Bone Broth Recipe

This Bone Broth Recipe (Instant Pot) is made with a carcass of a chicken, water, carrots, celery, apple cider vinegar, herbs, and bay leaves in a pressure cooker.

Bone broth is rich in minerals that help build and strengthen your bones. It contains healthy nutrients like vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Drinking bone broth can help support joint, skin and gut healthy while providing many important nutrients. It is so versatile and easy to incorporate into many different recipes. Bone broth is fantastic for your skin because it has tons of collagen and it also helps fight inflammation. In order to make a more nutritious broth, use a variety of bones like marrow, oxtail, and feet. I made a more simpler recipe by using the carcass of a rotisserie chicken.

If you like this, feel free to try my Panera Chicken Noodle Soup and my Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Frozen Chicken.

Jump to:

• What is Bone Broth?
• How is Bone Broth Different From Regular Broth or Stock?
• What are the Benefits of Bone Broth?
• Ingredients
• What vegetables can you put in bone broth?
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• What are the Best Bones for Bone Broth?
• How Much Bone Broth Can I Drink Each Day?
• Bone Broth Recipe Variations
• Equipment
• How to store Bone Broth
• Bone Broth Recipe Top tips
• Bone Broth Recipe
• Food safety

What is Bone Broth?

Bone broth is a type of broth that is made by simmering animal bones, typically beef or chicken, along with vegetables, herbs, and spices in water for an extended period of time, typically between 12 to 24 hours. The prolonged cooking time helps extract minerals, collagen, and other nutrients from the bones, resulting in a nutrient-dense and flavorful liquid.

Bone broth is often used as a base for soups, stews, sauces, and other recipes, but it can also be enjoyed on its own as a nourishing and comforting drink. It is rich in protein, collagen, gelatin, and amino acids such as glycine and proline, which are believed to have various health benefits, such as supporting gut health, improving joint health, and promoting healthy skin, hair, and nails.

Bone broth has gained popularity in recent years as a health food and is commonly found in health food stores and restaurants. It can also be made at home using leftover bones from roasted chicken or beef, along with vegetables and seasonings.

How is Bone Broth Different From Regular Broth or Stock?

Bone broth is different from regular broth or stock in a few ways:

• Ingredients: Bone broth is typically made by simmering animal bones (often beef or chicken), along with vegetables, herbs, and spices in water for an extended period of time. On the other hand, regular broth or stock may include meat, vegetables, and herbs but often does not contain bones or may contain fewer bones.
• Cooking time: Bone broth is cooked for a longer period of time than regular broth or stock. The bones are typically simmered for 12 to 24 hours, whereas regular broth or stock may be simmered for a few hours.
• Nutrient density: Bone broth is higher in nutrients such as collagen, gelatin, and amino acids compared to regular broth or stock due to the extended cooking time and the use of bones.
• Flavor: Bone broth has a richer and more intense flavor than regular broth or stock due to the presence of gelatin and collagen from the bones.

While regular broth or stock is often used as a base for soups, stews, and sauces, bone broth is often consumed on its own or used as a base for more nutrient-dense recipes. Bone broth is also commonly used in the paleo and keto diets as a source of protein and nutrients.

What are the Benefits of Bone Broth?

Bone broth has gained popularity in recent years as a health food due to its many potential health benefits. Here are some of the benefits of bone broth:

• Promotes gut health: Bone broth contains gelatin and collagen, which can help heal and seal the gut lining, reducing inflammation and promoting healthy digestion.
• Supports joint health: The collagen in bone broth can help support joint health by reducing inflammation, promoting cartilage repair, and improving joint flexibility.
• Supports skin, hair, and nail health: The collagen and other nutrients in bone broth can help improve the health and appearance of skin, hair, and nails.
• May improve sleep: The amino acid glycine, which is found in bone broth, has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue.
• May boost the immune system: The amino acids and minerals in bone broth may help support the immune system by reducing inflammation and supporting the production of white blood cells.
• May improve bone density: The minerals found in bone broth, such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, may help improve bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• May aid in weight loss: Bone broth is low in calories and high in protein, which can help promote feelings of fullness and reduce calorie intake.

