Rich, deeply flavorful Pork Bone Broth is easy and affordable to make in your slow cooker. All you need are pork bones, a handful of everyday ingredients, water and time.
Commercially made pork broth is harder to find than beef broth and chicken broth. With the rise in popularity of Paleo and other diets, it’s more common, but very expensive. The good news is that it's easy and inexpensive to make broth from scratch at home.
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Ingredients You Need to Make Pork Bone Broth
- Pork Bones: Have your butcher cut raw pork bones (ideally meaty bones with marrow) into pieces that will fit into your slow cooker / crock pot.
- Onion: yellow or white onion
- Carrots: Add more for a sweeter broth.
- Celery: Use the celery leaves too if you like.
- Garlic: fresh garlic cloves
- Black Peppercorns:
- Apple Cider Vinegar: or white vinegar
Why Make Pork Bone Broth?
You'll have no trouble finding chicken, beef or even mushroom broth at your local grocery store, but it's rare to see pork broth. It's worth making homemade pork bone broth because it adds a distinct flavor and luscious mouth feel you won't find in other broths.
Key Steps
- Roasting the bones and vegetables first is an easy step that you shouldn't skip. Your reward is broth with an extraordinary depth of flavor.
- Adding a splash of apple cider vinegar helps break down the collagen (creates a gelatinous broth), amino acids and other nutrients in the bones for a more healthful broth with a rich mouth feel.
- A long simmer is essential, between 12 and 24 hours on low in your slow cooker. But it's hands off and you'll end up with a 10-12 cup batch of broth to portion and use or freeze for up to 6 months.
What to Make with Pork Bone Broth
More Homemade Bone Broths
How to Make Pork Bone Broth
Roast bones and vegetables, in an oven preheated to 400°F, in a single layer on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet.
Transfer bones and vegetables to slow cooker and add water, vinegar and peppercorns. Cook covered for 17-24 hours on low.
Let finished broth cool slightly and strain out large solids with a slotted spoon and discard; strain again through a cheesecloth lined fine sieve. Divide broth among airtight containers and refrigerate overnight. Skim fat off of cold broth. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for 3 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.
Pork Bone Broth
Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork bones
- 1 large onion quartered
- 3 large carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 ribs celery cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 head garlic cut in half crosswise
- 2 tablespoons black peppercorns ~40 peppercorns
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange bones, onion, carrots, celery and garlic in a single layer; roast for 40 minutes.
- Transfer roasted bones and vegetables to slow cooker. Add peppercorns, vinegar and 12-16 cups cold water (depending on the size of your slow cooker). Cover and cook on low for 17 hours (or up to 24 hours).
- Let cool 30 minutes or more then strain out and discard large solids. Strain again through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth (optional) into a large bowl or measuring pitcher. Transfer broth to lidded containers (such as lidded glass quart jars). Refrigerate overnight then skim fat from the top of the cold broth. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 6 months (be sure to leave room at the top of your container to make room for the liquid to expand as it freezes).
This is my second time make it and it’s absolutely amazing!! I will say I do it on the stove top and have it on simmer all day. I love how easy it is and I can just pull it out of the freezer the night before. I’ve used it in making mash potatoes and even cooking rice. Obviously I add it for soups and any recipe that calls for broth. I can’t wait till my second batch is done. Thank you
I'm so glad you're enjoying this recipe, Chrissy! Thanks so much for your cooking notes too.
A beautifully textured broth with waaaay too much pepper and no salt.
I tossed the vegetables part way through the roasting to coat them a little with the rendered pork fat and increase the browning. I also used foil instead of parchment and “deglazed” the pan with some of the water to get more of the fond into the broth.
Using some of the broth with soy sauce for ramen. The rest is going into my freezer labeled “Pepper Broth”.
Hi Jeanne! Thank you for your cooking notes. Did you use ground pepper instead of whole peppercorns? I find that whole peppercorns add subtle flavor, but that volume of ground pepper would certainly result in an overly-peppery broth.
I used a mix of whole black and milder white peppercorns. They were pretty fresh so maybe that’s where the potency came from. The ramen was quite good anyway.
Hello! This is my first attempt at a pork broth. After filling my crock pot most of the way, I realized it wasn't going to fit the full 16 cups of water, oh well, 14 is close enough. I think that 3 tbsp of peppercorns is WAY too much though. I don't think 2 more cups of water would have made much of a difference. I'm adding some lemon juice now at the end to cut through it. Otherwise, everything seems to have worked out well!
Hi there, Marissa! My slow cooker is on the larger size (7 quart). I'm glad you're happy with this and can make adjustments next time to make it perfect for you!
Hi Marissa, I have been serious about cooking for about 20 yrs and love finding different techniques that produce better dishes. I have just run across your site and it intrigues me.
In the few bone broth's I have looked at (chicken and pork, (I also like Oxtail bone broths)) you seem to lean towards the slow cookers. I would love to have your opinion on making bone stocks with a slow cooker vs pressure cooker. I always pressure cook my stocks and broths for about 2 hr. before I pressure can them. I have not tried them the slow cooker. Do you think it makes a richer stock?
P.S. to Deborah's concern, I have had to can a day or 2 after I made my product, stocks, sauces, chili etc. I always bring whatever I am canning backup to temperature before I can it and have never had an issue. I did discuss this with a rep. from the Ball Corporation who indicated that should not be a problem.
Hi there, Tony! I don't have experience making stock in a pressure cooker, so I can't help you there. Because I don't can traditionally (I store my stock in the freezer), the slow cooker is the most convenient cooking option for me.
Hello I made pork bone broth to pressure can, but I had an emergency and just covered it well, put it my refrigerator for a couple of days. Is it ok to still pressure can the broth?
Hi Deborah! I'd be comfortable freezing it for sure, but I'd check with an expert source for safety guidelines on canning like this one. I hope that helps and I hope that all is well.
Yup, you simply cannot beat homemade broth made with bones - it's so rich in flavour. Wonderful colour, too!
Thanks so much, Ben!
That broth looks rich! Got to try this out
Thank you, Raymund. It really is!
Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I've ever come across pork broth - then again, I'm not sure I've looked for it. No need to go hunting for it thanks to this recipe! This sounds flavorful and delicious!
Thanks, David! I hope you'll give it a try.
I drink homemade broth every day (I usually do it with beef bone, connected tissues, etc., no veggies for me :-)). Homemade broth is simply the best superfood out there!
It really is feel-good food!