Slow Cooker Turkey Stock

5 from 1 vote

Sep 21, 2023, Updated Nov 16, 2025

This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This super simple overnight slow cooker turkey stock is the perfect thing to make with your leftover Turkey carcass the night after Thanksgiving. Infused with herbs and spices this broth freezes very well and is exactly what you need to sooth a cold or just to make Turkey Noodle Soup!

After the excited blur of Thanksgiving is over, I am usually left with a heap of dishes and a turkey carcass that I don’t know what to do with to get all the extra bits of turkey meat off. I have always made stock in the slow cooker after I make chicken so one Thanksgiving night decided to try the same with the turkey. This stock is so rich with marrow that it will turn to jelly when cold. It is packed with nutrients and is one of my favorite things to freeze and heat up when we get sick.

A jar of honey on a table next to a plant.

A slow-cooked bowl of turkey soup with a wooden spoon on a table.

A jar of honey next to a plant, placed on a table.

A slow cooker turkey stock soup with garlic and herbs on a table.

Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.

At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to Make Rich Turkey Stock
- Use this Method
More Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes

How to Make Rich Turkey Stock

Assemble the following ingredients:

Turkey carcass – use the leftover turkey carcass, don’t worry about removing all the meat since it will come off the bone easy once slow cooked.
Bay leaves – bay is a wonderful earthy flavor for a stock. I prefer to use fresh bay leaves but dry will work as well. Try putting the bay leaves in the crock pot first so they stay immersed in the water instead of just floating on top for a stronger bay flavor.
Sea salt – salt is used to bring the flavor out of all the ingredients. If your turkey was heavily salted when cooked you can add the salt at the end so you don’t over salt it.
Black pepper – well ground black pepper adds a touch of heat to this stock which helps give it a more distinct flavor. Use fresh ground if possible.
Water – you will need as much water as it will take to cover the carcass this is the base for the stock.

Use this Method

carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaf, spices, and salt set out

Combine and Slow Cook

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker, you may need to break the carcass to get it to fit. Add enough water to cover the carcass and the vegetables. Turn the cooler on low for 10 – 12 hours. I usually do this step overnight. When the run time is done unplug the cooker and let the stock cool.

colander over a bowl with turkey carcass and cooked vegetables

Strain and Pick Meat

Place a colander over a large bowl in the sink. Carefully pour the stock and all the contents into the colander. Taste the stock and season it with salt to taste if you want. Pick out any and all turkey meat from the colander and refrigerate or freeze the stock in the bowl underneath.

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Slow Cooker Turkey Stock

Like jelly. Since this stock is so rich it will turn to a kind of jelly when it has been refrigerated. This is due to the bone marrow from the turkey stewing so long being released. Don’t be alarmed if it goes all jelly on you, when you heat it up it will be smooth and liquid.

Save it for a sick day. This turkey stock is one of the best things you can sip when you have a cold or a sore throat. The bone marrow makes it super healthy and good for a cold.

Add some lemon. One of my favorite things to add to broth (especially when sick) is a squeeze of fresh lemon. The citrus really brightens the broth.

Freeze in Smaller Portions. If you want to be able to have just a little bit of stock once in a while when you are feeling a cold coming on try freezing it in an ice tray or in smaller quantities.

FAQs

Can I freeze turkey stock?

Yes, make sure you leave enough space for the stock to expand when frozen. Best way to defrost the stock is place it in the fridge in a bowl.

Can I make this in an Instant Pot?

Yes! You can cut down the time but using an Instant Pot and using high pressure for 4 hours. You can also just use the slow cooker option on the Instant Pot.

Can I use an electric Roaster?

Yes! A roaster is in many ways preferable since you can make so much more stock and you can boil it at a high temperature for longer. You also don’t have to force the meat in as much since it has a larger capacity.