This lazy girl bone broth recipe is rich in gelatin and gut-healthy. It’s super easy to make, and is the perfect base for savory or sweet recipes. 

What Is Lazy Girl Bone Broth?

Lazy girl bone broth is a simple bone broth recipe that uses beef knuckle bones, apple cider vinegar, and water— that’s it. There’s no roasting, and no addition of savory herbs or vegetables to this broth, which makes it a perfect base for savory or sweet recipes. 

I was inspired to create this bone broth recipe when I started sipping on bone broth hot chocolate on a daily basis in the colder months. I realized that the savory flavor of more traditionally made bone broths, which include roasting and infusing with savory herbs or vegetables, doesn’t really taste good in sweet recipes— like hot chocolate. Thus, the lazy girl bone broth was born. 

In this recipe, I skip the roasting step, which not only contributes to a more neutral flavor, but also helps to save time. I use beef knuckle bones to ensure that the broth turns out gelatinous and rich in protein. I add apple cider vinegar to help extract minerals and collagen from the bones. And use water as the base. It’s as simple as that!

Lazy girl bone broth can be added to virtually anything to make it extra nourishing— from warm drinks, to soups, to sauces— the options are endless due to its more neutral flavor.

The Benefits of Bone Broth

There’s many reasons why bone broth is an essential addition to your diet. Here’s why:

• Gelatin: Bone broth is a great source of gelatin— which is a protein that comes from collagen. When we consume gelatin, we boost collagen production in the body. Collagen provides structure and support to our skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues. So if you want glowing skin, and a strong, healthy body, gelatin is a must!

• Amino Acids: Bone broth is rich in amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, arginine, and proline. Known as the “building blocks of life”, amino acids form proteins in the body, protect the gut barrier, support digestion, boost immune function, play a key role in hormone production, and so much more.

• Protein: On average, a cup of gelatinous bone broth contains around 10 grams of protein. Sipping on bone broth throughout the day, or adding it to recipes, will naturally boost your daily protein intake with ease.

• Electrolytes: Electrolytes that hydrate the body— like sodium, magnesium, and potassium, are naturally-occurring in bone broth. 

• Vitamins & Minerals: There are a ton of nourishing vitamins and minerals in bone broth— such as vitamin A, B2, B12, and E, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus, just to name a few.

Lazy Girl Bone Broth Ingredients

• Beef Knuckle Bones- Beef knuckle bones are primarily composed of connective tissues, making them a rich source of collagen. This creates a gelatinous, nutrient-dense broth. I recommend using organic, grass-fed beef bones for the highest-quality broth.

• Apple Cider Vinegar- The acidity in apple cider vinegar helps to break down the bones, extracting nutrients, minerals, and collagen. 

• Water- Water is the base, using just enough to cover the bones. I suggest using filtered or spring water to avoid chemicals, heavy metals and other impurities that are found in tap water.

How to Make Lazy Girl Bone Broth

1. Place bones in a stock-pot or dutch oven. Add apple cider vinegar. Then pour water on top until just covering the bones. 

2. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat, then immediately bring to a simmer by reducing heat to medium-low. 

Optionally, remove the “scum” that rises to the top once boiling. This step is optional, because “scum” is really just denatured congealed protein that is harmless and edible, but will contribute to a more cloudy-looking broth. So, the choice is yours!

3. Cover with a lid, and simmer for 8 hours.

4. Remove from heat, and strain into a heat-safe bowl using a fine mesh strainer. Allow the broth to cool slightly.

5. Transfer to mason jars, cover tightly with a lid, and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Variations

Want to make a savory version of this lazy girl bone broth? Simply add the herbs and vegetables of your choosing! Keep in mind that the more you add, the more water is needed to cover the ingredients. Too much water can lead to a diluted broth. To ensure a final bone broth that gels, keep the ratio of bones to water at about 1 pound of bones to 1 quart of water.

Freezing Tips

I love making a big batch of bone broth and storing it in the freezer for later use. 

However, to prevent the mason jar or container from cracking in the freezer, make sure to skim off the layer of fat that floats to the top while the broth is still warm. And be sure to leave an inch or more of head space at the top of the jar or container to allow the broth to expand while freezing.

Make a Second Batch

Don’t throw away the bones after making your first batch. To make a second batch of broth, simply repeat the process using the same bones before discarding. I’ve done this many times, and the second batch continues to extract further collagen and nutrients, resulting in a gelatinous broth. Though it may be less potent than the first batch— its still rich in nutrients and in my opinion— so worth it!