• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Food Above Gold logo

  • START HERE
  • Recipe Index
  • Culinary Techniques
  • Contact
    • About Food Above Gold
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Food Above Gold
  • Recipe Index
  • Culinary Techniques
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker Turkey Stock While You Sleep

    Slow Cooker Turkey Stock While You Sleep

    Oct 16, 2018 · Modified: Nov 20, 2020 by Mackenzie Ryan · This post may contain affiliate links | Disclosure policy in footer.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Three mason jars of turkey broth. Recipe title is above it on a green background.

    Let your slow cooker do the work while you’re sleeping, and make a delicious overnight turkey stock. It’s an easy and delicious alternative to chicken broth!

    Three quart jars filled with homemade turkey stock

    Turkey stock is traditionally made by simmering turkey parts and aromatics for many hours in a stock pot. After cooking a big Thanksgiving feast however, the last thing I want to do is watch a pot boil.

    Letting this simple slow cooker turkey broth recipe do the work for you will revolutionize your cleanup routine. Then, once the beautiful golden turkey broth is done, use it in almost anything that calls for chicken broth.  

    Tips For Making Homemade Turkey Broth in the Crock Pot

    Your Crockpot or slow cooker does most of the work, but to extract every ounce of flavor from your turkey broth here are some techniques I recommend brushing up on.

    • How to Roast Bones.  Even though your turkey was already roasted, the bones themselves haven’t been. They need exposure to get the best flavor possible for your turkey broth.
    • How to Make Stock Part 1.  This is the beginning of a 5-part series on how to make homemade stock. Throughout the series, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to get the best color, texture, and flavor from your stock.
    • What is Mirepoix?  Mirepoix is the vegetable foundation for making a good stock. Understanding it and it’s ratios will help develop the best flavor for your slow cooker turkey broth.

    Can I Freeze Turkey Stock? How Do I Store It?

    Once strained and cooled, this turkey stock will keep in the refrigerator for five to seven days, and frozen turkey stock will stay good for up to three months.  If you are freezing the turkey broth, let it cool completely then divvy it into quart sized bags and freeze them flat so they take up less room in your freezer.

    A ladle pouring turkey stock through a strainer and into a jar

    Ways To Use Turkey Broth

    Turkey stock is infinitely useful. You can use it interchangeably with chicken broth, drink it like a bone broth recipe, or make a stock based sauce.  You could even reduce the turkey broth down and use it like a demi-glace for even more flavor impact

    Most commonly, people use their homemade turkey broth with the last of their Thanksgiving leftovers to make turkey soup. Some of my favorite ways to use turkey broth are:

    • Lemony Spring Vegetable and Couscous Soup.
    • One Pan Chicken and Wild Mushroom Orzo.
    • One Pot White Lasagna Soup with Pesto
    • Black Bean Soup with Bacon
    • Pumpkin Cobbler with Parmesan Chive Biscuits.
    Homemade turkey stock in front of an all-clad slow cooker

    Homemade Turkey Stock Recipe

    If you didn’t use the turkey necks for making gravy, this is a great way to utilize them. Just drop them in the slow cooker with the other turkey parts; this also works for the turkey wings (skin and all) which are rarely eaten. If your turkey carcass doesn’t fit you slow cooker, you can use a knife (or muscles) to break it into smaller pieces  

    Once you read the recipe you may think “This isn’t really done overnight! I have to add stuff the next morning.”  This is just a recommendation.  

    The longer the vegetables and aromatics simmer, the more bitter the turkey broth becomes. By adding them in the morning, you reduce the likelihood of them overpowering your turkey stock. If you would like to make the entire recipe overnight, add everything during the first step and let it simmer while you sleep!


    Happy Cooking! 🙂

    three mason jars of homemade turkey stock next to a towel and ladle
    No ratings yet

    Overnight Slow Cooker Turkey Stock

    This overnight slow cooker turkey broth is a very hands-off way to get a delicious turkey broth from your Thanksgiving leftovers!
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Mackenzie Ryan
    4 quarts
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 hours hours
    Optional Extra Time For Extra Flavor: 4 hours hours
    Total Time: 12 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Pin it for later?

    Ingredients

    • 1 turkey carcass
    • 6 carrots
    • 6 celery stalks
    • 2 large onions, peeled and halved
    • 1 head of garlic, peeled
    • assorted fresh herbs
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns

    Instructions

    Turkey Stock

    • Place the turkey carcass into a large slow cooker, fill the slow cooker with enough cold water to cover the bones (or until full) and select high for the heat. Set it to run for at least 8 Hours or overnight.  

