Chicken Bone Broth Recipe (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)

This easy chicken bone broth recipe is a wonderful way to make homemade chicken bone broth using leftover chicken bones, vegetables, herbs, and a few simple ingredients. You can make this flavorful, collagen-rich broth on the stovetop or in the slow cooker, and it's a great way to make use of a leftover chicken carcass or chicken bones you've saved.

If you've made my Simple Whole Roasted Chicken, Spatchcock Brown Butter Chicken with Mushrooms, or Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, save the bones!

Rather than throwing them away, simmer them with a few aromatics to make a rich, flavorful homemade chicken bone broth that's perfect for sipping, soups, sauces, and more.

It's nutrient-rich and tastes better than any store-bought bone broth. Homemade broth is also incredibly budget-friendly. It's a great way to turn something you'd usually toss into a nutritious fridge or freezer staple, and save money in the process. 

bone broth vs. stock

What is the difference between bone broth and chicken broth?

Like many people, I usually use these terms (and ingredients) interchangeably when it comes to recipes.

And while chicken broth, chicken bone broth, and chicken stock are each made with similar ingredients and a similar process, there is a difference between the three.

chicken broth

Chicken broth is generally made by simmering chicken meat in water for a shorter period of time. This results in a lightly flavored broth that's ready for soups, sauces, etc.

chicken stock

Typically made with chicken bones and aromatics cooked in water for several hours.

The longer cooking time helps create a richer, more flavorful stock.

The main difference between chicken broth and chicken stock is that stock uses bones (likely with a bit of meat on them) while broth uses meat and no bones.

chicken bone broth

This is made by simmering bones for a very long time, 12 or more hours, whichs allows collagen and gelatin from the connective tissue to dissolve into the liquid.

When refrigerated, a well-made bone broth may become quite gelatinous - a sign that it's nutrient-rich with protein, electrolytes, minerals, and amino acids. Once reheated, it returns to a liquid.

It can be sipped on by itself and is a great way to break a fast, add extra protein and nutrients into soups and stews, or simply warm up with something hearty and nutritious. 

All of these are slightly different ways to make a type of chicken broth but this specific recipe is for chicken bone broth: a nutrient-dense, deeply golden, gelatin-rich broth with so many uses. 

why you'll love this recipe

Sure, you can purchase organic chicken bone broth from the grocery store, and I often do. But homemade chicken bone broth is my favorite way to repurpose chicken scraps. Plus, you have full control over what's in the broth.

If learning how to make chicken bone broth sounds a tiny bit intimidating, rest assured, it's incredibly simple!

This chicken bone broth recipe is:

• easy to follow
• a no-fuss, budget-friendly recipe
• adaptable (make homemade chicken stock or chicken bone broth, prepared in similar ways)
• a healthy chicken bone broth recipe that's packed with flavor and nutrients
• friendly for all diet types!

the ingredients

For this chicken bone broth recipe, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Filtered water: Everything will cook in the large pot of water for many hours to make this hearty chicken bone broth. 
• Chicken carcass/ chicken bones: Use a whole chicken carcass (either from a roasted chicken or a rotisserie chicken), or approximately 1-½ to 2 pounds of chicken bones. 
• Aromatics: Add-ins like garlic cloves, celery stalks, yellow onion, bay leaves, and herbs like rosemary, parsley stems, or fresh thyme will add extra flavor to the broth.
• Seasonings: Sea salt and black peppercorns (or a little bit of ground black pepper) are all you need. 
• Apple cider vinegar: The acidity of the vinegar helps draw out minerals and other compounds from the bones during the long cooking process. 

how to make chicken bone broth 

There are two easy ways to make homemade chicken bone broth: on the stove or in a slow cooker.

Either way, this homemade chicken bone broth recipe is so simple to prepare! Toss everything into a large stock pot (or slow cooker), then let it cook at a gentle simmer for 12+ hours.

You'll get a collagen-rich chicken bone broth that's better than anything you can find on store shelves. Strain and use immediately, or save it for later. 

Below is a breakdown of how to make chicken bone broth at home (see the recipe card for full details and ingredient amounts).

stovetop method

1. Combine the ingredients. Add the chicken carcass and bones, onion, garlic, celery, herbs, salt, peppercorns, and apple cider vinegar to a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Add enough water to cover the ingredients.
2. Cook. Heat over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low so the broth maintains a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 12-16 hours. Check occasionally and skim any foam from the surface as needed. 
3. Strain. Once the broth has finished cooking, carefully strain it through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the bones, vegetables, and herbs.
4. Cool and store. Allow the broth to cool at room temperature until warm, then transfer it to airtight containers. Use immediately, or store in the fridge or freezer. 

slow cooker chicken bone broth

The slow cooker is my favorite hands-off method for making chicken bone broth.

1. Add everything to the slow cooker. Place the chicken bones and carcass, vegetables, herbs, salt, peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and cold water into a large slow cooker.
2. Cook on low. Cover and cook on LOW for 12-16 hours, or until it turns into a deep golden broth.
3. Strain. Carefully strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids.
4. Cool and store. Let the broth cool before transferring it to airtight containers (like mason jars, a large canning jar, or a freezer bag). Refrigerate or freeze.

chicken bone broth recipe tips

• How to make chicken stock: Simply reduce the simmer time. Cook the mixture for 6-8 hours for a flavor-packed chicken stock!
• For the chicken bones, I'm using the leftover bones from a 3 to 4-pound chicken (wings and legs, too!), about 1-½ to 2 pounds of bones.
• The aromatics are completely optional. You don't need them for a nutritious chicken bone broth, but I like the extra savory flavor they add. 
• If you're sipping on a cup of chicken bone broth, salt the hot broth to taste. 
• Don't overfill your pot or slow cooker. The bones and vegetables should be covered with water, but you don't need to add so much water that the finished broth becomes diluted.

watch the video

storing

To store chicken bone broth, pour it into glass jars or storage bags and refrigerate/freeze. If freezing the bone broth, leave a couple of inches at the top of the jar for expansion.

If you tend to use small amounts of broth when you're cooking, you can also pour the cooled chicken bone broth into ice cube trays to freeze. 

This chicken bone broth can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

frequently asked questions

ways to use chicken bone broth

What's great about this chicken bone broth recipe is you can sip it straight or use it in healthy soups, sauces, and other recipes.

I often swap in chicken bone broth for chicken stock or broth because it adds extra nutrients and protein. 

Here are a few ways of my favorite low-carb soups that are great with bone broth:

• Keto chicken soup
• Roasted cabbage sausage soup
• Keto chicken tortilla soup
• Chicken chili with butternut squash

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