How To Make Nourishing Bone Broth in a Slow Cooker
Learn how to take your leftover chicken bones, and pan drippings and turn them into a nourishing homemade chicken bone broth with this super easy set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker bone broth recipe.
Servings: 12 servings
Equipment
- Slow Cooker 6 quarts or larger
- Fine Mesh Strainer
- Stock Pot or a pot large enough to hold at least 1 gal
Ingredients
- leftover meat, bones, skin, and pan drippings from your cooked chicken (pasture raised chickens will yield the highest nutrient density)
- gizzards set aside from the roasted chicken optional
- 2 chicken feet optional
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 large onion coarsely chopped
- 4-6 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
- 2 large carrots coarsely chopped
- 3 celery stalks coarsely chopped
- filtered water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the Slow Cooker and add enough water so that everything is covered, and your slow cooker is about three quarters full, or to the max fill line (amount will vary depending on the size of your slow cooker)
- Turn slow cooker on low and cook for a minimum of 6 hours, up to 24 hours. The long cooking time gives the broth a much richer flavor
- Throughout the cooking process, because of the long cooking time some of the water may evaporate. You may wish to add a little bit more water halfway through. However this step is optional
- When the broth is finishes cooking, place a fine mesh strainer over a large pot
- With a slotted spoon remove the chicken bones, feet if you've added them, onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Place them it the fine mesh strainer to allow any excess liquid to drip off into your pot. They can now be composted
- Once all the chicken bones, feet, and vegetables have been removed, ladle the broth into the pot, still using the fine mesh strainer to catch any smaller pieces
- When the broth has cooled to room temperature, either ladle it into mason jars (see notes), or plastic containers (such as old yogurt containers)
Notes
- This recipe can also be used with other animal bones such as beef bones or turkey bones for similar health benefits. Beef bone broth will have a slightly higher fat content, but will be lower in amino acids, While turkey broth will have a slightly stronger flavor than chicken broth.
- If freezing your broth in a mason jar, fill the jar top about 3 inches below the top of the jar, and place the jar upright in the freezer with the lid on loosely at first allowing for expansion. Once your broth is fully frozen, tighten the lid.