Ingredients

• Chicken carcass
• Water
• Carrots
• Celery
• Apple cider vinegar
• Parsley
• Thyme
• Bay leaves
• Peppercorns
• Salt

See recipe card for Fast Bone Broth with Rotisserie Chicken (Instant Pot) quantities.

What vegetables can you put in bone broth?

Vegetables can add flavor, nutrients, and color to bone broth. Here are some of the vegetables that can be added to bone broth:

• Onion: Onions add flavor and depth to bone broth. They are also a good source of sulfur, which is important for collagen production.
• Carrots: Carrots add sweetness and color to bone broth. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A and potassium.
• Celery: Celery adds a slightly salty and savory flavor to bone broth. It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K and potassium.
• Garlic: Garlic adds a pungent and savory flavor to bone broth. It is also a good source of sulfur, which is important for collagen production.
• Leeks: Leeks add a mild onion flavor to bone broth. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K and folate.
• Parsley: Parsley adds a fresh and herbaceous flavor to bone broth. It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and iron.
• Bay leaves: Bay leaves add a subtle and earthy flavor to bone broth. They are also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

When adding vegetables to bone broth, it's best to chop them into large pieces so they don't disintegrate during the long cooking process. It's also important to add the vegetables in the last few hours of cooking to ensure that they don't overcook and become mushy.

Instructions

Hint: The longer it cooks, the better it will taste and the more nutritious it will be.

Substitutions

Chicken bones: I used the remains of a rotisserie chicken I had bought already cooked at the grocery store. I used the chicken to make Buffalo Chicken dip, and used the bones to make this bone broth!

Water: Make sure the water you use filtered by reverse osmosis or a Berkey!

Apple cider vinegar: I used organic raw apple cider vinegar for best quality. This apple cider vinegar will help maximize the bones to release their nutrients and minerals into the broth.

Veggies: I used carrots and celery for this broth although you can use a variation of garlic, ginger, onion, leeks, or turnips.

Herbs: You can use a variation of parsley, thyme, rosemary, or sage. Add as much or as little as you want.

What are the Best Bones for Bone Broth?

The best bones for making bone broth are those that are rich in collagen and minerals. Here are some of the best bones for making bone broth:

• Chicken or turkey feet: Chicken or turkey feet are rich in collagen and are a great addition to chicken or turkey bone broth.
• Beef knuckles or marrow bones: Beef knuckles and marrow bones are also rich in collagen and are great for making beef bone broth.
• Chicken, turkey, or beef bones with meat: Bones that still have some meat on them can add flavor and nutrition to the bone broth.
• Fish heads or bones: Fish bones and heads can be used to make fish bone broth, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

It's important to choose high-quality bones from healthy animals when making bone broth. Look for bones that are organic, grass-fed, and free-range whenever possible. Bones from conventionally raised animals may contain hormones, antibiotics, and other toxins, which can be transferred to the bone broth.

How Much Bone Broth Can I Drink Each Day?

The amount of bone broth you can drink each day depends on various factors such as your age, weight, overall health, and activity level. Generally, it's recommended to consume 1-2 cups of bone broth per day as part of a balanced diet.

Bone broth is a nutrient-dense food that provides essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It's rich in collagen, which helps promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. Drinking bone broth regularly may also support joint health and digestion.

While bone broth is generally safe to consume in moderate amounts, drinking excessive amounts may lead to consuming too much protein or minerals, which could have adverse effects on your health. Additionally, if you're sensitive to histamines, you may want to limit your intake of bone broth as it may contain high levels of histamines.

