MSG Free Herbed Bone Broth Wellness Cup

Total time2 hr 50 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time2 hr 30 min

5.0

(16)

There is something deeply restorative about wrapping your hands around a warm mug of broth made entirely from scratch, and this herbed wellness cup delivers that comfort in the cleanest way possible. Store-bought broths and bouillon cubes are notorious for hiding glutamates, yeast extracts, and flavor enhancers that make them a minefield for anyone avoiding added MSG — so making your own is genuinely the smartest move. The ingredient list here is refreshingly straightforward: chicken bones, fresh vegetables, and a handful of aromatic herbs do all the heavy lifting, with a splash of apple cider vinegar to help draw out the good stuff from the bones during the long, slow simmer. A quick blanching step at the start pulls out surface impurities and keeps the finished broth beautifully clear rather than murky or cloudy. The recipe also caps the simmer time at two to two-and-a-half hours, which is a thoughtful detail that keeps the broth tasting bright and clean. Ladle it straight into a mug for a soothing sip, or cool and freeze it in portions so you always have a pure, additive-free base ready to go.

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Ingredients

4 servings

2 lbs chicken backs or necks, fresh (not frozen-thawed overnight)
6 cups cold water
2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 sprigs fresh parsley
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp salt, or to taste

Instructions

1
Place the chicken backs or necks in a large stockpot and cover with the cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately drain and rinse the bones under cold running water. Return the rinsed bones to the pot — this blanching step removes surface impurities and keeps the broth clear.
2
Add the carrots, celery, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and apple cider vinegar to the pot. Pour in enough fresh cold water to cover everything by about 1 inch (roughly 6 cups). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low so the liquid holds a gentle, steady simmer with small bubbles breaking the surface.

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