Forget the store-bought broth! This chicken bone broth recipe is so easy to make and so much more flavorful than its store-bought counterpart. Plus, it’s chock-full of nutrients and made with simple ingredients you probably have on-hand already. Like the chicken bones from that delicious whole roasted chicken you made for dinner last night.

How do you use chicken bone broth?

This chicken bone broth can be used in place of store-bought broth for pretty much any recipe. My favorite way to incorporate homemade bone broth into our diets is by using it in soups. I also use it in sauces, gravies, pasta, rice and quinoa dishes. The possibilities are endless! You can substitute it 1:1 in place of water or another liquid for any savory dishes. It also tastes delicious by itself as a warming beverage.

Health benefits of bone broth

Bone broth has been touted as a nourishing and healing food for many generations. First off, it’s high in protein compared to other types of broth (specifically, the protein collagen). It is also rich in electrolytes, vitamins and minerals. Combined with the liquid component, this makes it a nutrient dense, hydrating food. This is why I love to incorporate bone broth into our family’s diet on a regular basis. It’s also great to sip on when you’re feeling under the weather!

How do you make chicken bone broth?

Making chicken bone broth is so easy. All you need is a slow cooker and some simple ingredients. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you could also simmer the bone broth in a large soup pot on the stove, or use an instant pot. The key to making delicious bone broth is letting it cook at a low temp for several hours. I usually make this recipe in the morning and let it cook all day. Sometimes I make it at night before bed and let it cook until morning.

What ingredients are in homemade bone broth?

While the options are endless when it comes to flavor variations, I like to keep my bone broth simple. This way, I make it often, since I always have the ingredients on hand. I always make a batch of bone broth after making my whole roasted chicken recipe, using the remaining carcass. I make sure I remove all the meat that I can, but I’m not picky about what I throw into the bone broth. Skin, tendons and ligaments along with the bones are fine. The broth is strained after cooking anyway.

I add onion, garlic, ginger, carrots and celery. You don’t need to spend a lot of time to prepare the veggies. Just a rough chop is plenty. Again, they will be strained out later. I do like to remove the skins of the ginger, garlic and onion, however. Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar is also added to help extract the nutrients from the bones. I use filtered water for optimum flavor, and add my favorite salt and pepper to taste.