How to Make Kylie Jenner’s Go-to Bone Broth Without Any Bones

In 2020, Kylie Jenner told Elle that she gets through two jars of bone broth every single day. She told the magazine that she drinks it immediately after waking–usually mixed with lemon and lavender for flavor.

The reality TV star and business mogul is far from alone. Gwyneth Paltrow is one of the dish’s most famous fans, and Salma Hayek once said she drinks a cup a day, even though she finds it particularly unappealing. 

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The A-listers are not alone in their love of bone broth. One bone broth recipe from TikTok creator Maria Nova has around 1.2 million views. Another from fellow influencer Steph Robinson has 1.4 million. The reason all of these people are sipping on animal bones? Health. Some say the drink is anti-inflammatory and good for the gut. But is that true? And are there other ways to get the benefits without bones? It turns out, there are many ways to enjoy a nourishing broth, and plenty of them are totally animal-free. 

What is bone broth?

Bone broth is made by simmering the bones of animals. It’s often made with the bones of cows, but it can be made from any animal. Chicken bone broth is popular, too. Some also prefer fish bone broth, or bone broth made with lamb. The idea is that by simmering the bones, the nutrients they contain leach out into the water. The remaining liquid, or broth, can then be used in stock for cooking or simply drunk as-is or Jenner-style, with herbs and spices.

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You can make bone broth from scratch or buy it from stores. In fact, in part thanks to celebrity endorsement, the bone broth market is huge. According to Fortune Business Insights, it was valued at more than $1 billion in 2023. 

What is the downside of bone broth?

Bone broth is widely believed to be nutritious. Per Healthline, it likely contains calcium and magnesium, for example, as well as anti-inflammatory amino acids, which could soothe digestive problems. But that said, bone broth might not be quite as nutritious as fans hope. The publication notes that only a very small amount of bone minerals actually leach out into the water. However, there isn’t much research into bone broth to confirm its exact nutritional content and health benefits. 

“The nutritional content of bone broths can vary greatly depending on the recipe and ingredients used,” Lindsey Wohlford, MS, RD, LD told the MD Anderson Cancer Center. “There are many purported benefits of bone broth from reducing inflammation to improving gut health to antiaging; however, research is currently inadequate to support these claims.”

She also noted that there could be some risks associated with bone broth. As well as nutrients, the bones could leach toxins, like lead, into the water. Plus these types of broths also tend to be high in sodium, which can be damaging to health when consumed in high amounts.

“One serving of broth can provide about 20 percent of your daily sodium requirement, depending on the recipe,” warns nutrition platform Zoe. It adds: “While bone broth can be a flavorful ingredient, it won’t make a big difference to your overall nutritional intake.”

However, research does confirm that one of the best ways to improve your nutritional intake is to increase your consumption of plant-based, whole foods, like vegetables, spices, and herbs, which are packed with anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly nutrients, like fiber and antioxidants. 

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“Fruit and vegetables have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and boost the health of our blood vessels and immune system,” says Dagfinn Aune, PhD, a nutrition researcher who led a study on the health benefits of vegetables at Imperial College London in 2017. “This may be due to the complex network of nutrients they hold. For instance, they contain many antioxidants, which may reduce DNA damage, and lead to a reduction in cancer risk.”

So if you want to create a truly nourishing broth, adding more vegetables might be a good place to start.

Beyond bone broth: nourishing plant-based broth recipes

If you don’t fancy simmering animal bones, these vegan recipes will walk you through how to create a nourishing, umami-rich broth using nutrient-dense ingredients like mushrooms, celery, carrots, and so much more.

Okonomi Kitchen

1 Gut-Healthy Vegetable Umami Broth

This comforting broth recipe from Okonomi Kitchen combines ingredients like vegetable scraps (like carrots and celery), shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and lemon peel to create an umami-rich, nutrient-dense broth that is perfect for everything from soups to stews to gravy. But it’s tasty enough to drink, too. “When feeling under the weather, I like to sip on this umami broth,” says recipe developer Lisa Kitahara. “It has more of a kick to it and is packed with feel-good gut-healthy ingredients. I like to think of it as a vegan version of bone broth.”
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Wild Vegan Flower

2 Vegan Beef Broth

Again, this recipe from Wild Vegan Flower calls for nourishing ingredients like mushrooms and vegetable scraps to create a comforting and nutrient-dense alternative to bone broth. It also includes ingredients like beet stems, red wine, and cocoa powder, primarily for that beefy color. The resulting mixture is incredibly versatile. “Use this vegetarian beef broth as a base for vegan pho, vegan beefy stew, or to simmer beefy seitan steaks in,” says recipe developer Jessica Flowers.
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Simply Quinoa

3 Instant Pot Mushroom Vegan Bone Broth

An instant pot is the ideal kitchen tool for simmering vegan bone broth. It’s low-effort but maximum reward, all you need to do is throw the ingredients into the pot, leave them on high pressure for around two hours, strain, and then enjoy. “It’s nourishing, gut-friendly, and tastes amazing,” says recipe creator Alyssa Rimmer.
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It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

4 Vegetable Broth From Veggie Scraps

When you’re cooking your favorite plant-forward meals, don’t throw the vegetable scraps away. Instead, keep them on hand to create a hearty vegetable broth that can add flavor and nutrition to your favorite soups and stews. It’s nourishing and low-waste—a win-win.
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Courtney Homestead

5 Vegan Chicken Broth

If you’re craving a bit of meaty flavor, this vegan chicken broth recipe will give you all the flavor of, well, chicken broth, but with none of the actual animal products. It combines ingredients like carrots, bay leaves, herbs, garlic, and onions with poultry seasoning to create a comforting, umami-rich broth. “This vegan chicken broth can be subbed into any recipe you need chicken broth for,” says recipe author Courtney Hunter. “It’s full of flavor and the perfect substitute.”
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