Crock pot Whole Chicken and Bone Broth Recipe

This fall off the bone delicious chicken will become a staple in your home as it has in mine. Also included is a simple and nutritious bone broth recipe that is essential during this cold/flu season. You can add it to soups, stews, casserole, rice...or simply drink it all on its own.

Bone broth is different then stock that you buy at the grocery store. Bone broth is made by cooking the bones for a long period of time. Long enough to release the gelatin, collagen, minerals, and amino acids from the bones. This creates a solid layer on top of the broth when it is cold. Apple cider vinegar is also used in the making of bone broth. It aids in extracting the minerals from the bones. This is why it is extremely important to be picky on what type of chicken you buy.

You may be asking yourself, "Why would I even want to make bone broth?" Let's take a look at some of the benefits. According to Siebecker(2005), bone broth is a highly nourishing liquid that is valuable both as food and medicine. Bone broth has been used as a treatment for colds and flu through the ages. Bone broth can also aid in mineral deficiencies. Siebecker states that bone broth contains a high quantity of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulfur, fluoride, sodium and potassium. A deficiency in any mineral can cause a number of mood and behavioral disturbances so people may experience a decrease in anxiety, irritability, fatigue, or insomnia if it is related to a mineral deficiency.

Other benefits of bone broth are that it can promote healing of the intestinal tract, strengthen hair,skin,and nails, promote healing of wounds or injuries, protect connective tissues, aid in alleviating joint pain, promote rebuilding of connective tissue, and improve blood circulation. I could keep listing the benefits but I think you get the idea. Bone broth has so many benefits and many easy ways to that it can be added into your diet.

Ingredients for Whole Chicken:

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 2 teaspoons paprika

• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon thyme

• 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 whole roasting chicken

• 1 chopped onion

Directions

1. In a bowl add all the spices together. Mix.

2. Place Chopped Onions in the bottom of the crock pot

3. Rub spice mixture onto the chicken.

4. Cook on high for 4 -5 hours

* You can also add in any veggies/sweet potatoes to the crockpot while cooking.

1. Keep all of the juices and onion in the crockpot to make bone broth!!

Ingredients for Bone Broth:

• 1 chicken carcass (skin-on for best results)

• 1 onion (Should already be in the crockpot)

• 2 carrots, cut into chunks

• 4 ribs celery, cut into chunks*

• 2 – 3 garlic cloves, peeled

• 2-3 quarts water

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Directions:

1. Once you are finished eating the delicious fall off the bone chicken for dinner, take the bones and put them back in the crockpot with all the juices.

2. Then add in the carrots, celery, and garlic

3. ​​*I typically use the parts of the veggies that I would throw away or compost like the carrot and celery ends)

4. Add the water and apple cider vinegar

5. Cook on low for 12-24 hours

6. When it is done, strain the broth so there are no chunks and store in the refrigerator.

7. *You can also filter the liquid through several layers of cheesecloth or a cofffee filter if you desire.

Do you make bone broth? What are your favorite ways to add it into your family's diet?

Reference:

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients: “Traditional bone broth in modern health and disease”; Allison Siebecker; Feb 2005