Chicken Bone Broth

by KetoFocus.com
5 Stars (10 Reviews) 16 Comments
CarnivoreDairy FreeEasySlow CookerSoup

Chicken bone broth is a simple recipe that delivers much needed vitamins and minerals to your diet. Your immune system will thank you for this nutrient rich liquid gold. Bone broth's value extends beyond the kitchen, boosting the health of your hair, skin, nails and other vital collagen requiring parts of the body.

Print
Pin
Nutrition Facts

5

Servings

80

Calories

0g

Fat

20g

Protein

0g

Net Carb

0g

Total Carbs

Once you make bone broth from scratch, you will never go back to canned chicken broth or stock from the carton. Not only is there a difference between the two nutritionally but you can visually see how homemade chicken bone broth is far superior. The liquid stock is opaque and vibrant yellow, orange color, so you know it’s filled with all the healthy nutrients, minerals and vitamins.

Table of Contents [ click to toggle ]

How to make Chicken Bone Broth?

chicken bone broth in mason jars
Bone broth is one of the most nutritious foods. It is filled with collagen, amino acids, gelatin and minerals. It has been used for centuries in cooking and for health benefits. Homemade bone broth is made by simmering bones and connective tissues in water. Often times vegetables and aromatic herbs are added to provide flavor.

Chicken stock vs chicken bone broth: What’s the difference?

Chicken bone broth is made by cooking chicken bones in water. The difference between chicken bone broth and chicken stock (aka chicken broth) is the length of time it is simmered. Bone broth is cooked for longer to allow for more nutrients and minerals to leach from the bones. The longer it cooks, the more nutrient dense the bone broth is. Ideally, you want a bone broth that is gelatinous when cold. This is a good sign that your broth is loaded with joint healthy collagen and minerals.

EXPERT TIP: The feet, necks and heads of birds make the most gelatinous broth!

Chicken Bone Broth Recipe Video

Youtube
Subscribe to the KetoFocus YouTube Channel

With 100s of videos and millions of views, Ketofocus is one of the most popular Keto channels on YouTube.

Chicken Bone Broth Ingredients

  • 6 to 10 pounds chicken bones, necks, feets, wings, or legs
  • 2 onions, roughly chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, roughly chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 leek, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon coriander (seeds or powdered)
  • 1/2 tablespoon whole peppercorns
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons salt

Chicken Bone Broth Directions

  • STEP
    1

    Get your ingredients

    Add the ingredients to the bowl of a slow cooker and fill with water.

    chicken neck and chicken feet in a slow cooker base for bone broth
  • STEP
    2

    Cook it

    Cover with the lid and Cook on low for at least 24 hours. You can let it cook for 2-3 days. Please watch the water level. You may need to add more water as it cooks to account for evaporation. Periodically skim off the foam off the top of the broth. This will result in a clearer broth with a cleaner taste.

    chicken bone broth ingredients in a crockpot
    Quick Tip
    Instant Pot or pressure cooker instructions below.
  • STEP
    3

    Strain it

    After 2 - 3 days, remove from heat and strain out vegetables and bones using a strainer.

    straining out vegetables from chicken bone broth
  • STEP
    4

    Pour & save

    Pour into mason jars for storage. It is safe to freeze

    pouring chicken bone broth in mason jars
Print
Pin
  • Chicken Bone Broth

    • What are the benefits of bone broth?

    Chicken bone broth is often called liquid gold because it is golden in color when extracted and is loaded with lots of nutrients. Consuming bone broth regular has been thought to help with the following:

    Where do I get the bones for chicken bone broth?

    chicken necks and chicken legs

    Cooked chicken bones

    The cheapest way to make chicken broth is to save you leftover chicken or turkey carcass for making bone broth. A great way is to use the carcass of a rotisserie chicken you can get in many grocery stores and Costco. Really, any leftover bones will be fine.

    Just make sure you did not chew the meat off with your teeth because you don’t want to get any bacteria from your mouth into the bone broth. Add the whole carcass into the pot and add vegetables and water.

    If you have a chicken carcass or access to chicken bones but no time to make chicken broth, just freeze the chicken parts in a freezer safe bag until you are ready to make bone broth. Add them frozen to your pot when ready to cook.

    Raw chicken bones

    The get the most gelatinous broth, I recommend using chicken feet. I like to use a combination of chicken necks and chicken feet in my bone broth. I get my chicken necks and chicken feet from US Wellness Meats. These come from organic pasture raised chickens. Other chicken parts you can use include chicken backs, wings, and drumsticks.

    If organic chicken bone broth is important, look for chicken bones that carry the organic chicken label.

    What do I add to chicken bone broth?

    Vegetables and seasoning in bone broth

    Vegetables and herbs are added to the bone broth to provide flavor. I like using a combination of onion, celery, carrot, leek and garlic. You can omit the vegetables if you are on the carnivore diet and looking for pure animal based bone broth.