Bone Broth Recipe Variations

Using a pressure cooker is a great way to make bone broth quickly without sacrificing flavor. Here are some bone broth recipe variations for the pressure cooker:

• Beef Bone Broth: Place beef bones, onions, carrots, and celery in the pressure cooker. Add herbs such as thyme, parsley, and bay leaves, and cover with water. Cook on high pressure for 2 hours, then allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Chicken Bone Broth: Place chicken bones, onions, carrots, and celery in the pressure cooker. Add herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme, and cover with water. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour, then allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Pork Bone Broth: Place pork bones, onions, carrots, and celery in the pressure cooker. Add herbs such as oregano, garlic, and bay leaves, and cover with water. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour, then allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Fish Bone Broth: Use the bones and head of a fish such as salmon or cod. Place them in the pressure cooker with water, onions, garlic, ginger, and seaweed. Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Vegetable Broth: Use a combination of vegetables such as onions, carrots, celery, leeks, garlic, and herbs such as parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cover with water and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes, then allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Turkey Bone Broth: Place turkey bones, onions, carrots, and celery in the pressure cooker. Add herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme, and cover with water. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour, then allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Lamb Bone Broth: Place lamb bones, onions, carrots, and celery in the pressure cooker. Add herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves, and cover with water. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour, then allow the pressure to release naturally.

Check out this Spinach Soup for more healthy recipes.

Equipment

To make chicken bone broth in a pressure cooker, you will need the following equipment:

• Pressure Cooker: You will need a pressure cooker that is large enough to accommodate the chicken bones, vegetables, and water. I love using my Instant Pot for best results.
• Strainer or Cheesecloth: After cooking the broth, you will need to strain it to remove any bones and vegetables. A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth can be used for this purpose.
• Storage Containers: Once the broth is strained, you will need storage containers to store the broth. You can use glass jars or plastic containers that are freezer-safe.
• Optional: Herbs and Spices: You can add herbs and spices of your choice to flavor the broth, such as bay leaves, thyme, parsley, and black pepper.

How to store Bone Broth

Bone broth can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Here are some guidelines for storing bone broth:

1. Refrigerator: If you plan to consume the bone broth within a few days, you can store it in the refrigerator. Let the broth cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. It's best to store the broth in small portions, so you can easily reheat the amount you need. The broth can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
2. Freezer: If you don't plan to consume the bone broth within a few days, you can store it in the freezer. Let the broth cool to room temperature before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or freezer bags. Be sure to leave some headspace in the container, as the broth will expand as it freezes. The broth can be stored in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
3. Labeling: It's a good idea to label the containers with the date and type of broth, so you can keep track of when you made it and what it contains.
4. Thawing: When you're ready to use the frozen broth, you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Avoid thawing the broth at room temperature, as this can increase the risk of bacterial growth.
5. Reheating: To reheat the bone broth, you can heat it on the stove or in the microwave. Be sure to heat it to at least 165°F (74°C) to kill any bacteria that may have grown during storage. You can add additional seasoning or herbs to the broth as desired.

Bone Broth Recipe Top tips

• Use High-Quality Bones: The quality of the bones you use will directly affect the flavor and nutrient content of your bone broth. Look for bones from grass-fed, pasture-raised animals whenever possible.
• Use Plenty of Vegetables: Adding onions, carrots, celery, and other vegetables to your bone broth will give it extra flavor and nutrition.
• Add Herbs and Spices: Adding herbs and spices such as thyme, rosemary, parsley, and bay leaves can enhance the flavor of your bone broth.
• Don't Overfill the Pressure Cooker: Make sure you don't fill the pressure cooker more than two-thirds full to prevent the broth from boiling over during cooking.
• Use Enough Water: Make sure to use enough water to cover the bones and vegetables. You can add more water if needed during cooking.
• Skim off Any Foam: During the initial stages of cooking, foam may rise to the surface of the broth. Skim this off with a spoon to keep the broth clear.
• Let the Pressure Release Naturally: After cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally instead of using the quick-release method. This will help prevent the broth from splattering out of the pressure cooker.
• Strain the Broth: Once the broth is cooked, strain it through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any bones, vegetables, and impurities.
• Let the Broth Cool: Let the broth cool to room temperature before transferring it to storage containers. This will prevent the containers from cracking or breaking due to rapid temperature changes.
• Store Properly: Store the bone broth in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Be sure to label the containers with the date and type of broth.

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Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.