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).
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
For about a week in the refrigerator.
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!
Yes! You can use any liquid that comes out from roasting that as well, as well as any skin, or any other part.
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.
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.
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.
I do not find this necessary, especially if I am using the bones from an already-roasted chicken.
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.
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.)
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Chicken Bone Broth
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
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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.
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Add the veggies, herbs and apple cider vinegar.
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Bring to a low boil.
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Reduce heat to the lowest setting.
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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!
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Strain and store in the refrigerator.
INSTANT POT
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Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot, and add water until it is about 2/3 full.
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Place the lid on, lock it, seal the vent.
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Use the manual setting to cook for 120 minutes.
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Use the quick release valve when time is up, or feel free to let it release naturally. Both ways work!
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After releasing pressure, remove the lid, and use a strainer to separate the liquids from the solids.
SLOW COOKER
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Place all ingredients in a slow cooker, and fill with water.
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Cook on low for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours.
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Use a strainer to separate the liquids from the solids.
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.
MK says
Do you use high pressure on Instant Pot for 120 minutes?
Kimberly says
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
Jeanne says
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.
Kay says
You say to strain the broth what do yoi do with veggies?
Jackie says
Can I use red wine instead of vinegar?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
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.
Char says
Hiya, Can you use wine vinegar though instead of apple cider vinegar?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Char! I have never done this, but I think it would work fine. The vinegar is not for flavor, and there is so little in there that another vinegar should make a fine substitute. Or you can just leave it out altogether, if you’d rather.
Wendy says
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)?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hey Wendy! Yes, that would work just fine. I hope you enjoy it!
sandra phillips says
do you put the chicken skin in and how long does it last in fridge thanks
Beatrice says
Hi there…would it be ok to use a traditional pressure cooker that is on the stove…Do I have to cook it as 120 min or I can just cook for shorter time…thanks
Wendy Inglis says
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
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I hope you enjoy it, Wendy! Stay safe and well. 🙏🏻💖
wendy says
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?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
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.😉👌🏻
Ann Lewis says
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.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
That is definitely an option, Ann. Side note: Your dogs are lucky to have you.😉💖🤗
Alice says
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?
littlemeadow says
Thanks for the information and recipe. You said, “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.” Why can’t someone who plans on eating the meat just leave the meat on the bones when cooking the bone broth?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
You definitely could. The meat will just become very soft and overcooked. I remove the meat just so it will taste better. But it’s up to you, if you want to try it.
Fritzie says
While many people swear by homemade chicken soup made with real broth, to fight a cold, I have discovered 2 other important uses for it. When my kids were babies they loved to eat the cold broth in its gelled form. My little girl would literally shake with anticipation when she saw it and open her mouth like a ravenous baby bird. As a source of protein and calcium among other things, it was a no brainer as one of the first foods I fed her. Now she is pregnant–puking and not even able to consider most foods–the exception is homemade long simmered broth. This is reassuring to her partner who was stressing about her health and that of the baby due to her inability to eat almost anything some days. I am sending jars of broth to her at a steady rate. On good days she adds vegetables and noodles–maybe even some meat. When she is feeling crappy she eats broth all day.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I hope she gets to feeling better soon!💖
Rita Heinz says
I used organic chicken leg bones that I had been accumulating in the freezer for months. I cooked the bone broth a really long time, 8 hrs one day, refrigerated overnight, 8 hrs the next day. It tastes really good, but all of that connective tissue dissolved and the ends of the bones crumbled leaving bits of bone in the broth. Good news is, those bits of bone fell to the bottom of the containers when I let it sit over night in the fridge. As long as I don’t scrape the bottom of the container, it’s deliciously usable. Lesson: Don’t simmer chicken bones more than 8 hrs.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Rita! I would recommend getting a fine mesh strainer. Keep cooking it as long as you want. It gets better that way, and the strainer will pull out all the bits.👌🏻 Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback!