Homemade Bone Broth In The Slow Cooker

Homemade bone broth in the slow cooker is simple and affordable! Add leftover bones from roasted chicken, and set it and forget it until you’re ready to serve. Store this staple in the fridge or freezer for sipping or use it to flavor other recipes!

Homemade Bone Broth 

Broth vs. Stock vs. Bone Broth

It’s easy to mix these up when you’re simply looking at an ingredient list and trying to decipher what’s what, but they do have slight differences.

Broth is produced from simmering any kind of meat and can be made in just a few hours. Stock is typically a combination of vegetables and bones or carcass pieces that have been simmered for an extended period. The result is a more concentrated liquid due to the gelatin from the bones, and it often does not include salt or other seasonings, making it neutral for use in other savory recipes.

Similarly, bone broth is made from the bones or carcass, and may or may not include added vegetables. It also includes gelatin from the bones, and contains salt or other seasonings to make it ready to sip or add to other dishes.

Store-Bought vs. Homemade Bone Broth

The quality of store-bought broth will vary widely, mainly depending on the ingredients from which it is made. Key things to look for are organic, free-range (chicken) or grass-fed (beef).

Homemade bone broth will usually have a richer, deeper flavor since it simmers extensively. You can also control the ingredients and spices. Plus, it is much more budget-friendly to make a big batch at home!

What’s To Love About This Recipe

• This is a simple and affordable way to make a nourishing staple at home. Use leftover bones from home cooking or those from leftover rotisserie chicken so it doesn’t go to waste!
• Try this easy set-it-and-forget-it method using the slow cooker rather than keeping the stove on for hours. This method is forgiving, and the flavor only deepens the longer that you cook it.
• Homemade bone broth is freezer-friendly for future use in soups, sauces, or for cooking grains.
• Enjoy plenty of nutritional benefits like protein, collagen, and minerals that are good for your gut, skin, and more!
• This bone broth recipe in the slow cooker at home is an efficient way to prepare a large batch and add other flavors from vegetable scraps or seasonings.

Ingredients Needed

• Chicken bones – Use bones from a whole roasted chicken for the best flavor and nutrient content. Bones with a little bit of meat or cartilage still attached are ideal. You can save leftover bones from a rotisserie chicken or a roasted chicken at home, or ask your local grocery store or butcher counter if they have prepackaged chicken soup bones.
• Water – Add enough water to cover the bones by about an inch. Use filtered water if preferred.
• Apple cider vinegar – Vinegar helps extract minerals and collagen from the bones, which is where you get the nutritional benefits of the broth! Regular white or rice vinegar can also be used if needed.
• Salt – This is an optional addition to the slow cooker. I often leave it out when I’m making a batch of broth, and then add it later, customized to specific recipes.

How To Make Slow Cooker Bone Broth

1. Place the chicken bones in a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker.
2. Add enough water to fully cover the bones, leaving at least 1 inch of space at the top.

3. Add apple cider vinegar and salt, if using.

4. Cover and cook on low for 12-24 hours (the longer the cooking time, the richer the broth).
5. Turn off the heat and let the broth cool slightly.
6. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large bowl or container.

7. Discard the bones. Let the broth finish cooling completely, then refrigerate.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• You can make different varieties of bone broth! Try beef, turkey, or pork bones in the slow cooker. The cooking time may increase slightly since these bones tend to be denser.
• Add extra flavor to the broth with veggies. Toss in leftover onion, celery (leaves and stalks), carrot scraps, or garlic for added flavor.
• Season the broth with herbs like thyme, bay leaf, or parsley stems if you like.
• White vinegar or lemon juice can also work if apple cider vinegar isn’t available.

Best Ways To Use Slow Cooker Bone Broth

Bone broth is an excellent substitute for practically any time you need to cook savory dishes with water or regular broth. Store it in easy-to-use portions, such as 8-ounce measurements, and add the extra flavor and nutrition into your meals with these ideas:

• Use it as a base for soups and stews like Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
• Instead of water, use the broth to cook grains like Slow Cooker Rice or quinoa
• Add flavor to slow-cooked or simmered veggies or beans, such as in my Slow Cooker Charro Bean Recipe
• Warm up a cup of broth for sipping when you need something warming and nourishing
• Add the broth to sauces or gravies (Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy and Slow Cooker Beef Tips are both favorites!)

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store bone broth in the refrigerator in a sealed container or jar for up to 5 days.

Freezer 

Freeze the broth in portioned containers for up to 3 months. 

Containers

Bone broth will freeze well in jars, silicone cubes, or bags, but they must be tightly sealed to prevent freezer-burn. Also, ensure that some empty space is left in the container to account for expansion during freezing.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat broth over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave in short intervals.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

• Easy Slow Cooker Pork Roast
• Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
• Slow Cooker Corned Beef
• Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Using The Slow Cooker
• Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
• Slow Cooker Beef and Cabbage
• Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon