Making Slow Cooker Beef Bone Broth (Easy Brodo di Carne Recipe) using your slow cooker is very simple and requires almost no hands-on time at all with delicious results. Homemade bone broth has many health benefits and can be used in various Italian recipes.
If you like this recipe you may like my Italian Wedding Soup or my Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Soup.
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When the temperatures finally cool down here, you can find a regular rotation of soups and broths being made in my slow cooker or Dutch oven and even my Instant Pot. Beef broth (brodo di carne)is one of my favorites to make!
This slow cooker beef bone broth-or brodo di carne-is rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. Using your crock pot means almost no hands-on time, yet you'll end up with a nutrient-dense broth you can sip on its own or use in soups, risottos, sauces, and other Italian recipes.
Bone broth is Whole30 compliant, gluten-free, keto, paleo-friendly, and an essential part of my cold-weather cooking rotation. Once you try homemade, you'll never go back to store-bought.
There are so many different broth options available, but no matter how fancy the brand, nothing compares to your own homemade Slow Cooker Beef Broth-Brodo di Carne.
It is so comforting to come home and smell the lovely broth that has been cooking away in the slow cooker all day. It is just delicious to take a cup out and sip it slowly at the end of a stressful day. It's sometimes even better for me than a hot cup of coffee.
Why You'll Love This Slow Cooker Bone Broth
- Easy & hands-off - Your crock pot does the work.
- Nutrient-dense - Collagen, minerals, healthy fats.
- Versatile - Drink it or use as a base for endless dishes.
- Make-ahead friendly - Stores well in fridge/freezer.
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
- 2 lbs beef bones (marrow, knuckle, or a mix-grass-fed if possible)
- 1 large onion, peeled & quartered
- 4 large carrots, peeled & halved
- 4 celery stalks, halved
- ½ bunch parsley
- 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1-2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (helps extract minerals)
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Water, to cover
- Optional for deeper flavor:
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- Sprigs of thyme or rosemary
Step-by-Step: How to Make Bone Broth in a Slow Cooker
1. Roast the Bones (Optional, for milder flavor)
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place bones on a baking sheet, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, and roast for 15-20 minutes, turning halfway.
2. Brown the Bones
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Brown bones 10-15 minutes for extra flavor.
3. Add to Slow Cooker
- Transfer browned bones to your crock pot.
- Add onion, carrots, celery, parsley, bay leaf, and any optional herbs/garlic.
4. Add Water & Season
- Pour in water to fully cover ingredients.
- Add apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper.
5. Slow Cook
- Low setting: 12-24 hours for maximum richness (minimum 8 hours if short on time).
- Skim any foam during the first few hours. Top up with water if needed.
6. Strain & Store
- Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight.
Pro Tips
- Apple cider vinegar helps pull minerals from bones-don't skip it.
- Use a mix of bones (marrow, knuckle, meaty ribs) for balanced flavor.
- I chopped my vegetables in large pieces.
- Be sure to check the broth occasionally and skim off any foam from the surface and add more water if needed to keep the ingredients covered.
- Longer cooking = richer broth-24 hours is worth it. I cooked mine on low for about 10 hours. You can cook it for 8-12 hours. The broth is done when it is a rich color and very flavorful.
- I usually make the broth a day in advance, let it cool to room temperature, and refrigerate overnight.
- Don't discard the gelatin layer-it's where much of the collagen lives.
How to freeze homemade bone broth
- If you don't use up your broth within 5 days, it can be frozen! Or freeze it once it cools down to have your own homemade and delicious bone broth whenever you need it. Keep frozen for up to 3 months.
- Freeze your bone broth in silicone trays. Store each portion (it's a puck of broth) in zipped lock freezer bags.
- Each portion is ⅓ cup. I freeze my bone broth in silicone trays, and then store the broth "pucks" in zip top freezer bags. So convenient for when you're using in a recipe. It is essential if you're prepping for recipes and such a lifesaver for when you're craving a cup of broth to have it frozen and on hand!
FAQs
Anywhere from 12 to 24 hours on low. The longer, the richer and more nutrient-dense it will be.
Yes-use roasted chicken bones or carcasses for a lighter broth.
It helps extract calcium and minerals from the bones, making the broth more nutritious.
They're similar, but bone broth cooks much longer and focuses on extracting collagen and minerals.
Many people enjoy 1-2 cups daily, but check with your doctor for your needs.
Yes-cook on high pressure for about 2 hours with a natural release.
Yes, if you don't have a slow cooker, simply make it in a Dutch oven or large stock pot on the stove and let it slowly cook.
Serving Ideas
- Deglaze pans for rich gravies.
- Sip hot from a mug with a pinch of sea salt.
- Use as the base for Italian wedding soup, risotto alla Milanese, or paprika cauliflower soup.
Some other recipes you'll love:
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Broth-Brodo di Carne
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. beef bones
- 1 large onion peeled and quartered
- 4 large carrots peeled and cut in half
- 4 celery stalks cut in half
- ½ bunch of parsley
- bay leaf optional
- 1-2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- When the beef bones are browned (approximately 10-15 minutes), transfer them to the slow cooker.
- Add in the vegetables, parsley and bay leaf (if you're using one).
- Cover with water. At the this point, add a little more salt if needed (to your taste).
- Cook on high for about 3 hours and skim the any foam that comes to the top.
- Once it is simmering at a low boil (mine was at about 3 hours), change the temperature to low, and cook for about another 5-7 hours (I cooked mine total 8 hours).
- Remove the parsley, bay leaf, vegetables and the bones; strain the broth.
- Refrigerate overnight and the next day remove any fat that has solidified on the surface.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
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This bone broth was a great recipe. Love how easy it is to just throw everything in the slow cooker.
I have been looking into bone broth recipes, and this one was a hit! So easy to make and tastes great. Thanks for sharing!
The aroma filled my home, and browning the bones first added such a lovely depth of flavor.
SO easy to make and a terrific staple to have on hand for soups, stews and more! Delicious, too!
There's just something about broths that perks me up when I'm down with a cold or flu. I'm not sick right now but the rainy season is making me want to cook this. Store-bought broths are quick but subpar compared to the ones made at home. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Hi Jet-Totally agree that there is nothing store bought that compares to homemade ones...and they're great to have even when you're not sick. Thank you!
There's just something about broths that makes me feel better when I'm down with a cold or flu. Storebought broths are good but it cannot compare to the ones we can make ourselves. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
I can practically smell all the savory aromas through my computer! Looking forward to cooking with this broth for dinner tomorrow!
I tried this over the weekend and it was great!
This is such a great idea! I use so much broth in the winter making soups that I definitely need to learn to make it at home! Trying this ASAP!
Fantastic, Beth! Hope you love it!
I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!
I adore brodo di carne! I make it every week. With tortellini is the best!
Nothing beats homemade! I am going to have to try this recipe!
Even when living in sunny, warm Florida, my husband does not miss an opportunity to make chicken broth. It is sort of a 'fringe benefit', an extra gift from the chicken.
I love using the slow cooker! What a useful recipe!
I've never made homemade broth...I bet this tastes amazing!
YUM! What an amazing broth to have on hand! I need to do this more often since we use so much broth during the wintertime, and I know this has got to taste so much better than the canned variety.
What an amazing thing to have on hand!
Well I definitely want some of this!