Discover the collagen-packed goodness of chicken feet soup and bone broth – a flavorful and nutrient-dense broth and stock. Whether it's for soups, risotto, or sipping, the options are limitless.
Today I'm preparing a hearty chicken soup using just chicken feet. The resulting broth can serve as a base for both soup and stock and has a rich and delightful flavor.
What's more, this budget-friendly approach to bone broth is remarkably cost-effective, with the entire pot of soup coming in at less than ten dollars to create.
This recipe is Paleo, Keto, and Gluten-Free.
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Chicken Feet Are a Part of Every Chicken
In the past, when you visited your neighborhood butcher, you could select a chicken and it would be freshly slaughtered and plucked.
Upon leaving the shop, you'd carry home not just the choice cuts of tender muscle meat, but also the chicken's liver, heart, brain, and feet! Nowadays, it's easy to overlook the fact that animals possess a variety of limbs and vital organs.
Chicken feet are a fantastic choice for creating flavorful stock and are rich in collagen, which is why I decided to include them. With a pound of chicken feet being just a fraction of the cost of whole chickens, they are an economical choice.
Bone broth is touted for its benefits including bone health, skin health, gut health, reduction of joint pain, and immune support due to its collagen and nutrient content.
The slow cooking method draws out essential nutrients from the bones, transforming this broth into a nutritional powerhouse.
Uses For Chicken Broth
Chicken feet soup can be used in all recipes calling for chicken stock.
Dishes such as Thanksgiving stuffing, risotto, gravy, mashed potatoes, soups, stews, and sauces all use chicken broth.
You can ditch the store-bought cartons of broth and use this broth instead. It definitely tastes better, it costs a lot less, and you know exactly what's in it.
Equipment Needed
- Stockpot, large pot, or slow cooker (Crock Pot)
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Ladle
- Strainer
- Airtight containers for storage
What Goes in Chicken Broth?
Use these ingredients as a guide. Use what you have on hand. A few aromatics will work well.
- 1 ½ to 2 pounds chicken feet, rinsed (You can also use parts such as chicken wings, thighs, backs, etc.)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cold water
- 2 carrots, peeled
- 1 celery rib
- 1 parsnip, peeled
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 1 leek, white part only, cleaned well
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 sprigs of dill
- 3 sprigs of parsley
- Peppercorns
Chicken stock has no salt in it. If you are going to eat the broth as soup, season with salt before serving.
Simple Chicken Feet Soup in Crock Pot
- Wash the chicken feet well under cold running water.
- Place all ingredients in the slow cooker and fill with cold water, about 2 inches from the top of the pot. Place the lid on the pot and turn on HIGH heat.
- Set a timer for an hour and open the pot. Skim any accumulated foam from the top of the pot with a large spoon.
- Turn the heat to LOW. Cover and cook for 12 to 24 hours.
- When it's finished cooking, open the pot and let it cool for 30 minutes.
- Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer or a few layers of cheesecloth.
- Pour the stock into 1-quart containers and let it come to room temperature, for about an hour. Cover and refrigerate the containers.
- After the stock has been refrigerated overnight, you will notice the liquid has turned to jelly and there is a layer of fat on the surface. Skim off the fat with a big spoon and discard.
To make a small batch of stock, use a slow cooker, or Crockpot. When I use a Crockpot, I let my bone broth cook for at least 12 hours.
Ideally, you can cook the broth for 12 hours, but if you get impatient after 4 or 5 hours, you'll still have a decent stock.
See the recipe card for STOVETOP instructions.
Bone Broth is Loaded with Gelatin
All of that jelly is called gelatin. This chicken broth recipe is rich in collagen which can promote skin elasticity, joint health, and gut health.
Collagen is often described as the "glue" that holds the body together because of its role in maintaining the strength and flexibility of connective tissues.
According to Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC:
Studies have show that gelatin acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory in your gut and can help restore the integrity of the gut lining in cases of leaky gut syndrome.
Since it is also rich in nutrients but easy to digest, bone broth helps to support the restoration of a damaged gut by giving your digestion a break from the intensive work of having to break down other food.
Dr. WIll Cole
How to Store Chicken Broth
Allow your chicken broth to cool to room temperature (about an hour) before storing.
Refrigeration: For short-term storage, store your bone broth in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days.
