• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

A Pinch of Healthy

Simple, tasty recipes with a healthy twist

Display Search Bar
Follow me on FacebookFollow me on InstagramFollow me on PinterestFollow me on TwitterFollow me on YouTube
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
    • My Cancer Diagnosis
    • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
    • Resources for Bloggers
    • How I Turned My Food Blog Into a Career
    • Shop My Favorites
      • Favorite Kitchen Goodies
      • Best Mineral Makeup (+Video Demo)
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Basics
    • Desserts
    • Recipe Index
  • Shop
    • My Amazon Store
    • Essential Oils
      • What Are Essential Oils (+ How They Work)
      • Essential Oils Starter Kits
      • New Member Special
      • Best Mineral Makeup (+Video Demo)
Home » Food » Homemade Chicken Bone Broth Recipe

Homemade Chicken Bone Broth Recipe

2910 shares
  • Share697
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Today I am showing you how to make chicken bone broth, a nutrient dense super food, and you can make it in the slow cooker, or my recent favorite – the Instant Pot (Amazon affiliate).

Chicken Bone Broth in a mason jar on a white napkin beside fresh carrots, garlic and onion

I sometimes call this chicken stock, even though using the two interchangeably is not completely accurate. Bone broth cooks the bones very long, until they become soft. Here is a great article that explains the difference, in case you are curious.

How to make chicken bone broth

First, gather your ingredients.

Ingredients

To make chicken bone broth you will need the following:

  • chicken bones (I use the bones from roasted chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken)
  • water
  • apple cider vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • bay leaf
  • other aromatic veggie scraps – onions, celery garlic, carrot

Keeping a scrap bag in the freezer

The cool thing about chicken bone broth is that is a food that can be made from things that you normally throw away. You could store chicken bones in an airtight container in the freezer until you are ready to make it.

Heck, I even save the ends of my veggies (carrots, celery, onions, garlic, already used bay leaves). Talk about frugal! Those all can also be saved in the freezer in a freezer bag.

Cooking the chicken bone broth

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker, instant pot or in a stick pot on the stovetop, and fill with water.

For the slow cooker, cook on low for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours.

In the Instant Pot, cook for 120 minutes on high pressure.

For the stovetop, after bringing to a boil, reduce to a simmer, partially cover, and cook for no less than 5 hours. (Note: For the stovetop method, you will likely need to add/ use more water as evaporation is much more of a factor.)

Once the cooking time is complete, use a strainer to separate the liquids from the solids.

How to Use Chicken Bone Broth

As for uses? When I am sick, I will drink a little bit warmed up, just straight out of a mug. It is actually pretty tasty, warm and comforting all by itself, if you ask me.

I use is to cook veggies in, like green beans, peas or lima beans. You can also use bone broths as the base for many sauces or gravies.

I also love to use it as a base for homemade chicken noodle soup. Chicken bone broth is a great base for many soups, actually.

Soup Recipes to Use Chicken Bone Broth

You may enjoy some of these recipes. They are some of my family’s favorites. You can make them with your chicken bone broth!🙌🏻 Some of them are Instant Pot recipes, some slow cooker and some are made on the stovetop.

  • Chicken noodle soup from scratch
  • Chicken tortilla soup in the slow cooker
  • Chicken and corn chowder
  • Turkey vegetable soup
  • Lemon chicken orzo soup
  • Slow cooker black bean soup (use in place of the vegetable stock)
  • Instant Pot white chicken chili
  • Ham and 15 bean soup (slow cooker or Instant Pot)
  • Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup
  • Broccoli cheese soup
  • Instant Pot black bean soup (use in place of veggie stock listed in the recipe)
  • Healthy lasagna soup  (Instant Pot and stovetop instructions included)
  • Pasta e fagioli soup (Instant Pot or stovetop instructions included)
  • Irish potato leek soup (Instant Pot or stovetop instructions included)
  • Instant Pot chicken and rice

Chicken Bone Broth FAQ’s

How long will this keep?

For about a week in the refrigerator.

Is it really bone broth if I use the Instant Pot method?

As far as I can tell, yes. What makes it “bone broth” is the high levels of collagen. This is indicated  by a gel-like texture once it is refrigerated. Mine gels every time I make it. Your bones-to-water ratio will determine how much collagen you get. For thicker stock, use less water or more bones.

If you are a stickler for the length of time, use the slow cooker method, provided in the recipe card. Either way works!

Can I use the bones from a home roasted chicken or Instant Pot rotisserie chicken?

Yes! You can use any liquid that comes out from roasting that as well, as well as any skin, or any other part.

If there is still some meat on it that I plan to use, should I remove it first?

