How to Make Easy Bone Broth in a Slow Cooker (and why!)

Bone broth is a wonder food! It's rich in essential vitamins and minerals that help keep your body healthy and strong. Bone broth is immunity boosting and great for joint and skin health. It's an excellent thing to have for keto, paleo, and fasting diets.

Watch just how easy it is to make DIY Chicken bone broth in a slow cooker in the quick 3 minute video below:

From a the desk of a registered dietitian:

Amanda, a registered dietitian and friend, wrote the following excerpt on broth to share:

Bone broth is typically a mixture of water, animal bones, vinegar, salt and other spices simmered for a minimum of 12 hours. It is an excellent source of micronutrients that can help support a number of health benefits.

Since it is made out of cartilage and bone it can be supportive in your own bone health with nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

Bone broth is an excellent source of glutamine as well. This amino acid (ie protein building block) is specifically helpful in repairing quickly dividing cells in the body such as nail, hair, skin and GI system. This is why bone broth is believed to help maintain a healthy GI system. This is also extremely helpful in combating any symptoms of cancer as well.

The collagen in bone broth can also support joint health as well and lessen some joint pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis. 

One of my favorite benefits of bone broth is the depth of flavor! I love to add it to my 30 minute one pot meals to bring a level of flavor (and nutrition) that I can not get in a short amount of time. I use it in place of any recipes that call for regular broth and I love to make soups out of it in the fall and winter time!

Liven up your chicken noodle soup or pot roast with some bone broth! It is also delicious to have as a drink and I love it with some green onions sliced thinly. I hope you find it is beneficial and delicious as I do!

Amanda Giebink, Registered Dietitian, For more health tips and recipes follow me on Instagram @farmers_market_dietitian 

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Bone broth is most commonly made from meaty backs, neck bones, chicken feet, marrow and knuckle bones, oxtail, and stewing hens.

The recipe to make a simple bone broth is easy. 

-----> Making a beef broth with soup bones and short ribs? Find a detailed recipe here.

Choose your cut - any of those listed above - throw in a stock pot or slow cooker, add 7 quarts of water, some vegetable scraps if you like (onion, celery, carrot, and potato are common), salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 12+ hours. When finished, remove any large pieces and set aside, then sieve broth through a mesh strainer into quart jars.

Use right away or set aside in the freezer for later.

Bone broth is perfect for cooking soup, rice, or for enjoying on its own.

**If you have large or active dogs, adding a few tablespoons of bone broth to their food each day will help their joint health, too!