Caldo de Pollo Recipe (Spanish Broth)

Name: Caldo de Pollo Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken; 4 carrots (peeled and cut into large pieces); 1 leek (cleaned and roughly chopped (you can use the whole leek in the stock, even the tough green part)); 1 large onion (cut in half); 1 large potato (quartered); 3 sticks of celery (cleaned and cut into pieces); 1 piece pumpkin (Use a small piece of pumpkin or butternut squash (about the size of two large carrots)); 1 bay leaf; 1/2 tbsp whole black peppercorns; 1 sprig parsley; 1 tbsp salt (add this little by little at the very end, to taste)

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This easy and delicious caldo de pollo recipe makes the perfect Spanish broth. This flavorful chicken bone broth can be enjoyed plain, used as a base for Spanish chicken soup, or used as homemade chicken stock in any recipe. Caldo de pollo is simple to make from scratch, and well worth the effort.

Spanish chicken broth in an orange Dutch oven pot in the background and a white bowl of broth at the front. A bowl of shredded chicken behind.

Here in Spain, supermarkets sell caldo de pollo by the liter, as it's an important ingredient in so many Spanish recipes. You can also find stock cubes, but it's worth spending extra on the liquid broths.

But even better than that? Making Spanish broth at home! Luckily, it's simple to do, and the results are healthy and delicious.

I started making my own caldo de pollo after learning about stocks and broths in culinary school. Once I saw how much of a difference homemade Spanish broth makes to Spanish recipes like chicken chilindrón and rabo de toro (beef broth in this case) I was hooked. The effort of making caldo at home is minimal -- there's really no excuse not to try it!

This caldo de pollo recipe is the classic Spanish broth, but there are countless ways to mix it up. You really can't go wrong. I'll share my favorite enhancements and substitutions below.

Key Ingredients

Ingredients to make caldo de pollo on a white marble background. Raw chicken, vegetables and spices.

Key Ingredients: Chicken, carrots, onion, potato, celery, leeks, parsley, pumpkin, bay leaf, peppercorns, and salt.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Chicken: I use free-range, corn-fed Spanish chickens when possible. The better the chicken, the better the broth! But use what you can, if you are simply making caldo de pollo for chicken stock, then you can use chicken carcasses and scraps. But if you plan to make chicken soup (or to use the chicken meat for something else after cooking) then you can use a whole chicken. When I use a whole chicken I ask the butcher to cut it up into pieces. This way it releases more flavor. You can also use 6-8 chicken thighs for a delicious Spanish broth.
Vegetables: I've made this caldo de pollo recipe using the most traditional vegetables you'll find in Spanish broth. Carrots, potatoes, and onions are a must. I also love adding leeks (very common in Spain) and celery. Pumpkin or squash gives some additional sweetness that is lovely in the finished broth. You can substitute the veggies you like best -- radishes, turnips, shallots, spring onion... whatever you prefer. I've made this recipe using whole veggies, but you can also save scraps over the course of a few days and add these to make your broth even more budget-friendly!
Spices: The traditional Spanish caldo de pollo recipe doesn't go crazy on herbs and spices. It simply uses bay leaf, parsley, salt, and pepper. But I usually add a few more ingredients -- specifically ñora pepper (you can sub any sweet dried pepper variety), a couple of cayenne pods (I love spicy soups too), and a few threads of saffron.

Caldo de Pollo: Step by Step

Making Spanish caldo de pollo is super simple. Like I said, there's no excuse not to make it from scratch!

Steps 1-4: Put your chicken in a large pot and cover with about 10 cups of water (until fully covered by a few inches). Add your veggies and bring to a boil. Skim away the foam that rises, and lower to a simmer. Simmer for 1.5 hours.

Caldo de pollo step by step photos in a grid. Raw chicken in a pot, chicken covered with water, vegetables on top of chicken in a pot, cooked caldo de pollo

Steps 5-7: By this point all of the flavor of the veggies and chicken bones should be in the broth. Turn off the heat, leave for about 15 minutes more (optional) to cool slightly. Then strain using a fine mesh strainer. You can now use this broth for other recipes, or add some salt and enjoy as is. Here in Spain, we drink our broth in a mug just like a cup of tea. Yum!

Steps 5-7 for making caldo de pollo in a grid. The finished pot of chicken broth, straining the broth, and the final pot of strained broth.

Recipe Tips & FAQs

Making Spanish broth is simple, but for the best results there are a few tips and tricks.

How long does chicken broth last in the fridge?

Chicken broth will last 3-4 days when stored properly in the fridge. It should be in an airtight container and stored within two hours of cooking.

Can I freeze chicken broth?

Chicken broth can be frozen for up to six months with no loss in quality. And it's safe to eat even after that. I always freeze my Spanish broth in two cup containers, which are perfect for most recipes calling for homemade stock.

What can I add to caldo de pollo to make chicken soup?

In Spain we love adding things to caldo de pollo to make a chicken soup. You can add back the chicken meat, some garbanzo beans, small noodles, chopped jamón Serrano, and even hard-boiled egg. Some people also add rice to make chicken and rice soup.

How do I get rid of the fat in my chicken stock?

Fat is flavor, but if you'd like to make a low-fat chicken stock, simply spoon off the hardened layer of fat that will rise to the top after a couple of hours in the fridge.

How long should chicken broth cook for?

Many people think that it's the longer the better for chicken broth. But that is not true. One of the things I learned in culinary school was that too much time can ruin a stock. 1.5 hours is a good amount of time for a chicken broth. This will be the point where the veggies and chicken bones have given the majority of their flavor to the broth, without adding any bitter flavors.

Pot of chicken stock with chicken and vegetables inside

Serving Suggestions

You can enjoy Spanish caldo de pollo so many different ways.

On its own, as a taza de caldo (mug of broth). This is a really typical thing to order in cafés and pastry shops in the winter in Spain. There is nothing more comforting than a piping hot mug of Spanish broth!
In another recipe. Spanish broth is used to enhance the flavors of other dishes, like this chicken and chorizo stew.
As chicken soup! A hearty Spanish chicken soup might have chicken meat, garbanzo beans, ham, hard-boiled egg, and even rice or noodles in it. Add a few of these toppings for a filling meal. It would be perfect served with a Spanish salad!

More Spanish Soup Recipes

White Bean and Chorizo Soup: A classic combination of delicious Spanish chorizo and white beans.
Lentil Soup: One of the most popular soups in Spain, these Spanish lentils are a must make on a cold winter day!
Pea and Mint Soup: A delicious soup for spring, this fresh combination is topped with crispy Spanish jamón.

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