Yes. I often remove any leftover meat and set it aside. That being said, if you don’t plan on consuming the meat left on the bones, you can just go ahead and leave it on there.

Is chicken bone broth good for you?

I am not a medical or nutritional professional, and I do not pretend to be one on the internet. However, there are many potential health benefits reported to consuming bone broth.

What’s the difference between chicken broth and chicken bone broth?

They are both chicken broth by definition. However, chicken bone broth refers to a cooking process that extract the maximum nutrition, collagen, etc. out of the bones. This requires longer/ more cook time. Regular chicken broth can be made a bit quicker and will likely have less dense nutrition in the final product.

Do I need to roast the bones?

I do not find this necessary, especially if I am using the bones from an already-roasted chicken.

Can I use chicken feet?

Yes! I have never used chicken feet, but they are said to be highest in collagen, and they make great chicken bone broth. We have been happy with the results we have using bones from a whole roasted chicken.

Should I use filtered water?

We have a reverse osmosis, so I use that for all of our cooking liquids. That being said, use the water that is available to you. Filtering is not a requirement.

Tools You Will Need to Make Bone Broth

Note: These are Amazon affiliate links.

  • A large stock pot, or slow cooker, or Instant Pot (my personal favorite)
  • A mesh strainer to separate the liquid from the solid bits
  • Storage containers – I recommend glass to store the broth, like these mason jars
    (Do not use these to freeze! They may crack.)
Chicken Bone Broth - a natural nutrient dense super food| APinchOfHealthy.com

Share this recipe

Give this recipe a star rating if you try it. If this recipe looks good to you, please pin it and share it! And don’t forget to stay connected on social media.

Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter

Chicken Bone Broth - a natural nutrient dense super food| APinchOfHealthy.com
4 from 14 votes
Print

Chicken Bone Broth

This chicken bone broth is a nutrient dense super food, and it is made from ingredients that you may normally throw away.
Course Basics, Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken bone broth, Instant pot chicken stock
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 74 kcal
Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

  • Bones from a whole chicken (I used the carcass of a store bought rotisserie chicken)
  • 2 stalks of celery roughly chopped
  • 2 large carrots roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic smashed and peeled
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • Fresh herbs (optional – I used parsley and thyme from the garden)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • inches Cold water covering the chicken carcass by about 3-4
  • 2 leaves bay (optional)

Instructions

STOVETOP

  1. Place the chicken bones into a 12-quart stock pot, and cover with water. In the Instant Pot, do not exceed about 2/3 full.
  2. Add the veggies, herbs and apple cider vinegar.
  3. Bring to a low boil.
  4. Reduce heat to the lowest setting.
  5. Partially cover, and simmer for at least 5 hours. You can cook it longer, but I would say no less than 5 hours. The longer the better!
  6. Strain and store in the refrigerator.

INSTANT POT

  1. Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot, and add water until it is about 2/3 full.
  2. Place the lid on, lock it, seal the vent.
  3. Use the manual setting to cook for 120 minutes.
  4. Use the quick release valve when time is up, or feel free to let it release naturally. Both ways work!
  5. After releasing pressure, remove the lid, and use a strainer to separate the liquids from the solids.

SLOW COOKER

  1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker, and fill with water.
  2. Cook on low for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours.
  3. Use a strainer to separate the liquids from the solids.
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Bone Broth
Amount Per Serving
Calories 74 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Cholesterol 5mg2%
Sodium 275mg12%
Potassium 217mg6%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 20IU0%
Vitamin C 1.3mg2%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Have you ever made bone broth?

Are there any additional uses for bone broth that I didn’t mention?

This post may contain affiliate links, which pay a referral fee to me at no additional cost to you. My full affiliate disclosure can be seen here.

(Visited 568,185 times, 29 visits today)

Related posts:

  1. Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe (Stovetop)
2910 shares
  • Share697
  • Yummly

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristin Koss says

    March 15, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe I use leg quarters. I cooked the chicken meat in the oven. Then I peel all the chicken meat off save the meat. and then boil the bones with all of the Ingredients.

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      March 17, 2022 at 6:55 am

      Yay Kristin! I am so glad you are enjoying it.

      Reply
  2. Sophie says

    May 30, 2021 at 5:49 am

    I just tried this recipe and after the 4th hour, all my liquid evaporated.. was the temperature too high or was my pot too large?

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      June 1, 2021 at 7:29 am

      Hi Sophie! Did you make it on the stovetop? If so, make sure you partially cover, and that will help reduce evaporation.

      Reply
      • Noah says

        January 3, 2022 at 12:29 pm

        Same thing happened to me. Had it partially covered the whole time and even added water into it

        Reply
  3. MK says

    March 10, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    Do you use high pressure on Instant Pot for 120 minutes?

