Slow Cooker Beef Bone Broth Recipe

Making slow cooker beef bone broth is ultra easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect to make ahead and freeze to use in all sorts of recipes like this Malaysian beef rendang, beef chuck roast in the slow cooker or this beef stroganoff with cream of mushroom soup.

Homemade beef broth has a much greater depth of flavor than store bought, and in turn adds more flavor to the dishes you cook, like this instant pot French onion soup.

PLUS, it is filled with nourishing nutrients and is so comforting on a cold day. I like to just add a touch of salt (totally optional, but I'm addicted) and sip it in a mug (like I do with this beef consommé, Instant Pot chicken bone broth, chicken feet bone broth, and turkey bone broth).

Why this slow cooker beef bone broth recipe works

• Using a slow cooker allows for easy, hands-off simmering over 24 hours to extract maximum flavor and nutrients.
• Roasting the bones before simmering adds a deep, rich flavor to the broth.
• The marrow and connective tissues release collagen and gelatin, making the broth nutritious and good for gut health.
• The broth can be frozen in portions for future use in soups, stews, and sauces.

Ingredients

You will get the best flavor and a healthier broth if you use good quality beef bones like grass-fed beef bones. However, any beef bones will work great for this recipe.

Apple cider vinegar is used to help the bones and cartilage break down which helps the broth to gel (become like gelatin).

Other ingredients like carrot, bay leaf, onion and garlic are used as well.

The full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Variations

While basic beef bone broth is amazing for cooking and making soups, sometimes you may want to add some fun flavors to it - try some of these options to add some flair:

• Add fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage or tarragon to the broth.
• Add more vegetables for a stronger veggie flavor to the broth.
• Use white, pink or green peppercorns in the broth.
• Add a few strips of citrus peel to add a brightness to the beef stock.
• Adding some red or white wine to the cooking process can give it a deeper flavor.
• Miso, soy sauce or fish sauce can add a nice umami flavor making the broth ultra flavorful.
• Dried chili flakes or dried chilies add some heat to the broth - great for making spicier soups.
• Use chicken bones to make crock pot chicken bone broth.

Step by step instructions to make crockpot bone broth

1. Preheat an oven to 400°F. Place the bones on a baking sheet and roast for 40 minutes.

2. Remove from oven and place the roasted bones in the slow cooker, along with all remaining ingredients.

3. Fill the slow cooker to the top (leave about an inch or two) with water, cover and cook on high for 12 hours. Reduce heat and simmer on low another 12 hours.

4. After cooking is complete, strain the broth using a strainer (or sieve/cheesecloth). Divide into individual 1 cup servings and freeze in a freezer safe container for up to 6 months. If you plan on using it immediately, it should stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days.

Expert tips

1. Don't skip roasting the bones. It adds an incredible flavor and your slow cooker bone broth just won't be as good if you skip this part.
2. This recipe doesn't call for salt as I prefer to control the salt content depending on what I use the broth for.
3. Straining it through a sieve or cheesecloth will provide you with the clearest results.

Frequently asked questions

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