How To Make Bone Broth

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This homemade bone broth recipe is a healthy kitchen staple I come back to again and again… and again. I’m excited to show you how to make bone broth that’s rich and flavorful from a variety of bones and delicious add-ins. My favorite method is Instant Pot bone broth because it makes the process hands-off, but there are also options for the slow cooker or stovetop.

What Is Bone Broth?

Bone broth is the rich, savory liquid you get after simmering bones and water for many hours. It can also include aromatic herbs, spices, and a variety of produce for extra flavor.

Traditionally, people made bone broth on the stove top and had to keep an eye on it for hours on end… but if you have a slow cooker or pressure cooker, the process is much easier!

Choosing The Best Bone Broth Ingredients

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for making bone broth, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

The best bones for bone broth:

• High Cartilage Bones – Knuckles, joints, chicken feet, and even chicken wings can help broth gelatinize and extract rich sources of protein. I prefer chicken bones or beef bones, but pork bones are great, too.
• Marrow Bones – These are loaded with satisfying fats!
• Meaty Bones – Oxtail, shank, or short ribs work well (you can even use leftover beef short ribs!)
• Entire Carcasses – Use leftover bones from a whole chicken to make a richer chicken bone broth recipe.
• Bones From Other Animals – No need to stop at beef or chicken! Try bones from lamb, bison, veal, turkey, fish, or game animals.

For deeper flavor, you can mix and match bones from the same animal — just make sure they can all fit into your stock pot ahead of time.

Whether you make a beef bone broth recipe or chicken bone broth recipe (or use other animal bones altogether), it’s important to use high-quality ones since we’re extracting nutrients directly from the bones. I recommend free range chicken or grass fed beef at possible, and getting them at your local butcher, or even a local farm, is a good way to source them.

Other ingredients for making bone broth:

• Cold Water
• Sea Salt – Seasons the broth.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Helps draw nutrients out of the bones. You can also use white vinegar.
• Bay Leaves – Adds another layer of aromatic flavor and lightens up the heartiness of the broth.

Optional things to add:

• Spices & Dried Herbs – Try whole black peppercorns or ground black pepper, herbs de Provence, Italian seasoning, or turmeric for a golden hue. Add them to the pot in the beginning with the bones.
• Aromatics – Add smashed and peeled garlic cloves, ginger, or lemongrass for bolder flavor (also added in the beginning).
• Vegetables – Raw celery, onions, and carrots are classic veggies to include (or just use leftover scraps). Consider leeks and mushrooms, too!
• Fresh Herbs – Try fresh thyme, rosemary, or parsley added in with the bones.

How To Make Bone Broth In The Instant Pot

This section shows how to make bone broth using the quickest method, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

• Fill pot. Add bones, vegetables and/or herbs (if using), vinegar, bay leaf, sea salt, and enough water to fill the Instant Pot, leaving a couple inches unfilled on top.

TIP: For more flavor, oven roast your bones first. It’s optional, but adds rich flavor when you’re making bone broth in Instant Pot. Arrange bones (and veggies, if desired) on roasting pans and roast in the oven at 450 degrees F for 45-60 minutes, turning halfway through.

• Cook. Close the lid and set the valve to “sealing.” Select the manual, high pressure setting and set time to cook for 120 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally for 10-20 minutes when finished.

• Strain. When broth has cooled completely, strain through a fine-mesh strainer. If desired, strain again through a nut milk bag.

How To Make Bone Broth In A Crock Pot

It’s easy to make this bone broth recipe slow cooker friendly:

• Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and fill with water to cover.
• Cook on Low for 12-24 hours.
• Strain. For best results, use a mesh strainer followed by a nut milk bag.

How To Make Bone Broth On The Stovetop

Wondering how to make bone broth on the stove? It takes a little more TLC, but it’s very easy:

• Add bones to a large stockpot, covering with water and leaving room at the top of the pot to keep it from boiling over. Heat on high to a rolling boil until you see foam rising to the top. Skim off any foam that you see and discard.
• Add remaining ingredients to the pot and reduce heat to a very gentle simmer.
• Gently simmer for 12-24 hours.
• Strain. For best results, use a mesh strainer followed by a nut milk bag.

Frequently Asked Questions

This Instant Pot bone broth recipe is so easy and has so many benefits! Learn about them here.

What is the difference between bone broth, stock, and regular broth?

You can use them interchangeably in a pinch, but they have noticeable differences:

• Bone broth – Made from bones and optional vegetables, simmered over a very long time for maximum flavor. Tasty enough to sip on its own!
• Stock – Made from bones and vegetables, simmered for moderate time and used in recipes.
• Regular broth – Made from meat, along with optional bones and vegetables, and simmered for a shorter amount of time. Regular chicken broth and beef broth are less flavorful and do not have the same benefits that bone broth does.

What does bone broth taste like?

Bone broth has a rich, meaty flavor and thicker mouthfeel than conventional stock. It’s like getting all the cozy of flavor of soup in an ultra-concentrated form!

Is bone broth good for you?

While it’s no cure-all, bone broth is a great addition to a balanced diet. And it tastes so good!

Why is bone broth good for you?

Besides its cozy, comforting flavor, bone broth has several science-backed benefits:

• Supports digestion. Research suggests it may heal and protect the lining of the digestive tract for optimal gut health [*].
• Supports joint health. The naturally occurring gelatin in bone broth contains the same amino acids and other components your body uses to build connective tissue, such as glycine, proline, glucosamine, and chondroitin [*].
• Rich in minerals and electrolytes. Bone broth contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium that can help strengthen bones [*].
• Anti-inflammatory. Amino acids in bone broth are linked to fighting chronic inflammation [*]

Does bone broth break a fast?

A true fast involves consuming no calories whatsoever. Since bone broth contains calories, it will break a standard fast.

Still, bone broth makes a good high-protein and low-calorie choice to keep you satisfied between meals. And for those fasting on a keto diet, bone broth is ultra low in carbs and won’t hinder ketone levels.

How much bone broth should I drink daily?

There’s no firm recommendation for how much homemade or conventional bone broth to drink every day. That said, a cup per day is a good place to start — you can enjoy it all on its own or incorporate it into recipes.

Storage Instructions

Once you know how to make bone broth, you’ll want to keep it on-hand at all times. It’s easy to do because this recipe makes a big batch of bone broth.

How long does bone broth last?

Bone broth will last for a week in the refrigerator. Simply store in glass jars until ready to use.

Can you freeze bone broth?

Bone broth lasts for up to 3 months in the freezer! For easier portioning, freeze in ice cube trays until solid, then transfer cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container for long-term storage.

Reheating instructions:

For best flavor, reheat your homemade bone broth recipe on the stovetop until warmed through. You can also microwave if needed.

What Is Bone Broth Good For?

Although it tastes delicious on its own, this healthy bone broth recipe adds flavor to so many dishes!

• Richer soups and stews – Use it in classics like French onion soup, chicken noodle soup, homemade pho, or beef stew.
• Tender roasts – Broth adds depth to pot roast, pork roast, and brisket.
• One-pan meals – Add a delicious boost to chicken stir fry, kielbasa and sauerkraut, or sun dried tomato chicken.
• Recipe basics – Use bone broth for more flavorful gravy, caramelized onions, and shredded chicken.