Bone Broth 3 Homemade Ways to Make It

Bone broth is one of my favorite foods. Great for gut healing, helps the body to fight infections and inflammation, strengthen bones and is said to help hair and nails grow (source). And every grandmother knows that a mug of chicken bone broth is just what you need when you aren’t feeling well. Not to mention using bone broth in your recipes is a delicious option too.

I go through times that I sip on bone broth daily and other times where I only get it once a week. But no matter how often you have it, bone broth should be part of your diet; and making it could never be easier!

I have 3 ways for you to make bone broth: traditional made in a stock pot, crock pot (I use an 8 quart) and Instant Pot methods (or slow, medium, fast). The first, traditional stock pot, bone broth will take a day or 2 to make and requires you watch it closely. The crock pot version doesn’t shave time off but you won’t have to watch it as closely. And with the bone broth with the Instant Pot method will be ready in about 2 hours! Lately the IP method has become a staple around here but I think it is good to know how to make the traditional and crock pot method too.

For this post I am going to be showing you a chicken bone broth but you could do this with beef bones as well. It is recommended that you roast your beef bones prior to making the broth for best flavor and use of the marrow.

It is always best to use organic vegetables and herbs as well as organically and pastured raised chicken). You can
play with the veggies and herbs you add to your tastes.

Wait for your broth to cool a bit before transferring it to glass mason jars, or they can break. Your bone broth will stay good in the refrigerator for about 3 days or freeze it and defrost as needed. Or freeze it for months (be sure you don’t fill the jars all the way up!).

As a note, I do not skim the fat off of my broth – it adds wonderful flavor!

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Bone Broth Recipe – Ingredients

• 1 Small Whole Chicken (or 2 Carcasses)
• 2 – 4 Chicken Feet (optional)
• Giblets are great too if you have them
• 1 Large Yellow or White Onion, quartered
• 2 Medium Carrots, chopped
• 1 – 2 Celery Stalks, with leaves
• 5 Cloves of Garlic, smashed
• 1 Bunch of Cilantro or Parsley
• 2 – 3 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (I recommend this brand)
• 2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt
• 1 Tablespoon of Whole Black Peppercorn
• 1 Bay Leaf
• Filtered Water

Bone Broth Recipe – Directions Stock Pot 

1. Add all of your ingredients, except water, into your stock pot.
2. Pour the filtered water over everything until it is completely covered.
3. Bring the ingredients to a low boil and then put the burner to low to low medium.
4. Cover and let it slowly simmer for 24 – 48 hours.
5. You’ll need to keep an eye on it. You don’t want it boiling but you don’t want it so low it isn’t cooking either.
6. Don’t be afraid to give it a stir a few times.
7. When it is done spoon off any foam on the top.
8. Then stain out chicken (meat is wonderful for all kinds of recipes), bones, veggies, etc. Keep the meat but discard the rest.
9. You may want to do a 2nd strain with a cheese cloth to get out the really tiny bits.

Bone Broth Recipe – Directions Crock Pot 

1. Add all of your ingredients, except water, into your slow cooker.
2. Pour the filtered water over everything until it is completely covered.
3. Cover and cook on low for 24 – 36 hours
4. Sometimes I find I need to add a little water if I want to cook it a full 48 hours.  Just watch it.
5. I try not to take the lid off during cooking.
6. When it is done spoon off any foam on the top.
7. Then stain out chicken (meat is wonderful for all kinds of recipes), bones, veggies, etc. Keep the meat but discard the rest.
8. You may want to do a 2nd strain with a cheese cloth to get out the really tiny bits.

Bone Broth Recipe – Directions Instant Pot 

1. Add all of your ingredients, except water, into your Instant Pot.
2. Pour the filtered water over everything until it is completely covered. But make sure you stay under the max fill line.
3. Choose the Soup button and Low pressure.
4. Now set the time to 120 minutes.
5. It will take some time to come up to pressure.  After it is done cooking, let it naturally release, don’t touch that vent!
6. The Instant Pot will keep everything warm so if you’re not home when it’s done, that’s ok.
7. I usually do not have any foam when I do this method, but if you do, spoon it off.
8. Then stain out chicken (meat is wonderful for all kinds of recipes), bones, veggies, etc. Keep the meat but discard the rest.
9. You may want to do a 2nd strain with a cheese cloth to get out the really tiny bits.

Well there you have it – bone broth 3 ways. Which method do you prefer?