    You can add any combination of seasoning. I found my favorites to be peppercorns, thyme, coriander, sage, rosemary and fennel.

    carrot, onion, and celery for bone broth

    Apple cider vinegar

    The apple cider vinegar is added to help leach out the minerals from the chicken bones. Since it is an acid, it helps to soften the bones as they simmer.

    bottle of apple cider vinegar

    Slow cooker chicken broth vs stove top vs instant pot

    Bone broth can be made on the stove top, in a slow cooker and in a pressure cooker.

    Slow cooker bone broth

    My favorite way to make bone broth is in the slow cooker (aka crock pot). I like that I can plug it in and leave it all day and over night and not have to watch it or worry that my house will burn down. Slow cooking it allows it to cook long enough to leach out the most nutrition.

    Instant pot bone broth

    Some people prefer to use an Instant Pot to make bone broth. The benefit of using a pressure cooker to make bone broth is that it cooks the broth in a fraction of the time. However, I found that my broth is not as gelatinous and I worry that my broth is not getting the most nutrients pulled from the bones compared to using a slow cooker.

    To make bone broth in the Instant Pot, add your bones, water and other ingredients to the liner of the pressure cooker. Seal the lid and set to Pressure Cook for 45 minutes. Allow the steam to naturally release for 30 minutes before venting the remaining pressure.

    How to store bone broth?

    chicken bone broth funneled into a mason jar

    I store my bone broth in 16 oz mason jars. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or stored in the freezer for 6 months. If storing the bone broth in the freezer, make sure you don’t fill your mason jar to the top. Leave room for expansion or else your jar can shatter in the freezer.

    Chicken bone broth uses

    cooked bone broth in a slow cooker with chicken feet

    All of the nutritional benefits of chicken broth are explained above; however, bone broth has many culinary uses. I love to incorporate it in my everyday cooking so I can sneak in healthy nutrition into my family’s diet. I often use chicken bone broth in place of water in savory recipes. I use it to make gravy and thin out scrambled eggs, or use it as the base for chicken soup.

    Equipment for Making Bone Broth

    Chicken Bone Broth: FAQS

    Can I use this same recipe to make beef bone broth?

    Yes! This recipe can be used on both chicken and beef bones. Since beef bones are larger and more dense, I suggest increasing the apple cider vinegar by another 1-2 tablespoons to make sure you get extracting more nutrients from the bones. You will need to increase the cook time as well. For beef broth, the bones should be simmered for longer. I usually let them simmer for an extra day.

    Can you make bone broth from roasted chicken?

    Yes! Save the bones from previous meals of roast chicken, turkey, duck in the freezer until you make more chicken broth. To avoid bacterial contamination, don't use any part of the roasted chicken that was eaten off of or someone's mouth or teeth touched.

    What does the vinegar do to the animal bones when making bone broth?

    Adding apple cider vinegar to your broth helps to extract more mineral content from the bones.

    Can I reuse the bones for a second batch?

    Yes you can reuse the bones to make another batch; however, each subsequent batch may be less flavorful and gelatinous. Some people do a second or third batch, but the nutrient content will be reduced.

    Nutritional information & Macros

    Nutrition Information

    Chicken Bone Broth

    Servings: 5

    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 80
    Fat 0g
    Protein 20g
    Total Carbs 0g
    Net Carbs 0g

    Other Keto Condiments & Dressings Recipes

    A scoop digging into fluffy keto bread crumbs in a bowl.
    2 Mins
    Keto Bread Crumbs

    This 3 ingredient recipe for keto bread crumbs adds a thick panko-style breading to your favorite recipes. You’ll love that the coating stays...

    See the Recipe
    Green pesto dressing sits next to a bowl of salad, fresh tomatoes, lemons and salad tongs.
    5 Mins
    Pesto Vinaigrette

    This pesto salad dressing is a simple way to add zesty Italian flavor to your favorite greens. Made with fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan...

    See the Recipe

    16 Comments

    1. I’ve been making my own bone broth for a few weeks now and my joints feel better than ever. I also noticed that I am able to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Cooking with chicken feet takes some getting used to, but I certainly get the gelatinous consistency you described.

      Reply

    2. Annie, I have had gout for the last 3 years. Chicken bone broth has made me feel human again. I am no longer in pain and my joints move with ease.

      Reply

    4. Lots of work, but now I have a great base for many different recipes! My girlfriends think I am crazy, but my skin will look better.

      Reply

      1. Add water to the top of the slow cooker. The more water, the more broth you will get. I will even add more water as it cooks since you lose some to evaporation. I have a 6 quart slow cooker

        Reply

    7. This was the most informative article I have found on making chicken bone broth. I have just started and look forward to my next batch.

      Thank you for the information.
      Connie VH

      Reply

    9. 5 stars! I made this last night using chicken necks that I roasted in the oven first. I didn’t have any leeks but added some dried rosemary and a piece of crushed ginger. I cut the salt a bunch because I like to add it to taste later. Cooked in the instant pot for 2 hours then natural release. Cooled in the fridge overnight, it gelled so nicely, then skimmed the fat off. I’m drinking a cup right now and it is delish! This will be my go to stock recipe from now on!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply

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