What To Do With Leftover Chicken Broth: 22 Delicious Ideas

Chicken broth is a staple in many home kitchens. It’s commonly used as a base for soups, stews, risottos, and more But what happens when you have leftover chicken broth that you’re not sure what to do with? Don’t pour it down the drain! There are lots of delicious ways to use up extra chicken broth

Make a Pot of Soup

One of the easiest ways to use up chicken broth is to make a pot of soup. Soups are a great way to transform leftover broth into a hearty, comforting meal Try making chicken noodle soup, chicken tortilla soup, or a chilled summer soup like gazpacho Soups are endlessly versatile, so get creative with ingredients you have on hand.

Cook Rice or Grains

Cooking rice, quinoa, or other grains in chicken broth instead of water infuses them with savory flavor. This simple swap adds a tasty twist to plain grains. Use broth-cooked grains as the base for rice bowls, stir fries, pilafs, and more.

Make Risotto

Creamy, cheesy risotto requires good broth as its base. Leftover chicken broth is ideal for making risotto at home. The broth enriches the rice as it slowly absorbs the liquid, resulting in rich, flavorful risotto. Stir in vegetables like peas, mushrooms, or spinach for a hearty meal.

Braise Vegetables

Braising vegetables in chicken broth is an easy way to boost their flavor. Try braising greens like kale or collards, root vegetables like carrots or parsnips, or even canned beans. The vegetables will soak up the savory chicken essence as they cook. Serve braised veggies as a side or toss them with pasta or grains.

Cook Beans or Lentils

Cooking dried beans or lentils in broth gives them more flavor than water. Chicken broth makes an especially good base for dishes like lentil soup, white bean cassoulet, or red beans and rice. The broth adds a savory depth to the beans as they cook.

Make a Pan Sauce

One way to dress up basic pan-seared meats like chicken breasts, pork chops, or fish fillets is to make a quick pan sauce with chicken broth. After cooking the protein, deglaze the hot pan with a bit of broth. Scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom as the broth simmers. Finish with a pat of butter or cream for an easy, tasty sauce.

Bake Bread or Cookies

For a savory twist, use chicken broth instead of water when making bread, rolls, or soft pretzels. The broth adds a subtle meaty flavor that sets it apart from plain bread You can also use broth in place of milk when making cookies or biscuits for a subtle savory taste.

Make Gravy

Chicken broth is the perfect base for gravies and pan sauces served with poultry. Make a simple gravy by whisking flour into hot broth to thicken it. Finish with herbs, wine, cream, or other flavorings. Chicken gravy is delicious served over biscuits, mashed potatoes, rice, or the roasted chicken itself.

Cook Pasta or Noodles

Boil noodles, pasta, or gnocchi directly in chicken broth instead of water for more flavor. The starch released from the pasta will help thicken the broth into a light sauce that coats each bite. Finish the pasta with olive oil or parmesan cheese for a fast, tasty meal.

Make a Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is the ultimate comfort food, and chicken broth is essential for making the creamy filling. Make your own filling by simmering broth with vegetables and shredded chicken or turkey. Top the filling with a pie crust and bake until golden. Serve alongside a fresh green salad for a hearty dinner.

Whip Up a Sauce

Use broth as the base for quick homemade sauces and condiments. Puree broth with roasted red peppers for a flavorful red pepper coulis. Simmer it with tomatoes and herbs for a fresh tomato sauce. Or blend it with tahini, lemon, and garlic for a zesty tahini sauce. Drizzle your homemade sauces over chicken, fish, grains, or vegetables.

Sauté Vegetables

For fast, flavorful sautéed veggies, use broth instead of oil or water. Heat broth in a skillet and quickly sauté vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, or green beans. The hot broth will lightly steam the vegetables while infusing them with savory chicken flavor. It’s a tasty, lower-fat way to cook veggies.

Make a Casserole

Casseroles are a thrifty way to transform leftovers into a homey baked dish. Make a flavorful binder for your casserole by cooking broth down to a glaze consistency. Toss the glaze with cooked rice, pasta, or bread cubes along with any other leftovers you want to use up. Top with cheese and bake until bubbly for an easy one-dish meal.

Boost Store-Bought Sauces

Plain tomato sauce, salsa, or canned soup can get an instant flavor upgrade by stirring in a bit of chicken broth. This simple addition pumps up the savory flavors and makes store-bought sauces taste homemade. Try adding broth to pasta sauce, enchilada sauce, mushroom soup, or any other sauce that could use a flavor boost.

Make a Quick Soup Base

Whip up an instant homemade soup base by cooking broth down until reduced by half or more. The concentrated broth packs a ton of chicken flavor into just a spoonful or two. Freeze reduced broth in ice cube trays for easy “soup starter” cubes. Add them to water or fresh broth along with vegetables, grains, and seasonings for quick soups and stews.

Cook Whole Grains

To get the most flavor out of nutritious whole grains like farro, barley, and wheat berries, cook them in broth. Simmer the grains in broth until tender, about 25-45 minutes depending on the grain. The broth adds a savory depth to the finished grain that water doesn’t provide. Enjoy whole grains as a healthy side dish or mixed into salads, bowls, or pilafs.

Make a Quick Skillet Dinner

For a fast weeknight meal, simply simmer broth in a skillet with vegetables, cooked meat, and seasonings. Try combinations like chicken and peppers, sausage and cabbage, or shrimp and zucchini. Let it all simmer together until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Serve the hearty skillet meal over rice, quinoa, or pasta.

Flavor Vegetable Purées

For extra flavor, use broth instead of milk or water when making puréed vegetables. Try blending roasted cauliflower, butternut squash, or sweet potatoes with warm broth for an ultra-smooth, savory purée. Season the purées with herbs, garlic, or spices and serve as a rich side dish.

Make a Cooking Liquid

You can use chicken broth as a flavorful poaching liquid for lean proteins. Gently simmer chicken breasts, fish fillets, or shrimp in broth until just cooked through. The broth imparts a nice subtle flavor to the protein. Serve poached proteins over fresh greens or grain bowls with your favorite vegetables and toppings.

Boost Flavor Instantly

One of the easiest ways to use extra broth is adding it to dishes as you cook for an instant flavor boost. Stir some broth into rice pilafs, pasta salads, soups, stews, braised meats, sautéed veggies, and more. Just a few tablespoons of broth can take a dish from bland to delicious in minutes. Keep some broth on hand whenever you need a quick flavor enhancer.

Chicken broth is endlessly versatile in everyday cooking. With a little creativity, you can transform leftover broth into all kinds of delicious, thrifty meals. The possibilities are truly endless when you start with a good base like homemade chicken broth.

Chicken broth is used in a wide variety of culinary applications, most commonly as a base for soups and stews, but also for cooking rice and pasta, making sauces and gravy, and even as a flavorful addition to steamed vegetables.