This chicken bone broth is as full of nutrition and health benefits as it is easy to make. It’s also keto, paleo, and able to be made in a slow cooker. And you can even use what’s left of a rotisserie chicken. Did we mention the taste?!
Crafting the Perfect Homemade Chicken Bone Broth: A Guide to Health and Flavor
For generations, the comforting warmth of chicken broth has been a staple in kitchens worldwide, revered for its ability to soothe and nourish. What our grandmothers instinctively knew, modern science now confirms: chicken bone broth—the nutrient-rich liquid we once simply called stock—is a true elixir for health. Packed with immune-boosting properties, essential minerals, and vital amino acids, it’s far more than just a culinary base. This comprehensive guide will show you how to effortlessly create your own batch of this liquid gold, perfect for sipping, enhancing your favorite recipes, and supporting a healthy lifestyle. Whether you adhere to a keto or paleo diet, seek gut health support, or simply desire a deeply flavorful and inexpensive homemade staple, our chicken bone broth recipe, easily made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, is your ticket to a more vibrant kitchen. Plus, it’s an ingenious way to transform leftover rotisserie chicken bones into a healthful powerhouse, minimizing waste and maximizing flavor.
The Remarkable Health Benefits of Chicken Bone Broth
Beyond its delicious taste and versatility in cooking, homemade chicken bone broth offers an impressive array of health benefits, making it a valuable addition to any diet:
- Boosts Immune Function: The gelatin present in bone broth, rich in amino acids such as glycine, proline, and glutamine, plays a pivotal role in supporting gut health. A healthy gut is foundational to a strong immune system, as it forms a protective barrier against pathogens and toxins. By fostering a balanced gut microbiome, bone broth helps your body’s natural defenses operate optimally.
- Promotes Digestive Health: Collagen and gelatin, abundant in well-made bone broth, are known for their capacity to soothe and mend the lining of the digestive tract. This can significantly benefit individuals managing conditions like leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or other inflammatory bowel diseases, aiding in the restoration of gut integrity.
- Supports Joint Health: As a natural source of collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin, bone broth provides key components necessary for maintaining healthy cartilage and connective tissues. Regular consumption can help reduce inflammation, alleviate joint pain, and improve overall flexibility and mobility, especially beneficial for active individuals or those with age-related joint issues.
- Enhances Skin, Hair, and Nails: Collagen is the primary structural protein in your skin, hair, and nails. Consuming bone broth helps replenish your body’s collagen stores, promoting skin elasticity, hydration, and a youthful glow. It also contributes to stronger, less brittle nails and lustrous hair.
- Aids in Detoxification: Glycine, one of the principal amino acids found in bone broth, is crucial for the liver’s detoxification pathways. It supports the liver in processing and eliminating toxins from the body, acting as a gentle yet effective natural detoxifier.
- Contributes to Weight Management: Being a highly satisfying and nutrient-dense liquid, bone broth can help promote satiety. Its protein content can keep you feeling full for longer, potentially leading to reduced calorie intake and supporting healthy weight management goals without sacrificing nutrition.
- Rich in Essential Minerals: Bone broth is a readily absorbable source of vital minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals. These electrolytes are crucial for numerous bodily functions, from nerve transmission to muscle contraction and hydration.
Why Choose Homemade Over Store-Bought?
While store shelves offer bone broth, crafting your own provides distinct advantages:
- Unbeatable Cost-Effectiveness: By utilizing inexpensive chicken parts like necks, backs, and feet, or repurposing the carcass from a roasted chicken, homemade broth is significantly more economical than premium commercial brands.
- Complete Control Over Ingredients: Making your own broth ensures you know exactly what goes into it. You can avoid artificial flavors, excessive sodium, preservatives, or undesirable additives often found in store-bought options, tailoring it to your specific dietary needs and preferences.
- Superior Flavor and Quality: The depth and richness of homemade bone broth are unparalleled. The long, slow simmer extracts profound flavors from the bones and aromatics, resulting in a complex and savory liquid that elevates any dish.
- Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: This recipe is an excellent example of nose-to-tail cooking, utilizing parts of the chicken that might otherwise be discarded. It’s a sustainable practice that minimizes food waste and honors the animal.
