If you’ve ever wished for a versatile, nourishing addition to your kitchen routine, homemade chicken bone broth is the answer. This easy recipe will have you enjoying the rich, comforting flavor of homemade broth with minimal effort.
Packed with nutrients and perfect for everything from sipping on a chilly day to enhancing your favorite recipes, this broth is a must-have staple for any home cook.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Homemade chicken bone broth isn’t just delicious—it’s incredibly practical. The hands-off cooking methods make it a breeze to prepare while allowing you to customize the flavor to your liking.
Plus, it’s budget-friendly since it repurposes leftover chicken bones and simple pantry staples like vinegar, salt, and vegetables.
If you’ve ever bought store-bought broth, you know it can lack depth. This homemade version solves that problem, creating a rich, full-bodied broth you can enjoy on its own or use in soups, stews, and casseroles.
And the best part? You can make a large batch and store it for weeks, so it’s always ready when inspiration strikes.
Stovetop Method: Classic & Reliable
For those who enjoy a traditional approach, the stovetop method is a reliable way to make your broth. Simply add chicken bones, water, and a few seasonings to a stockpot, and let it simmer away.
While it takes time—around 15 hours total—it’s mostly hands-off, letting you focus on other tasks while the broth develops its rich flavor.
Be sure to skim off impurities during the cooking process to keep the broth clear. Once finished, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve, discard the solids, and store the broth in an airtight container. It’s that easy!
Slow Cooker Method: Set It & Forget It
For the ultimate convenience, the slow cooker method is a game-changer. Add your ingredients to the slow cooker, set it to low, and let it simmer overnight.
This approach requires almost no supervision, making it perfect for busy days.
One unique benefit of the slow cooker is that it avoids vigorous boiling, resulting in a clearer, more flavorful broth. You’ll wake up to a kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of homemade chicken bone broth, ready to be strained and stored for later use.
Instant Pot Method: Quick & Effortless
Short on time? The instant pot method is your best friend. In just about two hours, you’ll have a batch of rich, flavorful broth ready to go.
The pressure cooking process extracts maximum flavor and nutrients, making it ideal for those who need a quick solution without sacrificing quality.
After cooking, let the instant pot depressurize naturally, strain the broth, and transfer it to storage containers. This method is not only fast but incredibly easy, proving that homemade doesn’t have to mean time-consuming.
Tips for Success
- Use roasted or rotisserie chicken bones for deeper flavor.
- Add a splash of apple cider vinegar to help extract nutrients from the bones.
- Don’t let the broth come to a rolling boil—it can make the broth cloudy.
- Store the finished broth in glass jars or freezer-safe containers for easy reheating.
How to Use Your Bone Broth
Once you’ve made this easy recipe, the possibilities are endless. Use it as a base for soups like chicken noodle or vegetable, or add a splash to sauces for extra depth.
You can even sip it warm with a pinch of salt and pepper for a soothing drink. No matter how you use it, this broth will elevate your meals to new heights.
With three convenient methods and endless ways to enjoy it, this homemade chicken bone broth recipe proves that making something from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated.
Easy Homemade Chicken Bone Broth Recipe
Ingredients
- 2½ pounds chicken bones from roasted or rotisserie chickens
- 10 to 16 cups water adjust based on the cooking method
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 medium yellow onion halved
- 2 celery stalks cut into thirds
- 2 medium carrots halved
- 2 garlic cloves smashed and peeled
- 1 dried bay leaf optional
Instructions
Stovetop Method (15 hours):
- Place the chicken bones, 16 cups of water, vinegar, and salt into an 8-quart stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower to a gentle simmer. Skim off any foam or impurities and discard. Cover and cook for 6 hours.
- Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and bay leaf (if using). Continue simmering for an additional 9 hours, keeping the broth at a gentle simmer. Avoid vigorous boiling to prevent cloudiness.
- Strain the broth using a fine-mesh sieve into a second pot or container. Discard the solids. Let cool to room temperature before storing.
Slow Cooker Method (15 hours):
- Add bones, 12 cups of water, vinegar, salt, and vegetables (including optional bay leaf) to a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 6 hours, then reduce to low and cook for another 9 hours (total of 15 hours). For overnight cooking, continue on low until done.
- Follow the stovetop method for straining and storing.
Instant Pot Method (2 hrs 30 mins):
- Add bones, vinegar, salt, and vegetables (including optional bay leaf) to a 6-quart Instant Pot. Add 10 to 11 cups of water, ensuring it doesn’t exceed the max fill line.
- Cook on high pressure for 2 hours. Let the pot naturally release pressure for 30 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
- Strain and store as per the stovetop method.
Notes
- For best results, cook until the chicken bones can easily be broken in half by hand. This ensures maximum nutrients are extracted.
- The broth thickens when refrigerated due to the gelatin. It will liquefy again when reheated.
- Adjust water levels based on your preferred broth concentration.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles. Also an aspiring cook we he researches and tries all kinds of different food recipes and shares what works best.