Slow Cooked Beef Bone broth made in the Crockpot with veggies, garlic, ginger, lemon and apple cider vinegar. Make a big batch and freeze for later.
We love to fill our freezer with bone broth and other crockpot soups such as chicken noodle or ham and beans.
Making bone broth has been on my bucket list for a long time. I recently tried a store-bought carton of bone broth and I could hardly stomach it, it tasted stale.
I loved how easy this big batch of beef bone broth was to make. The only hard part was finding the beef bones. I found these bones at Albertson’s. I did one package of knucklebones and one of the neck bones.
How to make Bone Broth in the slow cooker:
Put the beef bones on a sheet pan and browned them under the broiler before adding them to the slow cooker.
Along with the bones, I add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaves, water and apple cider vinegar. I read that the vinegar helps leach the minerals out of the bones.
How long do I cook bone broth in the crockpot?
I cook my bone broth for 12 hours on the low setting, though you can go longer if desired.
I strain the broth then add grated ginger, lemon juice and sea salt. It’s ready to serve, refrigerate or freeze for another day.
Can I freeze bone broth?
- Yes, place into plastic or glass containers.
- Leave an inch of room at the top to allow for expansion.
- Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Thaw in the fridge 24 hours before needed. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop
Need more soup recipes?
- Slow Cooker Hearty Italian Beef Soup
- Slow Cooker French Dip Soup
- Slow Cooker Shipwreck Stew
- Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Beef Bone Broth
Beef bone broth easily made in the slow cooker with veggies, vinegar, garlic, ginger and lemon.
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 3-4 lbs. beef bones
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 1 head of garlic, cut in half
- 2 carrots, cut into pieces
- 2 celery ribs, cut into pieces
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 cups water
Add after straining
- 2 tsp. grated ginger
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. salt (add to taste)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to broil. Place the beef bones on a sheet pan. Place the bones under the broiler in the oven. I browned the bones on each side for about 5 minutes each. It depends on how close the bones are to the broiler.
- Add the bones to the slow cooker. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaves, apple cider vinegar and water.
- Cover and cook on low for 12 hours. You can cook longer if desired.
- Place a strainer over a large bowl. Ladle the broth into the strainer and discard the bones and veggies. I like to push the veggies into the strainer to get the juices out of them.
- Add grated ginger, lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate or freeze for later. Skim off fat if desired.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Yes, place into plastic or glass containers
- Leave an inch of room at the top to allow for expansion.
- Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Thaw in the fridge 24 hours before needed. Reheat in microwave or on the stovetop.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Hi Sarah, other recipes call for bringing the broth to boil before simmering on low – is this necessary? I’m not sure what the advantage of this would be.
I’ve never heard that. I think most stove top recipes are worded that way for any soup.
What benefits do the lemon and ginger add to beef broth?
They are for flavor so it doesn’t taste so flat. Plus, they are both good for your health.
Thank you. I’ve tried the recipe today but haven’t tried to drink it yet. It did taste blah so I added thyme and turmeric but seemed greasy. Perhaps after I chill it and remove the fat it will be better.
Can you pressure can the broth instead of freezing?
I’m unsure if the recipe is safe to pressure can, I apologize.
I have pressure canned bone broth for years with no issues.
I don’t have fresh ginger can I used ground ginger and if so, how much do I use?
Ground ginger can be very strong, I would use just a 1/4 tsp.
What is the ratio of bones to liquid?
I don’t really ahve a ratio. I fill the slow cooker at least half way with bones and vegetables, then fill the slow cooker with water (not quite to the top).
Why does everyone discard the vegetables? Can I eat them like in a soup?
Yes, that’s a great idea!
Can you cook this quicker then the 12 hours?
Yes, you can turn it on high for half the time.