Nourishing Chicken Bone Broth
David Leite
Equipment
- Slow cooker (6-quart or larger recommended)
- Large stock pot (if using stovetop method)
- Fine-mesh sieve
- Large bowl or containers for straining
- Mason jars or freezer-safe containers for storage
- Roasting pan (optional, for browning bones)
Ingredients
- 5 pounds chicken necks, backs, and/or feet (for optimal gelatin, including feet is highly recommended; a combination of raw chicken parts and bones from a rotisserie or roast chicken also works well)
- 5 quarts filtered water (approximately 20 cups, or enough to completely cover the bones in your pot)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (essential for drawing out minerals and collagen from the bones)
- 1 tablespoon sea salt (or to taste; final seasoning can be adjusted after simmering)
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme (optional, for a delicate herbaceous aroma and flavor)
- 1 large onion (quartered, optional for adding foundational flavor)
- 2 carrots (roughly chopped, optional for subtle sweetness and color)
- 2 celery stalks (roughly chopped, optional for aromatic depth)
- 5-6 black peppercorns (optional, for a mild spicy note)
- 2 bay leaves (optional, for classic savory notes)
Instructions
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1. Optional: Roast the Bones for Deeper Flavor. If you’re using raw chicken bones (like necks, backs, or feet), we highly recommend roasting them first. This simple step, as highlighted by our recipe testers, significantly enhances the color and complexity of your finished bone broth. To roast, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the chicken parts in a single layer in a large roasting pan. You can drizzle them with a minimal amount of olive oil if desired, though it’s not strictly necessary. Roast until the bones are richly browned, typically taking 30 to 60 minutes. This browning process develops savory, umami notes that contribute to an exceptionally flavorful broth. If you are starting with bones from a rotisserie or pre-roasted chicken, you can conveniently skip this step.
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2. Combine All Ingredients: Carefully transfer all the chicken bones (whether roasted or unroasted) to your chosen cooking vessel. This can be either a large stock pot or a spacious slow cooker (a 6-quart capacity or larger is ideal for this recipe’s volume). Add the 5 quarts of filtered water, ensuring that all bones are fully submerged. If they are not, add a small amount of additional water until they are adequately covered. Pour in the apple cider vinegar; its acidity is key to helping extract valuable minerals and collagen from the bones during the prolonged cooking process. Finally, add the initial measure of sea salt and any optional aromatics you’ve decided to include, such as fresh thyme sprigs, quartered onion, chopped carrots, celery stalks, black peppercorns, and bay leaves.
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3. Slow Cooker Method (Recommended for Ease and Maximum Extraction): If opting for the slow cooker, place the lid on securely and set your slow cooker to its low heat setting. Allow the broth to cook gently for an extended duration, typically between 24 to 48 hours. The prolonged, low-temperature simmer in a slow cooker is ideal for maximizing the extraction of nutrients and deep flavor from the bones. During the initial hours of cooking, you may observe a layer of foam or “scum” rising to the surface; gently skim this off with a spoon to ensure a cleaner broth. Periodically check the water level and add more hot water if necessary to keep the bones fully submerged, compensating for any evaporation.
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4. Stovetop Method: If using a large stock pot, place the pot over high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once it reaches a boil, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting to maintain a very gentle simmer. Cover the pot and allow it to cook for 12 to 24 hours. Similar to the slow cooker method, skim off any foam or impurities that accumulate on the surface. It’s crucial to maintain a gentle simmer; a rapid boil can lead to a cloudy broth and may diminish flavor. Add extra water as needed to keep the bones covered throughout the cooking period.
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5. Strain and Season: Once the desired cooking time is complete, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, remove and discard all the bones and any large pieces of vegetables. Next, meticulously strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth for an even clearer broth) into a large, clean heat-safe bowl or directly into storage containers. Press down on any remaining solids in the sieve to extract every last drop of flavorful liquid. Finally, taste the strained broth and add additional salt or other seasonings to your preference. Remember, it’s always easier to add more salt later than to try and reduce it once it’s in.
Adapted From
The Bone Broth Miracle
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Customize Your Broth
This recipe provides a fantastic base, but don’t hesitate to personalize your bone broth! Experiment with different herbs, spices, and vegetable combinations to tailor the flavor profile to your preference. Consider adding a few slices of fresh ginger for an anti-inflammatory boost, a star anise pod for an exotic twist, or a pinch of turmeric for its vibrant color and health benefits. For specific dietary needs, always ensure any additional ingredients align with your restrictions.
