How To Make Bone Broth Taste Better: 7 Beginner To Expert Hacks (2024)

Have you heard about the health benefits of bone broth but have been hesitant to try it? After all, simmered bone juice doesn't exactly scream, "Party in your mouth!" 😜

Or maybe you've been sipping bone broth for months or even years. You know it's not the most glamorous co*cktail, but this golden elixir is a nutritional powerhouse that nourishes your body from the inside out.

So the million-dollar question becomes: How can you make bone broth taste better?

Though it's been around for centuries, bone broth boasts a surprising amount of flavor potential that's waiting to be explored. So let's dish about how to make bone broth taste SO good you'll be wondering where it's been all your life.

WHAT IS BONE BROTH?

Bone broth is a rich, savory stock made by simmering animal bones and cartilage for 12–18+ hours. This slow, steady process extracts collagen, amino acids, essential minerals, and other vital nutrients from the bones. The result? A rich, savory broth packed with ancestral health wisdom.

Bone broth is a wellness staple for everyone, from seasoned enthusiasts to beginners. It offers way more perks for your health than collagen peptides alone. Science shows bone broth may support:

  • BETTER IMMUNITY. The amino acids in bone broth may help boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to those pesky sniffles.[*][*]
  • GUT HEALTH. The collagen in bone broth helps soothe and heal your gut lining, which can support better digestion, optimal gut health, and overall well-being.[*][*]
  • HYDRATION AND OPTIMAL ELECTROLYTE BALANCE. Bone broth contains electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium to ensure peak mental and physical performance and prevent dehydration, especially after a workout.[*]
  • BONE AND JOINT HEALTH. Collagen is a major component of cartilage, so bone broth can help keep your joints happy and healthy.[*][*] The amino acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin in bone broth may also relieve pain and stiffness.[*][*]

So now that you're dialed into the top bone broth benefits, you're probably wondering:

WHAT DOES BONE BROTH TASTE LIKE?

Bone broth generally has a mild, savory, umami flavor and a pleasant aroma. It's not as intensely flavorful as a seasoned soup broth because it's technically the backbone of that finished product.

Like any food, the taste of bone broth varies depending on how it's made. Quality and time matter here. Delicious mugs start with the highest-quality bone broth ingredients — like grass-fed beef bones, pasture-raised chicken bones, and organic veggies, herbs, and spices. The process also can't be rushed.

Good bone broth has more body than stock due to the naturally occurring collagen and gelatin. It should even gel when chilled — the only tangible way to measure the presence of collagen. Anything else is a compromise.

Though many people dig bone broth on their first try, it can be a bit of an acquired taste for others.

DOES BONE BROTH TASTE GOOD TO BEGINNERS?

What happens if it's not love at first sip? No worries! You can train your tastebuds to enjoy the flavor of bone broth with a few simple palate-hacking tips.

START WITH CHICKEN BONE BROTH

Chicken broth is an ideal starting point if you're new to bone broth. It often has a familiar, comforting flavor reminiscent of your Grandma's chicken noodle soup.

SIP BEFORE YOU GULP

Experts say consistent daily repetition is the biggest factor influencing whether a behavior becomes a habit or part of your automatic daily routine.[*]

So, if you want to build a healthy bone broth practice (and eventually make your way to a bone broth cleanse!), start slowly and be consistent. Give your tastebuds time to understand and savor this new, complex bone broth flavor profile.

Game plan: Take one sip daily for one week. Then, progress to two sips every day. On the third week, set your sights on drinking 1/4 cup of bone broth each day. Bump that up to 1/2 cup the next week, and so on, until you're sipping one cup daily (or more!).

THINK BEYOND THE SIP WITH CREATIVE BONE BROTH RECIPES

This brothy brew isn't just for drinking! The savory taste of bone broth makes a fantastic base for your favorite recipes — from soups, stews, and sauces to mashed potatoes, overnight oats, and popsicles (really!).

You'll either mask the flavor of bone broth until you get used to it or start to realize the incredible depth it adds to your culinary creations and fall in love.

So unlock a universe of delicious possibilities with our collection of easy, mouthwatering bone broth-based recipes like:

  • 10-Minute Chicken Queso Dip
  • Chicken Broccoli Mac 'N' Cheese
  • Swedish Beef Meatballs
  • Chicken Satay with Bone Broth Peanut Sauce
  • Protein-Powered Paleo Chicken Salad
  • Truffle and Herb Mashed Potatoes

Follow these tips, and you'll transform from a bone broth newbie to a seasoned sipper!

HOW TO MAKE BONE BROTH TASTE BETTER

So, you've grown accustomed to your daily bone broth habit? You even like it on its own now? You must be glowing from the inside out! ✨

But consuming something every day can still get boring over time — no matter how good it is for you. So now you need a few expert tricks to take your bone broth game from Vitamin Meh to OMG, YUM!

