Bone Broth Slow Cooker

Want to batch cook? Cooking bone broth in a slow cooker style can be used for so many homemade meals and is super healthy as a drink! Easy to make and store for later too. Just one of the Crockpot recipes we make often.

Beef bone broth is so healthy for you! If you have only bought this and never made it from scratch you are in for a real treat. It is so much better homemade. Let us share our step by step instructions with you here. (affiliate links present)

Beef Bone Broth Slow Cooker Recipe

We first shared with you how to make Instant Pot Bone Broth Recipe style which is amazing but sometimes you want it the “old fashioned” way right?? Low and slow is really the ideal way to make this collagen filled liquid, so if you have the time THIS is the best way to make it.

What is the difference between stock and broth?

Both have health benefits but stock is made primarily from bones (often roasted first) with some meat and/or bone marrow attached, with vegetables, herbs, and spices. Broth mainly uses meat, with maybe some bones.

How long to Cook Beef Bone Broth in Slow Cooker

As opposed to Chicken Broth Instant Pot style you will want a good 12 hours to get this done really well. You want the nutrients from the marrow inside or bits of meat still attached to release adding vitamins and flavor into the liquid. A few hours longer is even fine at up to 14 hours on low ideally.

What are the Health benefits of bone broth?

You may have heard of it but the nutritional benefits of drinking bone broth are many. It fights inflammation, has many vitamins to it, improves gut health, sleep and brain function, and the list goes on and on. SO not only is it a super flavorful liquid you can cook meat and noodles in but your skin will thank you for it.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds bones, beef femur bones used in this case
• Carrots peeled and chopped
• Celery, chopped are a nice add in as well
• Onion, sliced or diced works as well
• Bay leaves adds a deeper flavor to it
• Sea salt and pepper to taste or can be omitted entirely for low-sodium
• Apple cider vinegar is acidic which helps break down the bones and release key minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus into the broth

Variations and Substitutions

You could use other bones with the same other ingredients and timing. For instance if you wanted to use chicken bones then you would use those, or this How to Make Pho Broth with oxtail. Use what you love, leftover bones you have on hand, and it is especially great to make after making shank or short ribs so you have no waste.

What are the best bones to make beef broth?

1. Marrow Bones (Rich Flavor & Nutrients)
   • Femur and Shank bones add deep umami flavor and nutrient-rich bone marrow.
2. Joint Bones (High in Collagen/Gelatin)
   • Knuckle bones, Oxtail, Neck bones contain cartilage and connective tissue, making the broth thick and gelatinous when cooled.
3. Meaty Bones (Enhance Flavor)
   • Short ribs, beef shank with bone, beef neck add meatiness and extra flavor to balance the broth.
4. Soup Bones (A Mix of Meat & Marrow)
   • Any beef soup bones sold at butcher shops usually contain a mix of marrow, meat, and cartilage—great for a well-balanced broth.

How to Cook Slow Cooker Bone Broth on Low

• Roast the bones at 375 on a lined baking sheet with foil.
• Place beef bones on top of the foil and roast for 30 minutes.
• Put vegetables inside slow cooker like sliced carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, salt, and pepper and mix well.
• Put bones on top of the veggies and add enough water to cover them with your apple cider vinegar.
• Place the lid on and cook on low for 12-14 hours. When complete, turn off and let stand for one hour.
• Remove the bones and vegetables from the broth and discard.
• Using 2 layers of cheesecloth to strain the homemade bone broth into a separate bowl.

Then you can use right then and there to make a recipe or this is how to can beef broth safely and for a longer duration.

FAQ