Healing Chicken Broth (Slow Cooker, Paleo/AIP)

Chicken stock or bone broth is constantly being used in my kitchen and is the basis for many of my AIP soup recipes. It seemed silly to continuously buy stock at the grocery store when I could just make it from leftovers. This Healing Chicken Broth (Slow Cooker, Paleo/AIP) recipe makes it super easy to make at home.

How long is bone broth good in the fridge?

I’ve left the bone broth in my fridge for 3-4 days before either using it or transferring it to the freezer for use at a later date.

Do you remove the fat from bone broth?

I have a special measuring cup that allows you to pour the broth while leaving the stock. It’s a super handy tool. However, you can always skim it from the top once the broth has cooled in the fridge.

Why does bone broth gel?

Bone broth gels because the connective tissue on meaty bones breaks down over time and dissolves in the water. When the broth cools, the collagen produces a bouncy gelatin.

If you’re having trouble getting your broth to gel, try adding a few chicken feet. They are full of collagen. I get my chicken feet from US Wellness Meats.

How long can you freeze bone broth?

This Healing Chicken Stock will last in the fridge for about 1 year.

Pressure Cooker vs Slow Cooker Bone Broth

This recipe totally works in the instant pot (this is the one I have) and it takes far less time to make. To pressure cook this recipe, follow the same instructions except cook on pressure cook for 40 minutes. Additionally, my instant pot also has a slow cook function, which you can use to make this recipe as well.

I use my Hamilton Beach slow cooker to make this recipe. I’ve had it a few years now and it’s been a workhorse. I use it constantly and haven’t had any issues.

How many times can you reuse bones for bone broth?

You can actually keep using your bones to create multiple batches of stock. You can keep reusing the bones until they are completely falling apart. I always throw in a few chicken feet with each additional batch to ensure that the broth will still be gelatinous but this really helps maximize your bones.

Please keep in mind that reusing bones for bone broth actually works better in the instant pot than slow cooker. Since the slow cooker takes 12 hours to cook, the slow cooker will actually shut off if it overheats. I’ve had this happen once when I was using it for back-to-back bone broth batches. You have to let the slow cooker cool down between uses and that can actually allow bacteria to creep in and create a problem with food poisoning.

How to store bone broth

I always store my bone broth in glass containers. I prefer that to a plastic container that will leach chemicals into my broth. I use different size mason jars (these 8oz, 16oz, and 32oz jars are my favorites)and have dedicated the entire door of our freezer to nothing but bone broth.

My tips for using glass containers are to:

• Make sure to let the broth cool slightly before adding it to the jars. Hot liquids can break glass.
• Leave room at the top. The liquid will expand as it freezes and if there’s not room, the glass will break.
• Place the broth filled glass jar in the fridge to cool completely before transferring to the freezer. Placing a hot jar in the freezer can cause the glass to break due to the extreme temperature change.

How to make the BEST Healing Chicken Broth (Slow Cooker, Paleo/AIP)

Add all of the ingredients except for the water into an 8-quart slow cooker. Pour the water into the slow cooker, taking care not to overfill it.

Set the slow cooker to cook for 12 hours on low or 6 hours on high.

Let the stock cool slightly then strain the liquid as you pour it into measuring cups. If you’re freezing the stock, pour them into mason jars (or your preferred storage containers). Then place the jars into refrigerator to finish cooling before placing them in the freezer. If you’re using right away, feel free to keep the stock in the measuring cups until you are ready to use.

Tips for making the best Healing Chicken Broth (Slow Cooker, Paleo/AIP)

• After I make chicken, I store the leftover bones in the freezer. When I’m ready to make the stock, I just pull them out of the freezer and toss it into the slow cooker.
• I save the tops of carrots to use in stock as well. I don’t save the green tops (they are too astringent for stock), just the ends that normally get thrown away. I keep a bag in the freezer and just fill it up so that they are ready when I need them. You’d be surprised how quickly you can fill up a bag. It’s a great way to reduce food waste in your kitchen.
• I use my Hamilton Beach slow cooker to make this recipe.
• To make this in the instant pot, follow the same instructions except cook on pressure cook for 4 hours.
• If you’re low on leftover bones, chicken feet are a great substitute or supplement. They really help make a gelatinous stock.
• My tips for using glass containers are to: Make sure to let the broth cool slightly before adding it to the jars. Hot liquids can break glass. Leave room at the top. The liquid will expand as it freezes and if there’s not room, the glass will break. Place the broth filled glass jar in the fridge to cool completely before transferring to the freezer. Placing a hot jar in the freezer can cause the glass to break due to the extreme temperature change.
• Feel free to add a few stalks of celery to the recipe. I don’t tolerate celery so I leave it out.

Here are a few AIP recipes that use my Healing Chicken Broth. They aren’t all soups either!

• Creamed Leeks with without Cream (Dairy Free)
• Instant Pot Chicken Soup
• Herb Braised Fish with Capers
• Shrimp, Bok Choy and Turmeric Soup
• Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Helpful Info for All Recipes

• I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise.
• I always use Himalayan sea salt or Celtic sea salt, unless otherwise noted.
• The majority of my recipes are strict AIP or include notations for reintroductions. However while I make every effort to label non-AIP ingredients and recipes sometimes they slip past me. If you have questions, please ask in advance.

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