Nourishing Bone Broth for Strength and Wellness

Bone broth has been treasured for centuries as a deeply nourishing food that supports healing and overall wellness. Slowly simmering bones with vegetables and herbs releases collagen, minerals, and nutrients that help strengthen the body from the inside out.

Slow-simmered homemade bone broth rich in collagen, minerals, and natural nourishment.

Whether you're recovering from illness, supporting gut health, or simply looking for a warm and comforting drink, a cup of homemade bone broth can be incredibly restorative.

Simple ingredients and slow simmering are the secret to turning humble bones into a rich, golden broth packed with goodness.

Why Bone Broth Is So Beneficial

Bone broth is often called a traditional “healing food” because of the nutrients released during long simmering.

Some benefits include:

• Collagen and gelatin support healthy skin, joints, and connective tissue
• Amino acids help support digestion and gut health
• Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus nourish the body
• Warm broth helps hydrate and soothe the body when you're feeling run down

Many people also enjoy sipping bone broth in the morning or afternoon as a comforting alternative to coffee or tea, or using it as the base for nourishing soups like my Healing Chicken Soup Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2–3 pounds chicken bones (carcass, backs, necks, wings, or chicken feet)
• 1 onion, halved • 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• Fresh parsley or thyme (optional)
• 10–12 cups filtered water
• Sea salt to taste

Optional but recommended for extra collagen:
Chicken feet. If using chicken feet, rinse them well and trim off the toenails with kitchen shears before adding them to the pot.

How to Make Bone Broth

Traditional Stovetop Method

Place the bones in a large stock pot.
Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs, and apple cider vinegar.
Pour in enough filtered water to cover everything by about an inch.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a very low simmer.
Simmer for 12–24 hours to extract maximum nutrients and flavor.
Skim foam from the top occasionally if needed.
Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer.
Season with sea salt and enjoy warm.

Instant Pot Method

If you prefer a faster option, bone broth can also be made in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.

Add bones, vegetables, herbs, and apple cider vinegar to the Instant Pot.
Fill with filtered water up to the Max Fill line.
Close the lid and select the Soup/Broth setting, which typically runs about 4 hours on high pressure.
Allow the pressure to release naturally.
Strain the broth and season with sea salt to taste.

Bone broth will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or can be frozen for several months. Aunt Be likes to freeze it in covered ice cube trays, then pop out 2–3 cubes at a time and warm them gently on the stove.

Try to avoid heating bone broth in the microwave, as the high, uneven heat can break down delicate nutrients and collagen that make bone broth so beneficial. Slow reheating on the stovetop helps preserve its nourishing properties and flavor.

When refrigerated, a good bone broth will often become slightly gelatinous — that’s a sign it’s rich in collagen and full of goodness.

Aunt Be’s Healing Bone Broth Recipe