Homemade Bone Broth Recipe

With the kids back to school and life settling into a routine, now is the perfect time to start incorporating homemade bone broth into your daily routine. We make a BIG batch of this bone broth recipe every week, using it as a base for soups, cooking grains, and even sipping it throughout the day. Our dog even gets a little bowl each day! Cooking with natural, all-natural, whole ingredients like bone broth is one of the best ways to support our bodies and maintain overall well-being.

Why Homemade Bone Broth?

The nutrients in homemade bone broth offer many benefits for your overall health. This simple yet nutrient-packed broth contains over 19 easily absorbable amino acids—the building blocks of protein. It’s also a great source of collagen and gelatin, essential for healthy skin and joints. Regularly consuming bone broth can contribute to maintaining joint comfort, supporting digestion, and promoting skin health. The collagen, cartilage, bone, and marrow that dissolve into this broth give your body the nutrients it needs to stay strong and balanced.

Health Benefits of Bone Broth

Here’s a quick rundown of some key health benefits you can enjoy with homemade bone broth:

• Supports gut lining
• Helps protect joints
• Contributes to immune system function
• Maintains skin health
• Aids in natural detoxification
• Supports cognitive health

Bonus Steps

Soaking the Bones

Before you start cooking, allow the bones to soak in cold water with apple cider vinegar. This step is essential as it helps draw out the nutrients from the bones more effectively. And don’t worry—your broth won’t have a vinegar taste!

Using the Whole Bird

To make the most nutrient-dense broth, it’s not just about using bones—you’ll want to include chicken feet and neck as well. While it might sound a bit unconventional, these parts of the bird are packed with collagen, which is key to making a broth that “gels” once cooled. Try adding these parts if you’ve ever been disappointed by a broth that didn’t gel. Most local butchers can supply you with chicken feet and necks.

Double Dipping: Get More From Your Ingredients

Did you know you can make two batches of bone broth using the same chicken and vegetables? Strain the broth after the first round of cooking, then throw the bones, veggies, and herbs back into the slow cooker. Top with water, add a little more turmeric, and you’ve got yourself a second batch. While the second batch may not be as rich, it still contains a good amount of nutrients.

Quality Matters

When it comes to making bone broth, quality counts. If your budget allows for it, try to use organic and/or pasture-raised animals. Remember, you are what your food eats. Organic vegetables and herbs are also your best bet, as conventional crops are often treated with harsh chemicals. Organic carrots, onions, and celery are relatively affordable and will help you create the most wholesome broth possible. If organic isn’t an option, peel and thoroughly wash your produce to minimize pesticide exposure.

Homemade Bone Broth

A simple and nutrient dense bone broth that you can use for soups, grains, and sipping on.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 day day

Total Time: 1 day day 1 hour hour

Course: Broth

Servings: 12 cups

Author: Katie Stewart

Equipment

• Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken carcass or about 6 cups of bones (keep the skin on for extra collagen)
• 1 cup carrots (roughly chopped)
• 1 cup celery stalks with leaves (roughly chopped)
• 1 whole onion with skin quartered)
• 2 garlic cloves with skin (chopped in half)
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1-2 sprigs fresh herbs of choice (rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley) (sub 1 tbsp Italian seasoning)
• 1 dried bay leaf
• filtered water (fill to the top of your slow cooker)

Optional

• 2 chicken feet
• 1 chicken neck
• 1 knob fresh ginger (about 1/2 inch roughly chopped)

Instructions

Prepare the Ingredients:

• Place the chicken carcass or bones into the slow cooker. If using, add the chicken feet and neck for extra nutrients and collagen.
• Add the roughly chopped carrots, celery, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker.
• Sprinkle in the ground turmeric, and add the apple cider vinegar, which helps to extract minerals from the bones.
• Add your chosen fresh herbs or Italian seasoning for flavor.

Add Water:

• Fill the slow cooker with filtered water, ensuring all ingredients are fully submerged. Leave about an inch of space at the top to prevent overflow during cooking.
• Cook the Broth:

Slow Cooker Method:

• Cover and cook on low for 12-24 hours. The longer the broth cooks, the more nutrients and flavor will be extracted from the bones.
• Check occasionally to ensure the ingredients are still submerged, adding more water if necessary.

Strain and Store:

• Once the cooking time is up, carefully remove the large bones and vegetables with a slotted spoon.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl or pot.
• Let the broth cool slightly before transferring it to storage containers. You can refrigerate the broth for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.

Enjoy:

• Use your homemade bone broth as a base for soups, stews, or simply sip it as a nourishing drink.

Instant Pot Instructions:

• Add Ingredients: Place all ingredients into the Instant Pot and fill with water to just below the max fill line.
• Cook: Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' on high for 2 hours.
• Natural Release: After the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally, which will take about 20-30 minutes.
• Strain and Store: Follow the same steps as above for straining and storing your broth