If there’s one kitchen staple I constantly have in my freezer, it’s bone broth (and we’ll get to the freezer part!). So many of my clients feel intimidated about making bone broth themselves, but it’s actually super easy (and SO much cheaper!).
I recommend bone broth to almost all of my nutrition clients for gut health and skin health, and you know what the best part is? You can easily make it at home with ingredients you definitely have in your kitchen.
Here’s my go-to recipe for homemade bone broth, and let’s break down why bone broth is so nutrient-dense.
Why bone broth?
Before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about why bone broth is so good for you.
Bone broth is more than just a stock - it’s packed with collagen, gelatin, amino acids, and minerals that offer tons of benefits:
Gut health: Bone broth is rich in gelatin, which can help soothe and support the gut lining. If you struggle with digestive issues (like I have!), this can be a gentle, natural way to support your digestive system.
Skin health: Thanks to the collagen content, bone broth can improve skin elasticity and support healthy aging. Sure you can take collagen supplements, but bone broth is a whole-foods source of collagen. I often recommend bone broth to acne clients.
Joint support: The amino acids and collagen in bone broth can help keep your joints healthy and pain-free.
Immune boost: With its high nutrient content, bone broth gives your immune system a little extra love. Drinking bone broth when you’re feeling sick can be super helpful!
Detoxification support: Bone broth contains glycine, which helps the liver produce glutathione, an antioxidant for eliminating toxins. The high mineral content supports hydration and kidney function, helping the body flush out waste efficiently. Plus, bone broth stimulates bile production which promotes the removal of fat-soluble toxins.
Prepare your bone broth ingredients for your Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
Save all your bones, cartilage and skins in a freezer bag - as you prepare dishes with meat on-the-bone, make sure to save your bones. This includes bone-in chicken thighs, chicken wings, carcass from whole chicken… I even mix different animals - is that totally crazy? It works, though! You can toss in leftover rib bones or other bones from beef/pork/lamb.
Make sure you are using bones from well-raised animals (organic and/or pasture-raised) - animals raised on a healthy diet with have a better nutrient profile of their bones, including more minerals, collagen, and beneficial fats in the broth. Additionally, harmful substances like heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides, or antibiotics and growth hormones can accumulate in bones and animal tissue, which can get transferred into the bone broth.
Use the same freezer bag to save your “waste” veggies as you chop them for recipes throughout the weeks - I’m talking onion ends, carrot tops and peels, sad celery stalks, tiny garlic cloves, mushroom stems, wilted parsley… I aim for about 50/50 - half bones, half veggie bits.
Avoid any veggies that would make the broth bitter - this is mainly cruciferous vegetables such as brussels, broccoli, cabbage, etc.
Once your freezer bag is full, it’s time to make a batch of bone broth!
How to preserve homemade bone broth for later
I LOVE using silicone ice cube trays to save the bone broth for later. They freeze in 1/2 cup quantities - perfect for defrosting whenever you need a little (or a lot) for a recipe.
I typically save a portion of the bone broth in a glass mason jar to use in the near future, and then pour the rest into silicone ice cube trays.
Tip: make sure to skim the fat off the top of the broth and toss it instead of eating it to avoid consuming oxidized fats. I scoop off the oily layer when the broth is done, or remove it after I put a mason jar of bone broth in the fridge (the fat hardens and turns whitish). Make sure to throw this fat into the trash can - not the sink - since it can clog your drains!
How do you know if the bone broth is made right?
A good bone broth will have a thick or gelatinous texture after it's cooled. If it doesn't, it might not have enough collagen.
The bone broth will still be nutritious, even if it’s not jelly-like! But, it will lack some of the gut-healing benefits.
Next time make sure to use less water in your broth, and try to use more of the gelatin-rich bones and parts like the entire chicken carcass.
How to consume bone broth
There are so many ways to sneak bone broth into your diet - and that’s one of the reasons I love making it. It’s so versatile!
Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy bone broth:
Sip it straight: Warm up a mug of bone broth and drink it like tea! It’s perfect as your first morning beverage (yup, before coffee) or as a warm beverage during colder months.
Add to soups & stews: Bone broth is an amazing base for soups or stews. It boosts the protein content and adds flavor.
Use in cooking grains: If you tolerate grains, you can replace water with bone broth when cooking rice, quinoa, or other grains to add extra flavor and protein.
Sauces : Bone broth works as a great base for making nutrient-dense sauces, gravies, or even marinades for meat and chicken. If you ever need to add some moisture to dry chicken, try adding some bone broth to the pan.
Freeze for later: As I mentioned above, I always have frozen cubes of bone broth ready to go. This is perfect when a recipe calls for a small amount of broth - I just grab a few cubes without wasting a package.
Now, let’s dive into the recipe!
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