    Reply
  4. Kimberly says

    January 29, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    Can you please send me a link for the benefits of bone broth for raising your iron levels in people, and anything else that can help raise the iron levels? Thank you

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 6, 2021 at 2:59 pm

      4 stars
      Fastest way to raise iron levels is to eat Blackstrap Molasses (unsulphered). Just take 2-3 teaspoonfuls each day – straight in warm water, coffee, tea, warm milk – your preference.

      Reply
    • Kay says

      June 30, 2022 at 9:24 pm

      You say to strain the broth what do yoi do with veggies?

      Reply
  5. Jackie says

    January 6, 2021 at 7:38 am

    Can I use red wine instead of vinegar?

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      January 11, 2021 at 9:46 am

      Hi Jackie! I would just skip it all together if you don’t have any. The vinegar is not for taste, but it simply helps extract more collagen (nutrients) from the bones.

      Reply
  6. Wendy says

    November 16, 2020 at 8:43 pm

    Hello,

    Excellent information here and it is well laid out. I would like to know if it is ok to:
    -use raw chick bones, (with most of the meat removed)?

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      November 20, 2020 at 7:56 am

      Hey Wendy! Yes, that would work just fine. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  7. Wendy Inglis says

    June 10, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    I have bought chicken necks as I don’t have any bones at the moment
    This will help to keep me healthy during nasty virus that is going on in the world
    We here in Australia are fortunate to have very low cases we have had no new cases over the last 2 days that I am aware of especially Qld where our borders are locked I am making this broth up as I speak in my slow cooker I will later make some beef broth as well when the chicken is finished thank you for this recipe
    Wendy I

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      June 11, 2020 at 2:25 pm

      I hope you enjoy it, Wendy! Stay safe and well. 🙏🏻💖

      Reply
    • wendy says

      November 6, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      I coo, strain, pour in bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in refrig. However, the dark part (blood) kinda makes me nauseated, but aren’t I wasting someof the callogen? Any comments on that?

      Reply
      • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

        November 9, 2020 at 1:22 pm

        Hey Wendy! The color/ darkness could be from the spices from the cooked chicken. Paprika, for example, which is used in many roasted chickens will turn the broth more of a reddish-brown color. Sometimes it will float to the top and make a layer. Hope that helps.😉👌🏻

        Reply
  8. Ann Lewis says

    June 5, 2020 at 2:13 pm

    I make my bone broth with an entire raw chicken from the butcher (using instant pot, 4 hour cook time). I drink the broth and give my dogs the chicken, bones and all, because the vinegar has made them all soft and rubbery.

    Reply
    • Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says

      June 6, 2020 at 4:15 pm

      That is definitely an option, Ann. Side note: Your dogs are lucky to have you.😉💖🤗

      Reply
  9. Alice says

    May 20, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    Do you have a serving size either in volume or weight? I saw the nutrition chart and above that saw the recipe makes 10 servings. But I did not see how large a serving is. Could you help please?

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

I am a home cook, recipe developer, coffee drinker, wife and mom of two. My recipes are simple and tasty. I enjoy lots of fresh, healthy food, plus full treats without guilt. Thanks so much for stopping by! Read more here.

Reader Favorites

  • Thai Chicken Lettuce WrapsThai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Air Fryer Baked Potatoes (crispy skin, fluffy middle)Air Fryer Baked Potatoes (crispy skin, fluffy middle)
  • Tender Air Fryer Chicken Breast RecipeTender Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe

Footer

Recipes

Macerated Strawberries closeup

Macerated Strawberries

March 20, 2023

Irish potato leek soup with cheese, green onions and bacon

Irish Potato Leek Soup (Instant Pot or Stovetop)

March 13, 2023

Vegan Tomato Soup in a white bowl with spoon

Vegan Tomato Soup

March 6, 2023

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese on a white plate with a hand grabbing half

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

February 27, 2023

Life

All racially diverse hands on deck

I’ll Be Your Ally: A Pledge

June 7, 2020

hands making heart shape together

Silver Linings

April 2, 2020

Ideal weight and weight neutrality

Why I practice weight neutrality

January 30, 2020

Are you sensitive?

Sensitive is my superpower. Is it yours too?

December 17, 2019

Video

The best mineral makeup Savvy Minerals by Young Living

Best Mineral Makeup (+Video Demo)

March 29, 2018

What I Bought at Sprouts (Grocery Haul)

March 14, 2018

What I Bought at Trader Joe’s (Grocery Haul)

March 9, 2018

My Entrepreneur Story

February 28, 2018

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Theme by Once Coupled · Copyright© 2023 · Privacy