Nourishing Homemade Crockpot Bone Broth Recipe

Make this bone broth crockpot recipe at home—perfect for beginners learning to cook from scratch. Includes tips for storage, health benefits, and simple ways to use bone broth in everyday meals!

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be regularly simmering bones in my kitchen and loving it, I probably would’ve laughed. But here I am—homeschooling my kids, filling our home with the smells of real food, and learning to make nourishing meals from the simplest ingredients.

This is all part of the intentional lifestyle I’ve embraced, and making chicken bone broth is one of the coziest, most satisfying pieces of it.  I have loved this journey!  I think you’ll love making your own bone broth too!

Cooking from Scratch

My cooking-from-scratch journey started, like many others, with sourdough. There was something deeply grounding about nurturing that bubbly starter on my counter, watching it grow, and turning flour and water into something so delicious and wholesome. It lit a spark in me—and before long, I found myself swapping out boxed mixes and prepackaged staples for homemade versions made with ingredients I could trust.

As a homeschool mom, my days are full, and time in the kitchen has become not just a necessity, but a way to teach my kids valuable life skills and rhythms. Cooking from scratch has helped me slow down, simplify, and nourish my family both physically and emotionally.  

I love that my kids are learning along with me and seeing the great option of cooking from scratch. If you’re feeling inspired to start your own journey, I’ve shared some simple tips to help you start cooking from scratch. Whether you’re brand new or just trying to be more intentional, there’s no pressure to do it all at once. One small change at a time adds up. 

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Why Bone Broth?

Bone broth is one of those foundational foods that checks all the boxes.  I have found that it’s easy, affordable, nutrient-rich, and versatile. It also feels like a small act of resourcefulness every time I pull a jar out of the fridge or freezer. This bone broth crock pot recipe has become a regular rhythm in my kitchen, and I hope it becomes one in yours, too.  

Did you know drinking or cooking with bone broth is a nourishing way to support overall well-being, especially when made at home with quality ingredients? Bone broth is rich in collagen, gelatin, and amino acids, which may aid in digestion, support joint and skin health, support the immune system, and promote a healthy gut lining.

The slow low simmer process helps extract minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus from the bones, creating a mineral-rich liquid that can help replenish the body—especially when consumed regularly. Whether sipping a cup of bone broth warm on its own or used as a base for soups and stews, bone broth is a comforting, traditional food that aligns beautifully with a mindful, from-scratch lifestyle.

Also, if you’re new to scratch cooking, I recommend starting with this guide to getting started. It helped me shift my mindset and build the foundation for a real food kitchen. Bone broth has since become one of my favorite staples to keep on hand, and the best part is that my Crockpot makes the process nearly effortless!

Why Make Bone Broth at Home?

Why a good bone broth? There are a few reasons why making rich bone broth from scratch is worth it:

• Health Benefits: Bone broth may support gut health, digestion, joint health, and skin due to its rich collagen and amino acid content.
• Cost Savings: Instead of tossing roasted chicken bones and vegetable scraps, you can use them to make something nourishing with extra nutrients—basically for free!
• Flavor: Homemade broth adds incredible depth and rich flavor to soups, stews, and even rice. Once you taste the difference, you won’t go back to store-bought.

Want to build a more frugal, real food kitchen? Be sure to grab my pantry staples list and stock up on the essentials.

Key Ingredients

• Bones: A great way to gather them is using chicken bones from meals you’ve already eaten.  There are different ways to collect the leftover bones. I keep a freezer bag on hand where I toss in bones and veggie scraps throughout the week until I get enough bones!  You can easily use beef bones or pork bones too!
• Vegetables: Carrots, celery, onions, and garlic bring incredible flavor. Fresh is great, but scraps work just as well.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: This helps draw minerals from the bones during the long cooking process.

For the full list of ingredients and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Bone Broth in a Crockpot

Step 1: Prep the Bones and Vegetables–Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place your best bones, vegetables–like onion skins and celery stalks, and garlic on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway through.

Step 2: Set It and Forget It–Transfer the roasted bones and other ingredients to your slow cooker. Add vinegar, salt, pepper, and enough cups of water to cover everything completely.

Step 3: Slow Cook–Set your Crockpot on low and cook for a long cooking time of 24 to 48 hours. This long, slow simmer helps extract nutrients and flavor. If the water level drops too low, top it off to keep bones submerged.

Step 4: Strain and Store–Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove solids. Pour the strained broth into glass jars (my favorite and most used glass storage jars) and let them cool before refrigerating or freezing and be sure if you are freezing, to leave a little space at the top for expansion. 

Optional: Once chilled, you can easily skim off the fat layer that rises to the top.

Tips for the Best Crock Pot Bone Broth

• Cook Low and Slow: The longer it simmers, the richer and more nutrient-dense your broth will be.
• Skim the Foam: Early in the cooking process, skim off any impurities that rise to the top.
• Storage: Broth lasts about 1 week in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer. I love freezing it in different sizes for soups, sauces, and rice dishes.

How to Use Your Bone Broth

There are so many ways to use bone broth once you’ve got it on hand!  I love how you can really use bone broth in your every day cooking!  Some of my favorite ways to use it are below:

• Soup Base: Like in my Sourdough Chicken & Dumplings!  Love this crockpot bone broth for homemade soups!
• Sipping Nice Broth by Itself: Warm it up with a pinch of sea salt for a cozy, nourishing drink.  In the winter, I love to start my morning with a warm cup of homemade bone broth.  
• Cooking Liquid: Use it instead of water when making rice, risottos, gravies, or roux for added flavor and nutrients.

FAQs

Making bone broth at home has become one of those simple, grounding rhythms in my kitchen—a small act of care that pays off in so many ways. Whether you’re just starting your scratch-cooking journey or looking for a new staple to add to your weekly routine, I hope this recipe encourages you to give it a try and maybe even try more bone broth recipes in the future!  It’s frugal, nourishing, and endlessly useful.

Want More Favorite Recipes Like This?

• How to Start Cooking from Scratch
• The Best Simple Soup Bread Recipe
• Easy Sourdough Chicken and Dumplings

If you’re building a real food kitchen, be sure to check out my Simple Swaps for a Real Food Kitchen ebook—it’s full of practical ideas to make the switch without overwhelm.  I created this ebook after I, myself started this journey of real food in my kitchen and home.  I hope it helps you begin the journey!  As always, please reach out, as I would love to help in any way I can. 

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