21 Cozy Recipes With Chicken Broth As the Secret Ingredient
A cup from the carton does the soul good.
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What's the secret ingredient to cure all ailments? It's chicken broth—used in so many of Ree Drummond's favorite meals including chicken and noodles. "It's a thick, hearty dish not to be confused with a thinner, brothier chicken noodle soup," Ree explains. "This is exactly how my Ga-Ga used to make it. A massive comfort food for me!"
Luckily, it's used in so many comfort foods beyond good ol' chicken noodle soup. Sure, you can cook chicken and make your own stock at home. (And yes, there is a difference between stock and broth.) That's how Ree makes her family-favorite Chicken Spaghetti. But a store-bought carton of broth will do the trick for classic pot pie, chicken cordon bleu casserole, or the internet's oh so popular Marry Me Chicken. Hefty chicken dinners may require up to six cups worth of broth, while others prove that a little goes a long way.
Don't worry though, it's not all chicken-based here on this list of recipes: You'll be surprised to see how chicken broth is added to casseroles, stuffed vegetables, or otherwise meatless meals like arancini balls, risotto, and bread stuffing. Not to mention, chicken broth is a great thickener! It works in the best soups, stews, pasta dishes, and simple sauces—that is, if you don't prefer chicken broth substitutes like chicken bouillon or vegetable broth. It's a practical staple to keep stocked in your pantry and this list of recipes proves it.
Chicken Pot Pie
It's comfort by the forkful! Chicken broth is the ingredient that gives classic pot pie its rich flavor. Each scoop has a helping of vegetables smothered in gravy and golden flaky crust.
Get Ree's Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
Marry Me Chicken
It's just as the name implies: the Pioneer Woman's Marry Me Chicken will win anyone's heart at the table! Broth is just one of the secret ingredients that makes this a dish worthy of date night.
Get Ree's Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Chicken Stew
Heartier than your average chicken noodle soup, this stew is made for the winter cold. It's chock-full of vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, and flavored with zesty spices like ginger and turmeric.
Get Ree's Chicken Stew recipe.
Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Chicken broth thickens the garlicky, spicy-hot filling of these spuds. To fill them, split open each potato lengthwise and lightly mash the flesh with a fork. The tops are sprinkled with cheese.
Taco Soup
Chicken noodle isn't the only kind of soup that calls for broth. Taco soup uses a quart's worth for the base, then it's loaded with mix-ins like ground beef, canned beans, chiles, and corn. Best of all, it's ready in 30 minutes!
Get the Taco Soup recipe.
Hoppin' John
Even if New Year's has come and gone, this dish is still lucky! The black-eyed peas are soaked overnight, then cooked in a blend of chicken broth and ham hock in this classic Southern dish.
Get Ree's Hoppin' John recipe.
Ham Casserole
Ham and chicken pair nicely together as proven in this casserole. More specifically, the broth is used to cook the rice so there's enriched flavor in every scoop.
Get the Ham Casserole recipe.
Melting Potatoes
Potatoes are good, but this side dish is made even better with a splash of chicken broth. A cup is poured into the pan before going into the oven so the spuds are caramelized golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside.
Get the Melting Potatoes recipe.
Pumpkin Risotto
Risotto is a labor of love. The trick here is to pour one cup of Arborio rice into the pot followed by chicken broth, stirring constantly after each addition. As soon as the rice has absorbed the liquid, add in the next helping.
Get the Pumpkin Risotto recipe.
Arancini
Need a party appetizer? These fried balls of melty cheese and risotto will be a big hit. As in other risotto dishes, broth cooks the Arborio rice so there's warm flavor in every bite.
Get the Arancini recipe.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Chicken broth works well with preparing other meats. It's one of three liquids—along with cream of mushroom soup and Worcestershire sauce—that meld flavors in these smothered pork chops.
Get the Slow Cooker Pork Chops recipe.
Crock-Pot Stuffing
Want to know the secret to moist, fluffy stuffing? It's chicken broth. A 14.5-ounce can combined with cream of mushroom gives the bread cubes a toasted outside topping and creamy layers of texture.
Get the Crock-Pot Stuffing recipe.
Jambalaya
There's so much in one pot–jumbo shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage—that you need a liquid to stew it all in. You'll know it's done when the broth is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Get the Jambalaya recipe.
Pasta Fagioli
Pasta dishes and soups both benefit from broth. This classic Italian meal is made richer from it, but you can bulk up the chicken flavor even more by adding cubed rotisserie chicken just before serving.
Get the Pasta Fagioli recipe.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
If you're craving something from a restaurant, this dish is ready-made in the kitchen. All you need is a cup of chicken broth to stir up the classic roux before the whole thing is baked to golden breaded perfection.
Get the Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole recipe.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
A vegetable soup made with chicken broth? Why, of course. The creamy base is mostly a blend of milk and half-and-half, but here's the secret to its texture: a splash of broth to thin it out nicely.
Get Ree's Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe.
Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili
Chili isn't all beef—and this recipe proves it! This decidedly lighter version is made with chicken broth as its base. Seasonings like cumin, paprika, and chili powder still pack a punch of flavor.
Get Ree's Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili recipe.
Dumpling Soup
Two cartons of chicken broth are well worth it for this soup made from scratch. And that's not the only store-bought shortcut either—frozen dumplings are the main ingredient.
Get the Dumpling Soup recipe.
Harvest Bowls
Chicken broth is best used to cook wild rice. Why? In lieu of water, broth adds a much-needed salted flavor and fluffy texture to the earthy grain. Bonus: It'll turn your family into believers of healthy meals!
Get the Harvest Bowls recipe.
Ranch Chicken
A simple sauce makes all the difference. The creamy herb sauce spooned over the top of these chicken cutlets starts with a blend of two cups broth to one cup white wine.
Get Ree's Ranch Chicken recipe.
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