    Add Aromatics

    • The next morning add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, fresh herbs, peppercorns and bay leaves. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for an additional 4 Hours.
    • Turn off the slow cooker and strain the stock through a fine meshed sieve, discarding the solids and browned bits. For better clarity, line the sieve with cheesecloth first.
    • Let the turkey stock cool slightly, then skim the fat from the surface.  Refrigerate in an airtight container or freeze.

    Notes

    For better flavor, roast the bones after you've carved and serve the turkey.  This will help give your turkey stock a deeper flavor. For more information about roasting bones, go here.
    For more space to fit your aromatics or get a better yield from your turkey stock, break down the turkey carcass before placing them in the slow cooker.  This will make the bones takes up less space, as well as make it easier to fit the lid.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1quart | Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 15570IU | Vitamin C: 11.6mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Tell me how much you love this recipeand show off how you made it!
    « Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash
    Brown Butter Cornbread Dressing with Garlic & Herbs »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. valentina says

      November 25, 2016 at 6:17 pm

      Such a great way to make stock! Brilliant! Happy Holiday's to you. 🙂

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        November 30, 2016 at 6:21 pm

        Thank you Valentina! And Happy Holidays to you!

        Reply
    2. Corina says

      November 25, 2016 at 5:09 pm

      I am ashamed to admit but all too often I end up throwing the bones away rather than making them into stock. I have such good intentions but unfortunately rarely put them into practice. I know I should and I do think making the most of your slow cooker and letting it cook overnight is a great way to do it. I'll just have to remember that next time I have a roast dinner!

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        November 30, 2016 at 6:23 pm

        Once you start making stock this way, you'll never want to stop. It's so nice to just throw it into the slow cooker and walk away! I hope that you get it try it Corina! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Elizabeth says

      November 25, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      I seriously just printed this out to try! I have a whole turkey carcass in my fridge staring me down. I know I SHOULD make stock, but it's so much work! Love the idea of letting my slow cooker do it for me.

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        November 25, 2016 at 4:24 pm

        I hope you love it Elizabeth. It's such a great way to make stock, and you can mix it up with any additional ingredients/flavors you want (like if you have leftover fennel - that makes it super delicious!)

        Reply
    4. Michelle Ferrand says

      November 25, 2016 at 2:45 pm

      Nothing beats a good stock! I love using a slow cooker for something like this!

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        November 25, 2016 at 2:52 pm

        Me too, Michelle. It's so nice to just walk away and not worry about it. Especially after a heavy cooking day like Thanksgiving.

        Reply
    5. Dan says

      November 25, 2016 at 2:08 pm

      Good idea on using up all those turkey bones!

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        November 25, 2016 at 2:25 pm

        Nothing goes to waste in this kitchen. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Mark says

      November 25, 2016 at 11:34 am

      That's the way to go to make stock. No point leaving all that goodness without making it. Nice job.

      Reply
      • Mackenzie Ryan says

        November 25, 2016 at 11:40 am

        Thanks Mark. I love how easy it is to just set it and go. . .and not worrying about whether or not the burner will go off during the night!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

    What are your thoughts? Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    a girl putting a flower behind her ear in a meadow.

    Hi! I'm Mackenzie! If you're looking for a modern culinary education at home, then you've come to the right place. Let me help you become your own master chef by learning professional cooking techniques without the cost of culinary school! Learn more about me and the blog.

    Comfort Foods

    • A wooden bowl of sauce next to fried onion strings.
      Homemade Crispy Onion Strings (French Fried Onions)
    • Skillet scalloped potatoes on a plate with asparagus and ham.
      Skillet Scalloped Potatoes with Mushroom Soup
    • Seared golden brown pork chops in a cast iron pan.
      Crispy Cast Iron Pork Chops
    • A red mug of soup with croutons and a spoon.
      Steak and Ale Soup with Mushrooms
    • Bacon wrapped chicken thigh on a plate next to roasted potatoes and asparagus.
      Smoky Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
    • A bacon wrapped burger on a bun with toppings.
      Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Burger Recipe

    Featured In:

    Business logos of popular websites

    Popular Recipes:

    • tray of biscoff cookie truffles on a wooden board with a blue napkin behind it
      No Bake Biscoff Cookie Truffles
    • a white tub of homemade custard ice cream in front of an ice cream maker
      How To Make Custard Ice Cream + Best Vanilla Custard Recipe
    • a tray of fruit with a french martini
      How To Make A Phenomenal French Martini
    • overhead image of a wooden bowl of caramelized onion at an angle
      How To Make Caramelized Onions Perfectly Golden Brown
    • small mason jar spilling out dry rub for ribs
      Ridiculously Good Dry Rub For Ribs
    • A stack of homemade tortillas in a kitchen towel
      Homemade Corn Tortillas (That Don't Fall Apart!)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates!

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Food Above Gold

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required