These hacks add variety, double down on flavor, and upgrade your entire bone broth experience:

NUDGE YOUR BONE BROTH FLAVOR WITH THE BASICS

Like any good recipe, you can season bone broth with a little extra salt or pepper to enhance its natural flavors. Nuanced notes you may have missed before may take center stage on your tongue, making it feel like a whole new recipe.

The same goes for swirling in healthy fats! Fat equals flavor, adding a luxurious richness to your broth to raise it from good to gourmet. Just warm up one tablespoon of a healthy fat from this list and combine it with your broth:

  • Grass-fed butter or ghee
  • Coconut oil or MCT oil
  • Beef tallow
  • Avocado oil
  • Extra virgin olive oil

These fatty, healthy additions to bone broth also make it more filling and satiating. See ya, afternoon snack raid!

SPICE IT UP

Think beyond the usual salt and pepper and let your inner chef shine with these easy bone broth add-ins:

  • HERBS. 🌿 Whether dried or fresh from your garden, the best bone broth herbs make each mug a new adventure. Think: rosemary, thyme, parsley, bay leaves, oregano, sage, tarragon, and even lavender. The possibilities are endless!
  • SPICES. 🌶️ For an extra kick in the flavor department, consider tossing in spices for bone broth like ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper, chili flakes, crushed red pepper flakes, curry powder, coriander, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, and more!
  • AROMATICS. ♨️ Saute fresh or warm up leftover garlic, onions, carrots, mushrooms, fennel, leeks, etc., then mix them into your broth. You'll score warm, savory, deeply satisfying aromas and flavors in each sip.
  • ACID. 🍋 A squeeze of lemon or lime juice or a splash of vinegar (we're partial to apple cider vinegar!) brightens up the flavor and cuts through any richness.

GET SAUCY

Making bone broth taste better doesn't have to take forever. Leverage your fridge or pantry staples to make the magic of customization happen in a flash. Add a splash of these sauces to unlock a new dimension of flavor:

  • Hot sauce
  • Dijon mustard
  • Gochujang
  • Sriracha
  • Miso paste
  • Soy sauce
  • Pesto
  • Chimichurri
  • Harissa paste

GO FOR GLOBAL INSPIRED FLAVOR PAIRINGS

Mixing in your favorite sauces or adding herbs and spices to bone broth delivers a touch of magic. But if you really want to make bone broth delicious, it's all about combining these flavors to take your taste buds on a culinary adventure.

🌏 Sip your way around the world with our passport of Instant Bone Broth flavors like:

  • RAMEN. This Asian-inspired broth melds chicken bone broth with onion, garlic, tamari soy sauce, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and sesame seed oil.
  • LEMON GINGER. Tangy, citrusy lemon and freshly grated ginger, deliciously and delicately balanced by the sweetness of organic honey.
  • MUSHROOM. Rich and umami grass-fed beef bone broth combines with roasted mushrooms, garlic, and herbs to create a complex flavor you'll keep reaching for.
  • THAI COCONUT. Chicken bone broth marries with creamy coconut milk, lemongrass, and Thai chili for a refreshing take on the classic Tom Kha Gai Soup.

Let these creative ways to flavor bone broth inspire your next creation, or skip the fuss of homemade bone broth and always keep them on hand!

NO TIME TO DIY? SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE WITH BARE BONES BROTH

Okay, let's be honest. Making homemade bone broth is awesome, but life can get super hectic ultra-fast. We want convenience and health-supporting nutrition without sacrificing taste.

That's where our perfectly seasoned Instant Bone Broth steps in to be your hero! Simply rip, mix, and sip like tea or coffee for a nourishing snack (with 10 grams of collagen protein!) anytime, anywhere.

Choose from solo packs of our grass-fed beef, chicken, or restaurant-inspired bone broth flavors.

Or keep your taste buds on their toes with our variety packs — from our classic beef bone broth and chicken bone broth to our limited edition flavors and bestsellers, there's something for every palate.

🙌 We only use high-quality ingredients and non-GMO herbs and spices to craft the World’s first instant bone broth, so you can enjoy all the benefits of bone broth without spending hours in the kitchen.

DITCH THE BONE BROTH BOREDOM FOR GOOD! 🎉

Bone broth is a delicious, nutritious addition to any wellness routine. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes in, now you know how to add flavor to bone broth to make it taste extraordinary.

This golden elixir is like a blank canvas for culinary creativity and customization. So experiment with different flavor combos to discover the recipe that makes you smile and feel like your best self.

Excited to begin your bone broth journey? Convenient, mess-free, and ready in minutes — our Instant Bone Broth is your healthy shortcut to crave-worthy sipping! Find your new favorite flavor now!


Our mission at Bare Bones is to meet you where you are and nourish you with real, whole-food-based nutrients in the form that best fits your lifestyle.

How To Make Bone Broth Taste Better: 7 Beginner To Expert Hacks (2024)

FAQs

How To Make Bone Broth Taste Better: 7 Beginner To Expert Hacks? ›

A little salt and pepper can go such a long way towards creating a delicious, flavorful broth. Other popular seasonings include herbs like bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, parsley, savory, sage, and basil. Turmeric, cayenne pepper, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor and possibly even some nutritional benefits.

