using the carcass and meat as described above. Shred the chicken and return it to the pot along with cooked rice, vegetables, and seasonings.

Some tasty additions include mushrooms, peas, carrots, Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs. The rice absorbs flavors from the stock while adding heartiness. This easy soup makes an excellent leftover meal and can be customized with whatever ingredients are in your fridge.

6. Prepare Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a tasty and flexible way to use up roasted or rotisserie chicken that you have left over. It’s easy to make: just shred or chop cooked chicken and mix it with mustard, mayonnaise, celery, onions, and any other chopped vegetables you like. Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice or herbs to taste.

Chicken salad is great served alone, on bread or crackers, stuffed into a pita or wrap, or on top of a fresh salad. Turn leftover bones into stock while transforming the meat into this tasty, protein-packed dish.

7. Make Chicken Pot Pie

For the ultimate comfort food, turn your chicken carcass into homemade chicken pot pie. First, simmer the bones to make a hearty chicken stock. Shred and chop the chicken meat and saute with onions, carrots, peas, and any other vegetables you want.

Make a simple sauce by whisking together flour, butter, chicken stock, milk, and seasoning. Place the chicken mixture into a casserole dish, pour the sauce over, and top with a layer of store-bought or homemade biscuit dough. Bake until the biscuits are golden brown for a from-scratch pot pie everyone will love.

8. Prepare Chicken Tacos

Spice up those leftovers with some Mexican flavors. Simmer the bones for stock. Mix chicken shreds with corn, beans, onions, cumin, chili powder, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. For a quick dinner during the week, put it in warm tortillas or taco shells.

Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and salsa. Refried beans and Spanish rice make great accompaniments. Getting creative with seasonings keeps the flavors exciting.

9. Make Chicken Pizza

Pizza night gets a protein boost when you top the crust with shredded chicken. Make homemade or store-bought pizza dough. Spread with tomato sauce and sprinkle on mozzarella cheese. Top with sliced onions, mushrooms, peppers, olives, or any other favorite pizza toppings.

Scatter shredded chicken over the top and bake until the cheese is melted and crust is crispy. Kids and adults alike will love this fun twist on leftover chicken. Drizzle with ranch or barbecue sauce for extra flavor.

10. Prepare Chicken Fried Rice

Fried rice is a great way to stretch smaller amounts of leftover meat into an entire meal. Cook white or brown rice according to package directions. Toss the cooked rice in a skillet with sesame oil, shredded chicken, peas, carrots, onions, and eggs.

Season with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and other desired spices. The rice soaks up all the delicious flavors while stretching a single chicken carcass into multiple portions. fried rice also makes fantastic use of any other leftovers or veggies you need to use up.

With a little creativity, it’s easy to transform leftover chicken bones and meat into delicious new dishes. From nourishing soups and stews to satisfying comfort foods, put those carcasses to work flavoring and fortifying a variety of nutritious meals to enjoy all week long. With a simple simmering of the bones and some basic ingredients on hand, you can make the most of what might otherwise be forgotten leftovers.