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Homemade Turkey Stock

Homemade Turkey Stock, essential for Thanksgiving dinner ~ to add to the roasting pan, for gravy, to moisten stuffing and for leftover recipes the next day.  It's the power horse ingredient for the big day!

Finished stock in quart mason jar.

When I was a kid, my dad always had a pot simmering on the stove at the holidays with turkey necks and other unknown stuff in water, maybe a little onion, too.  He always used this broth to moisten his stuffing and add to his pan drippings for gravy.  I do the same thing every year at the holidays, although I make a big pot of homemade turkey stock in advance to use on the big day.

Stored in plastic quart containers for the freezer.

How do you make homemade turkey stock?

Ingredients for stock displayed on white board and labeled with text.

Basically, you simmer turkey wings and necks with vegetables and aromatics in water for several hours, until reduced and rich and gelatinous.  Most stock recipes call for onions, celery and carrots.  I added a small ham hock last year because I had one leftover, as well as some cremini mushrooms.  I saw someone from Bon Appetit add those to stock and since I had them, I went for it.  This year I made sure to add them again, loved the smoky and umami flavors they added.

Homemade Turkey Stock, roughly cut up vegetables on cutting board

Homemade Turkey Stock, two photo collage showing browning turkey parts and vegetables in stock pot.

I also roast the turkey and chicken parts in the oven first, to caramelize a bit and add a deeper flavor and color to the finished stock.  It is so worth this step.  While the turkey parts roast, I caramelize the vegetables in the stock pot for the same reason, flavor and color.

Homemade Turkey Stock, chilled overnight, three photo collage showing gelatinous texture.

In my experience, just let the stock go at a steady simmer and reduce, try to leave it alone, don't go stirring it all the time.  Stirring yields a cloudy stock, leave it be and you'll have a clearer stock, just sayin'.  After several hours, strain it, let it cool and refrigerate overnight.  The next day, skim off any hardened fat and what you'll have is a jiggly, gelatinous, rich homemade turkey stock.  That's what you want!  If you make in advance, put in quart containers and freeze to use for the big day.

Homemade Turkey Stock, overhead photo of stock in plastic quart containers

Homemade turkey stock is what makes Thanksgiving dinner so good! I use it for gravy, to add to the roasting pan, and to moisten the dressing.  I also have plenty of stock for turkey noodle soup the next day or other leftover recipes, like turkey tetrazzini.  You won't regret making turkey stock for Thanksgiving, once you do it, you'll never not do it again.  Happy Thanksgiving cooking ~ Kelly

Homemade Turkey Stock, in two quart glass mason jars

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Homemade Turkey Stock, in quart mason jar

Homemade Turkey Stock

Homemade turkey stock, essential for Thanksgiving dinner ~ to add to the roasting pan, for gravy, to moisten stuffing and for leftover recipes the next day. 
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 83kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 turkey wings
  • 2-4 turkey necks
  • 4 chicken wings
  • Olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 ribs celery, roughly chopped/chunks
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped/chunks (no need to peel)
  • 1 onion, halved (no need to peel, adds color)
  • 1 head garlic, cut in half horizontally
  • 6-8 cremini mushrooms (optional)
  • 1 small ham hock (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
  • A few sprigs fresh parsley
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup dry white wine, for deglazing

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425º
    Place turkey/chicken pieces on sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.  Roast in oven to brown for 30-40 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.  Remove browned pieces to plate, set aside, and deglaze the sheet pan with a little water to scrape up any browned bits.  Add to plate with turkey parts.
  • Meanwhile, in large 3 gallon stock pot, heat a glug of olive oil until shimmering.  Add celery, carrots, onion, garlic halves, a sprinkle of salt, and, if using, mushrooms.  Cook and stir occasionally to brown and caramelize, about 5 minutes or so.  Add the ham hock, if using, peppercorns, parsley and bay leaves.  Cook a few more minutes.  Add wine to pot, stir up any bits and cook until it has evaporated.
  • Add browned turkey pieces and any drippings to pot.  Cover with 2 gallons of water and a generous pinch of salt, bring to a full boil.  Skim any scum that surfaces in the first half hour or so.  Reduce heat to a steady simmer and cook 3½ to 4 hours, or until reduced by half.  (Can divide between two pots, if necessary, see note below.)
  • When stock is finished, scoop out solids to a bowl, then strain stock through a cheesecloth-lined strainer.  Cool and refrigerate overnight.  Skim any hardened fat off the stock.  It should be gelatinous, that's what you want.  Store in quart containers to use now or put in freezer for later.

Recipe Notes

  • You can divide the stock into two pots if you don't have a large enough stockpot.  That's what I do, dividing everything in two, with the ham hock in one pot and the mushrooms in the other. One gallon (4 quarts) of water in each pot.
  • The ham hock and mushrooms are totally optional, but if you have them, by all means toss them in the pot!
  • Turkey necks vary in size and availability, use 2 to 4 depending on what you find.  I used 4 because they were on the smallish side.
  • You can use 4 turkey wings and skip the chicken wings, your call.  I like using both.
  • Lastly, try not to stir the stock while it simmers, you will get a clearer finished stock.  I sometimes poke the turkey wings back down/over, if necessary.

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz Calories: 83kcal Carbohydrates: 3g Protein: 7g Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 24mg Sodium: 31mg Potassium: 163mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 1318IU Vitamin C: 2mg Calcium: 16mg Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

 

Recipe Rating




Rob

Tuesday 11th of October 2022

How would you make this recipe using an Instant Pot?

Kelly

Friday 14th of October 2022

Hi Rob, I only make this stock once a year on the stovetop so I'm not sure how to advise on adjustments for a pressure cooker.

Meathead

Saturday 17th of November 2018

Great gravy makes the meal.