Why Chicken Feet Bone Broth Is One of the Best Foods for Healthy Skin
Chicken feet bone broth might not sound glamorous, but it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can make for skin, gut, and overall health.
I know the idea of chicken feet can sound a little strange, but once you understand what they provide, it actually makes a lot of sense why traditional cultures relied on them for generations.
Chicken feet are naturally rich in collagen, gelatin, glycine, minerals, and connective tissue nutrients that help support:
• healthy skin
• digestion
• joint health
• recovery
• overall resilience in the body
This is the kind of traditional nourishment the body recognizes and knows how to use.
And honestly? In a world obsessed with powders, supplements, and synthetic wellness products, sometimes the most powerful support comes from real food made slowly in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
• 2 to 3 lbs chicken feet (pasture raised if possible, scrubbed and nails trimmed)
• 1 to 2 chicken backs or wings (optional but adds flavor and depth)
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, smashed (optional if sulfur sensitive)
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• Small bunch parsley stems
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf
• Filtered water to cover (about 10 to 12 cups)
Optional Boosters
• 1 to 2 strips kombu for extra minerals and iodine
• 1 inch fresh ginger root for digestion support
• A handful of shiitake mushrooms for immune support
The base broth is incredibly nourishing on its own, so don’t feel like you need to add anything fancy.
How to Make It
1: Clean the feet
Blanch the chicken feet in boiling water for about 5 minutes.
Rinse well and trim the nails if needed. I use kitchen scissors.
2: Combine ingredients
Add the chicken feet, optional backs or wings, vegetables, vinegar, and seasonings to a large stockpot or slow cooker.
Cover everything with filtered water.
3: Simmer
You have two options depending on what you prefer.
Low histamine option:
Simmer gently for 4 to 6 hours.
Gelatin rich broth:
Simmer very low for 12 to 18 hours.
Longer cooking pulls out more collagen and gelatin.
4: Finish
Add the parsley stems during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
This helps preserve the minerals and fresh flavor.
5: Strain and cool
Strain the broth and let it cool.
When refrigerated, it should turn into a soft gel. That’s exactly what you want. It means the collagen and gelatin extracted properly.
Storage + Use
Once the broth has cooled, I like to freeze it in silicone molds.
The 1 cup molds are my favorite. They freeze cleanly, pop out easily, and make reheating simple.
To use:
1: Reheat one portion gently on the stove
2: Add a pinch of high quality sea salt
3: Finish with a small amount of butter and a squeeze of lemon
It’s delicious on its own or served alongside a meal.
Simple, grounding nourishment.
Why I Love Keeping This Around
Chicken feet broth is incredibly rich in the nutrients the body uses to repair and maintain tissues.
Collagen and gelatin support connective tissue and skin structure.
Glycine supports the liver, nervous system, and sleep quality.
Minerals from the bones support adrenal, thyroid, and metabolic function.
The same collagen-supporting nutrients that make bone broth so beneficial for skin, joints, and overall repair are also inspiring the future of skincare science.
Just like nourishing your body with mineral-rich, collagen-rich foods helps support repair from within, products like StemFactor Growth Factor Serum are designed to support the skin’s natural repair processes topically by encouraging healthy skin function and rejuvenation.
