Bone broth has surged in popularity in the last few year due to the health benefits and the surge in the popularity of high protein diets. It is wonderful in soups, sauces and to even enjoy a steaming cup as a snack.  Bone broth is created by cooking bones for a long time until all of the good stuff comes out into the broth--collagen, protein and flavor!

    Another extremely popular trend is using a slow cooker.  These little gadgets have stood the test of time and there has been an incredible resurgence.  Working moms as well as stay at home moms can reap the benefits of having dinner ready when returning home from work or kids activities.  They are even a great idea to take on road trips to use at vacation rentals and having dinner ready when returning from the beach or hiking!

    In today's economy with high grocery prices, making bone broth is a money saver.  Buying prepared high priced bone broth is a budget buster in our family.  However, our family loves grocery store rotisserie chickens because of the convenience and they are often the same or lower priced than uncooked chicken.  We use them for dinner, and love leftovers for chicken salad, enchiladas and soup.  But the breast, thighs and legs are not the only leftovers of a rotisserie chicken.  The bones are a valuable part of the chicken!* Don't throw them away!   Throw all of these bones into the slow cooker and cover with water.  For extra flavor, vitamins and minerals, add any leftover veggies you have in the fridge such as onion, celery, and carrots.  

Money Saving Slow Cooker Chicken Bone Broth

Equipment

    Slow cooker or Instant Pot set to slow cooker

Ingredients

• 1 or 2 rotisserie chicken carcasses or a bunch of leftover roasted chicken bones

• Vegetables scraps such as onions, celery,* carrots and parsley

• Water, enough to cover the bones

Optional: leftover fresh herbs

Instructions

• Place the rotisserie chicken bones in the slow cooker (make sure the lip can close properly)

• Add the meat juices from the bottom of the chicken container-see tip below.

• Add any vegetables that you wish to use

• Cover the bones with water.  Don't overfill.  Leave about 1-1/2 inch space at the top.  If the broth boils, it will spill over.

• Turn on the slow cooker on low and cook for up to 16 hours! 

• Turn off the cooker and allow the broth to cool before straining.

• Fill freezer containers with bone broth and freeze or can in the mason jars.

Tips:  

1. As soon as you get home with a rotisserie chicken, drain the juices into a container to keep in the fridge.  These juices contain great flavor!

1. After the chicken is deboned (it's fine if there is a little meat left on the bones, use a cleaver or even a hammer to crack the bones so that the bone marrow leaches out into the broth. 

1. If adding celery, be sure to add the celery leaves.  These contain great flavor.  This also applies to parsley stems! Use everything!

1. Add a tablespoon of chicken bouillon or base (I love chicken flavor).

1. This is a great way to use up leftovers from a vegetable tray.

1. The bone broth will have more flavor if using a roasted chicken rather than using raw chicken bones.  If all you have is raw bones, brown them in the oven or on the stove before adding.

1. The broth will take on the flavor of any seasonings on the chicken so keep this in mind.  I personally would not use the bones of chicken which is covered in a sauce such as barbecue sauce.

1. To get a the broth started, start with the slow cooker set on high for about 3 hours.