How to make bone broth more flavorful? ›

A little salt and pepper can go such a long way towards creating a delicious, flavorful broth. Other popular seasonings include herbs like bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, parsley, savory, sage, and basil. Turmeric, cayenne pepper, and ginger can also be added for extra flavor and possibly even some nutritional benefits.

What is the key to good bone broth? ›

Vegetables and herbs are needed to add flavor and nutrients to your bone broth recipe. Vegetables can be loosely chopped into 2-3 inch chunks. Onions can be quartered (leave the skin on), carrots (unpeeled) and celery chopped into thirds. Parsley, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves can be tossed in whole.

What not to add to bone broth? ›

However, do not add onions, carrots, celery or herbs to your initial pot of simmering bone broth. Instead, enjoy the pure, rich flavor that comes from just the bones, fat, connective tissue and any small amount of meat that may still be on the bones; it is not something that needs or wants amending.

What makes bone broth better? ›

The longer you simmer broth, the more flavor it will take on from the bones and tissue. Add flavor to your bone broth with ingredients like onion, celery, carrot, parsley, thyme, and garlic. Add these before you boil the broth. You can also prepare bone broth in a pressure cooker or slow cooker.

How do you deepen the flavor of broth? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

What can I add to bone broth too? ›

  1. Cooking Rice, Quinoa or Other Grains. This way of using bone broth is SUPER simple. ...
  2. Sautéing/Steaming Veggies. We love to sauté veggies in lard, but another alternative is using broth! ...
  3. Using as a base for soups & stews. ...
  4. Substitute for Water/Broth/Stock in Any Recipe. ...
  5. Sipping Bone Broth From a Mug.
May 12, 2022

Why do you put lemon juice in bone broth? ›

I love adding a little lemon to the broth as well because I think it makes it lighter and more flavorful, making it also easier to sip on throughout the day.

Which bone broth has the most collagen? ›

“While beef bone broth and chicken bone broth are healthful, beef bone broth has more collagen per serving. It is also better for gut health, for immunity, for sleep, and for mood. And it's better for skin and nails,” Schiff says.

What type of bone broth is healthiest? ›

What kind of bone broth is healthy to drink? Non-gmo beef or chicken bone broth is the healthiest option to drink. Beef and chicken are both great options because they are high in protein, collagen, gelatin and amino acids for gut health and skin hydration.

What are the negatives of bone broth? ›

Other side effects
  • Stomach upset.
  • Increased bowel movements.
  • Inflammatory bowel syndrome (may trigger IBS)
  • Bloating.
  • Constipation.
  • Nausea.

Why put carrots in bone broth? ›

It's simply convenience. Many recipes, at least those based on French technique, call for dicing the mirepoix (onion, carrot, celery). It's true that in a long simmered stock, all the flavor will eventually be extracted from large pieces of vegetables.

Why put apple cider vinegar in bone broth? ›

Then add apple cider vinegar, which is added primarily because the acidity breaks down the collagen and makes it more abundant in the broth. You can also sub lemon juice, but we prefer apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover.

How do you make bone broth taste better for drinking? ›

🌶️ For an extra kick in the flavor department, consider tossing in spices for bone broth like ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper, chili flakes, crushed red pepper flakes, curry powder, coriander, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, and more!

What does the Mayo Clinic say about bone broth? ›

Bone broth is a good choice to include in your diet along with all the other foods that fight inflammation. Organic chicken or beef bone broths (or make your own) have many beneficial nutrients that will help improve bones and joints, along with all the other benefits.

Is grocery store bone broth healthy? ›

The bones used to make commercial broth may contain high levels of heavy metals, which could make their way into the broth. However, homemade or store-bought bone broth levels are very low and unlikely to cause health problems.

Why is my bone broth not flavorful? ›

You can fix bland bone broth by boiling it down to concentrate the flavor, adding a touch of salt and spices like curry powder, cumin or black pepper. If the broth is very bland, it's likely because there isn't enough gelatin in it, this begs the question as to why you're drinking a bland product.

How do you make homemade broth more flavorful? ›

To the pot, add cut-up vegetables, such as celery (with leaves), carrots, and unpeeled onion, as well as seasonings, such as salt, dried thyme, peppercorns, fresh parsley, bay leaves, and unpeeled garlic clove halves. All of these add flavor to the broth.

Should I season my bone broth? ›

If you're going to be drinking the broth, you'll likely want to season it now. Add salt to taste. If you're using the broth for cooking, you may want to skip the salt for now or keep the levels low. It's much easier, after all, to add more salt as you're cooking than to correct for over-seasoning.

Is it better to cook bone broth longer? ›

Think 18-36 hours! In this longer time frame, the bones really break down and start to disintegrate into the broth, thereby providing even more health benefits, i.e. collagen, immune-boosting compounds, and gut-healing gelatin. So how does one even go about making this miracle liquid??

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