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup serving)
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary significantly based on ingredients, bone quality, and preparation methods.
Insights from Our Recipe Testers
Krista Ramsey’s Experience
Krista found this chicken bone broth recipe to be a wonderfully simple and effective way to prepare a flavorful stock. She specifically highlighted the significant benefits of roasting the bones beforehand, noting that it greatly enhanced both the color and the depth of flavor in the finished broth. Utilizing her slow cooker on a low setting for an extended 48 hours, Krista found she only needed to replenish about 3 cups of water throughout the long cooking period, ultimately yielding a rich 2 quarts of nourishing broth. Her positive feedback underscores that minimal ingredients and effort can indeed lead to an incredibly satisfying and beneficial culinary outcome.
Ralph Knauth’s Approach
Ralph emphasized the cost-efficiency of making homemade bone broth, recommending that cooks either save bones from their own roasted chickens (freezing them until a sufficient quantity is accumulated) or purchase inexpensive chicken backs, or even chicken feet if adventurous, from a trusted butcher. He even suggested adding turkey necks or wings to further enrich the broth. Ralph is a strong proponent of roasting raw chicken backs (at 425°F for approximately 1 hour, turning once) to develop a deeper flavor, noting that the rendered fat is excellent for cooking. He prefers making substantial batches, around 2 gallons at a time, on the stovetop. He simmers the broth uncovered on the lowest setting for 24 hours, ensuring only an occasional bubble breaks the surface, and found no need to add extra water, typically yielding about 90% of the initial water volume. Ralph also shared a crucial tip: he avoids salting the stock during the cooking process, preferring to add salt later when using the broth for cooking or sipping, allowing for greater flexibility. While he included apple cider vinegar as per the recipe, he personally didn’t notice a significant difference in taste or color. He concluded by stressing the importance of de-fatting the broth and straining it through a fine-mesh sieve after cooking. He also enthusiastically shared that he drinks 1 to 2 cups of broth daily, finding it makes him “feel so much better,” and highlighted that the broth becomes impressively stiff in the fridge, a clear indicator of rich collagen content.
Helen Doberstein’s Observations
Helen, motivated by the notable health benefits, was eager to prepare this bone broth. She encountered a common challenge in sourcing specific “off” cuts of chicken, noting their increasing rarity in many stores and even at butchers. To adapt, she successfully used a combination of chicken wings and thighs, roasting them in the oven for 30 minutes before simmering. She chose to incorporate thyme into her pot to add flavor, given the recipe’s minimal other aromatics. Helen opted for an 8 1/2-quart slow cooker, accommodating the larger water volume, and allowed it to cook for 24 hours without needing to add any additional water. After straining, her recipe yielded an impressive 18 1/4 cups (4 1/4 liters) of broth. She observed that her resulting broth was lighter in consistency than her usual homemade versions and did not gel after overnight refrigeration, attributing this to the substantial water volume used. Despite this, she found it to be a perfectly acceptable light broth, proving excellent in stir-fries and a couple of light soups, and her husband also enjoyed it as a warm beverage with his lunch. Helen noted that due to the prior roasting, there was very little fat to skim off. While satisfied with the quantity produced, she personally felt that the addition of classic aromatics like onion, garlic, and bay leaves, which she typically includes, would have enhanced the broth’s robustness. This highlights the importance of personal preference in customizing the final flavor profile.
Essential Tips for Making the Best Chicken Bone Broth
While the process of making chicken bone broth is fundamentally simple, a few expert tips can elevate your results from good to truly exceptional:
- Prioritize Quality Bones: The foundation of an outstanding broth lies in the quality of your bones. Whenever possible, choose bones from pasture-raised, organic chickens. Chicken feet are particularly prized for their high collagen content, which will yield a thicker, more gelatinous broth—a hallmark of quality. If using a rotisserie chicken, ensure its ingredients are simple and free from excessive artificial seasonings.
- Don’t Underestimate Roasting (for Raw Bones): As emphasized by our experienced recipe testers, roasting raw chicken bones before simmering is a game-changer. This step creates a beautiful golden color and imparts deep, complex, savory flavors that a non-roasted broth simply can’t achieve. Take the time for this step if you’re using raw bones; it’s well worth the effort.