Use an air-tight container, such as a glass jar or a plastic food storage container. Label the container with the date to keep track of it.
Freezing: If you want to store chicken broth for an extended period, freezing is the best option. Allow the broth to cool completely in the refrigerator first. Then, pour the cooled bone broth into freezer-safe containers, leaving some room at the top (about an inch) for expansion.
- Using a Sharpie, label the containers with the date the words CHICKEN BROTH.
- Consider dividing your broth into smaller portions before freezing. This allows you to thaw only what you need, reducing waste and making it more convenient to use in recipes.
- For safe thawing, transfer the frozen chicken stock containers to the refrigerator the day before use. If you're in a hurry, you can also thaw the chicken stock by immersing the container in a large bowl of cool water on the kitchen counter.
Chicken Feet Recipe
By gently simmering a blend of vegetables and aromatic spices in water for several hours, you can make a delicious and nutritious stock or broth.
This is for everyone who thinks that eating healthy is so expensive it's out of their league.
The broth can be sipped or used as a base in many soups, stews, risotto, or any dish that calls for chicken stock.
You can cook this chicken broth recipe in a stockpot or slow cooker.
Yes, you can eat the feet but be careful--they have a lot of little bones.
The broth can be stored in small containers in your freezer for up to 6 months. Whenever a recipe calls for chicken stock, pull out a container, and it's at your fingertips. There is no need to buy cartons of chicken stock again.
For More Recipes
You can also prepare beef bone broth using my Homemade Beef Bone Broth Recipe. By roasting the bones and letting them simmer throughout the night, you'll create a delectably rich and nutritious broth that's both wholesome and flavorful.
To make chicken soup, see Keto Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Crispy Chicken Skin and Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup.
Try These Chicken Recipes Too!
- Gluten-Free Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Juicy Poached Chicken Breasts
- Paleo Chicken Fajitas
- Pan Seared Chicken Breasts
- My Favorite Lemon Basil Roasted Chicken
FAQ
Bone broth made with chicken soup tastes just like a bowl of your favorite homemade chicken soup.
When refrigerated, the natural collagen in the bones causes the broth to gelatinize. All bone broth, if cooked long enough, will solidify when chilled. Just reheat it on the stove for a few minutes and you have soup. It is perfectly fine.
Chicken feet are available at most butcher shops and grocery stores where there is a meat counter.
"📖 Recipe"
Chicken Feet Bone Soup and Bone Broth
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken feet (clean the chicken thoroughly and wash under cold running water)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 carrots
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 parsnip
- 1 yellow onion quartered
- 1 leek white part only, cleaned well
- 3 garlic cloves peeled
- 3 sprigs fresh dill
- 3 sprigs fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
Instructions
STOCK POT RECIPE
- Place the chicken in a large pot and cover with cold water so the chicken parts are submerged.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil, for about 15 minutes, and then skim the foam that rises to the top of the pot with a large spoon.
- Add remaining ingredients. Lower the heat to medium and simmer for 4 to 12 hours, partially covered, to allow steam to escape. You can add water to the pot as it evaporates.
- Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer or a double layer of cheesecloth. Discard the solids. Refrigerate the stock overnight.
- After the stock has been refrigerated for several hours or overnight, you will notice a layer of fat on the surface. Skim and discard the fat layer. Consume the refrigerated broth within 5 days or store it in the freezer for up to six months.
SLOW COOKER RECIPE
- Place all your ingredients in the slow cooker and cover with cold water, leaving 2 inches at the top.
- Turn the heat on HIGH. After one hour, open the pot and skim any foam that has risen to the top.
- Replace the cover with the heat on LOW. Cook for 6 to 12 hours.
- Open the pot and let it cool to room temperature. Strain and discard all solids. Refrigerate overnight.
- After the stock has been refrigerated overnight, you will notice a layer of fat on the surface. Skim and discard the fat layer. Consume the refrigerated broth within 5 days or store it in the freezer for up to six months.
Notes
- Using a Sharpie, label the containers with the date the words CHICKEN BROTH.
- Consider dividing your bone broth into smaller portions before freezing. This allows you to thaw only what you need, reducing waste and making it more convenient to use in recipes.
- For safe thawing, transfer the frozen chicken stock containers to the refrigerator the day before use. If you're in a hurry, you can also thaw the chicken stock by immersing the container in a large bowl of cool water on the kitchen counter.
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