Turkey Stock (or Turkey Broth) is easy to make and the perfect way to get every drop of flavor out of your turkey dinner! Even if you don’t have a whole turkey carcass, you can make broth out of inexpensive turkey parts bought at your grocery store!

Add in a few herbs and spices and some water and you have the perfect base for Turkey neck gravy or turkey noodle soup.

turkey broth in bowls

Stock vs. Broth

Is there really a difference between stock and broth? Yes, there is! Turkey Stock is made from primarily from bones while broth is made from more meaty pieces. I find broth usually has more flavor and to be honest, I make both the same way. Either can be done on the stove or in the slow cooker.

While we often add water to our bones/carcass my mom actually uses low-sodium or no sodium chicken broth (in a box) for a little boost of flavor. If I have it on hand, I add it in for a richer flavor but if not, water works just fine!

I add any leftovers from my Roast Turkey or turkey dinner including extra gravy, pan drippings, leftover Roasted Carrots… basically all of the good things with flavor make the turkey broth flavorful! (Skip the Brussel Sprouts though, they can make the broth bitter).

How to Make Turkey Gravy

How to Prepare Broth

I use turkey necks or wings, which you can pick up from your local market for just a few dollars. They cook up wonderfully and add so much flavor to the turkey broth! If you’ve made a roast turkey, add the carcass (and any bits, pieces, juices or skin you have left over) in place of the wings/necks.

  1. Brown the turkey necks/wings.
  2. Add to a stock pot (or slow cooker) with vegetables and herbs. The leaves on the celery and carrots are perfectly fine to add in and add to the overall flavor!
  3. Cover with low sodium broth or water and simmer. The longer you simmer your base, the better the flavor!
  4. Strain well, skim fat.

ingredients for turkey broth

Slow Cooker Stock

Alternately, it can all go into the slow cooker and simmer overnight (or longer).

Make sure you season your turkey stock/broth with herbs (save your carrot tops from making Glazed Carrots), fresh parsley, herbs, peppercorns and bay leaf. If you add too much water, it can water down the stock making it bland (in this case, once you strain it, simmer it to reduce and intensify flavor). I always add a raw onion with the yellow onion skin to add color to the broth.

Once cooked I either cool in the fridge and skim of any fat (if I’m not using it right away) or use a gravy separator as shown below to remove any fat if I’m using the broth right away to make soup.

turkey broth measurements

Chicken Stock or Broth

The method in this recipe works perfectly for chicken broth too. I save up my carcasses from rotisserie chicken in the freezer until I have a few and make a broth using the same way. Alternately, you can boil a whole chicken for an amazing broth (and tender meat).

Broth or stock can be frozen or refrigerated. It will keep 3-4 days in the refrigerator or 2-3 months in the freezer.

Our Favorite Soups with Stock or Broth

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
turkey broth in bowls
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Turkey Stock (or Broth)

Turkey broth or stock made from a carcass or meaty turkey pieces. This is the perfect base for soups, stews or gravy!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 44 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes
Servings 8 cups
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Ingredients  

  • 4 turkey necks or wings or 1 meaty turkey carcass
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 onions quartered
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 ribs celery chopped
  • 8 cups reduced sodium chicken broth or water
  • fresh herbs see notes
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions 

  • Pour olive oil in a large stockpot. Brown turkey pieces over medium heat in large stock pot (or broil in the oven) until golden if using necks/wings.
  • Add remaining ingredients to a large stock pot or slow cooker. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour on the stove (or 10-12 hours on low in the slow cooker).
  • Strain the broth through a cheesecloth to remove all turkey and vegetables. Return broth to the pot and simmer an additional 30-45 minutes to reduce.
  • Allow to cool slightly and skim off any fat. 
  • Cool broth and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to three months.

Video

Notes

Most grocery stores sell as "poultry" herb pack which is great in this recipe. If your store doesn't carry it, you can use any fresh herbs you like. I use a combination of parsley, rosemary, thyme and sage.
 
4.96 from 21 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 32 | Fat: 3g | Potassium: 7mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Pantry, Soup
Cuisine American

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Turkey Stock (or Turkey Broth) in white bowls and in the crockpot

Turkey Stock ingredients in a crock pot and in mugs with writing
Turkey Stock ingredients in a crock pot and in mugs with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. This made the strongest, most wonderful jelly stock for gravy and to add to soups, pasta etc. I am a convert. I used the vegs for another meal, by cutting up the onion and adding the half cooked carrots and celery to roast further and carmelize.5 stars

  2. Simmering this on my stove right now & my house smells so good! Silly question: Are the vegetables only used for flavoring the broth & then discarded after straining, or do you add them in your turkey soup recipe?5 stars

  3. Turkeys are not as pure as they were in the past. I have made this stock many times and I have always used an organic turkey for thanksgiving and Christmas. The stock is a nice yellow and we use the vegetables from our own garden to add to the stock. Soil conditions and no chemicals do make a difference.

  4. Hi, I follow the recipe pretty much exactly as you indicated although I general simmer the broth a little longer in the reduction step; however, my broth never seems to obtain that golden yellow color, it typically turns out more like clear-gray in color. It is always very flavorful and everyone in the family raves about the turkey soup (trust me they aren’t just being nice). I remember my mother and grandmother both had a nice golden yellow color to their broth as well. What am I doing wrong?5 stars

    1. It can depend on the vegetables you add. I always leave the skin on my yellow onions to help color the broth. For a darker color, the bones can be roasted or broiled before simmering. Once the broth has been strained, it can be simmered and reduced, which will also make it slightly darker in color.

  5. Good recipe, turned out pretty tasty. I used water with the ingredients to make the broth. Using store bought chicken broth to make homemade turkey broth seemed a bit silly to me.4 stars