- Incorporate Apple Cider Vinegar: A small amount of raw apple cider vinegar is not just an optional ingredient; it’s crucial. The acidity helps to gently break down the bones and connective tissues, facilitating the optimal extraction of beneficial minerals and collagen into your liquid, maximizing the nutritional punch of your broth.
- Maintain a Gentle Simmer, Never a Rolling Boil: This is perhaps the most critical rule for clear, flavorful bone broth. A rapid, rolling boil can emulsify fats and proteins, leading to a cloudy broth and potentially an off-flavor. Aim for a very gentle simmer, where only small, infrequent bubbles appear on the surface. Patience is key!
- Skim Impurities Regularly: During the initial hours of simmering, you will likely see a foamy layer of impurities rise to the top. Gently skim this off with a ladle or spoon. This step is essential for achieving a clean-tasting, clear, and visually appealing broth.
- Keep Bones Submerged: Especially during long cooking times, evaporation is inevitable. Periodically check your pot and add more hot water if necessary to ensure that the bones remain fully submerged throughout the entire simmering process. This guarantees continuous extraction of nutrients and flavor.
- Season Thoughtfully and Adjust Later: While the recipe includes an initial measure of salt, many seasoned cooks prefer to add little or no salt during the broth-making process itself. This approach provides greater flexibility when you later use the broth in various recipes, allowing you to perfectly adjust the seasoning to suit the specific dish without over-salting.
- Consider Additional Aromatics: While a basic bone broth is delicious, incorporating classic aromatics can significantly enhance its depth. A “mirepoix” of roughly chopped onions, carrots, and celery, along with garlic cloves, black peppercorns, and bay leaves, adds layers of foundational flavor. If using delicate fresh herbs like parsley, add them during the last hour of cooking to prevent any potential bitterness.
Storage and Versatile Usage of Your Homemade Elixir
Once your rich chicken bone broth is meticulously strained and properly cooled, intelligent storage is paramount to preserving its quality and enjoying its benefits for an extended period:
- Refrigeration: Allow the broth to cool completely at room temperature before transferring it into clean, airtight containers or glass mason jars. Stored correctly, your homemade bone broth will maintain its freshness and potency in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Upon chilling, you’ll likely observe a thick, gelatinous consistency—this is an excellent sign of high collagen content and indicates a high-quality, nutrient-dense broth!
- Freezing for Longer Term: For extended storage, chicken bone broth freezes beautifully for up to 6 months without significant loss of quality. Pour the cooled broth into freezer-safe containers, ensuring you leave some headspace at the top to accommodate expansion during freezing. Alternatively, for convenient single servings, freeze the broth in ice cube trays. Once completely solid, transfer the frozen cubes to a larger freezer-safe bag for easy access.
Unleash the Culinary Potential: Delicious Ways to Enjoy Your Homemade Bone Broth:
- Sip It Straight: One of the simplest and most comforting ways to enjoy bone broth is to warm a mug and savor it on its own. It’s particularly nourishing in the mornings, as a mid-day pick-me-up, or as a soothing evening drink.
- Foundation for Soups and Stews: Your homemade broth forms the perfect, flavorful base for virtually any soup, stew, or chili recipe. It adds unparalleled depth and a boost of nutrients that canned broths simply can’t replicate.
- Cooking Grains: Elevate your side dishes by using bone broth instead of water to cook rice, quinoa, couscous, or other grains. This imparts an incredible savory flavor and an extra nutritional punch.
- Enhance Sauces and Gravies: Incorporate your rich bone broth into pan sauces, gravies, or reductions. Its robust flavor and body will transform ordinary sauces into gourmet accompaniments.
- Sautéing Vegetables: A splash of bone broth can add moisture and a burst of flavor when sautéing vegetables, replacing oils or butter for a lighter option.
Embark on Your Culinary Journey with Bone Broth
Making homemade chicken bone broth is an incredibly gratifying process that connects you to ancient traditions of nourishment and healing. It is a straightforward act with profound benefits, transforming humble ingredients into a versatile elixir that supports your health from the inside out. With this detailed guide, you are now fully equipped to confidently create your own batches of this liquid gold. Enjoy the mindful process, savor the rich, complex flavor, and reap the incredible, tangible health benefits that homemade chicken bone broth brings to your table and your well-being!