10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Chicken on the Bone (and the Skin too!)

For generations, families instinctively knew that a good chicken dinner meant more than just flavor—it meant nourishment. Cooking chicken on the bone and keeping the skin on was the secret to the immediate benefit of tender chicken meat to enjoy during the meal, as well as the long-term benefits of glowing skin and healthy joints for the diner.

Watch the video below, and then scroll down through this post for even more tips and insights you won’t want to miss! (This is the second video about eating meat on the bone that began with 10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Meat On the Bone: Nature’s Original Collagen Boost and Multivitamin.)

Rediscovering Chicken on the Bone

Long before modern skincare products or supplements, nature provided all the collagen, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid our bodies needed right in the humble chicken pot. Let’s rediscover why eating chicken on the bone—and the skin—is one of the most nourishing traditions you can bring back to your table.

Disclaimer

Note: I am not a doctor or medical professional. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any type of illness. If you are not feeling well, please seek professional medical attention and medicine. And if you are thinking of supplementing your treatment with home remedies, be sure to talk to your medical professional about them. It’s important that you get the medicine and treatments you need to get back to good health.

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The Benefits of Eating Chicken on the Bone (and the Skin)

Chicken cooked on the bone—and with the skin—offers natural collagen, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid that can help your skin, joints, and overall vitality. It’s the time-honored, whole-food way to help achieve the same benefits that modern serums and powders promise.

1. Natural Source of Hyaluronic Acid

Chicken bones, joints, and skin are rich in hyaluronic acid, the same compound found in expensive serums.

• Helps keep skin plump, hydrated, and youthful.

• Supports joint lubrication and overall mobility.

• Provides a natural way to nourish skin from the inside out.

2. Collagen and Gelatin for Skin and Joints

Cooking chicken on the bone slowly releases collagen, which turns into gelatin in the pan or pot.

• Builds strong joints, smooth skin, and healthy hair and nails.

• Supplies a natural ‘beauty food’ that also strengthens connective tissue.

3. Healthy Fats in the Skin

Chicken skin (especially from pasture-raised or organic birds) contains nourishing fats.

• Provides fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K2.

• Supports hormone health, cell repair, and nutrient absorption.

• Acts as the good fats that keep skin soft and metabolism steady.

4. Natural Moisture and Flavor

Cooking with the bone and skin intact keeps meat tender and juicy.

• The skin locks in moisture while basting the meat in its natural oils.

• The flavor is deeper, richer, and more satisfying than skinless, boneless chicken.

5. Rich in Trace Minerals

Bones and connective tissue release small amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron into the surrounding chicken and drippings.


• Even in small quantities, these minerals support immunity, muscle strength, and energy.

• These minerals also exist in an all-natural, highly bioavailable form.

6. Strengthens Connective Tissue and Joints

The combination of collagen, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid supports every joint, tendon, and ligament.

• Encourages joint elasticity and cartilage renewal.

• Provides a gentle, ancestral way to care for the body over time.

7. Natural Collagen-Peptide Combination

Eating both meat and skin provides the same amino acids modern collagen powders promise—but in their original, whole-food form.

• Supplies glycine, proline, and glutamine naturally.

• Helps make it easier for the body to recognize and use than synthetic supplements.

8. Provides Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

Especially in pasture-raised poultry, the skin contains CLA, a fatty acid known for:

• Supporting immune function
.
• Encouraging fat metabolism
.
• Reducing inflammation.

9. Budget-Friendly and Nourishing

Whole chickens or bone-in cuts with skin are more affordable than boneless, skinless options.

• Get more flavor, more nutrients, and less waste.

• Can simmer leftover bones into healing broth—a true two-for-one meal.

10. Deeply Satisfying and Comforting

There’s something soulful about crispy chicken skin and juicy meat falling off the bone.

• It’s a complete, comforting meal that connects us to our ancestral heritage.

• Eating this way nourishes body and soul.

Delicious Ways to Enjoy Chicken Cooked on the Bone

Chicken cooked on the bone—skin and all—is one of the most comforting, nourishing traditions you can bring into your modern pioneer kitchen. These chicken recipes open the door to tender, juicy meals that warm the heart as much as the body.

From golden roast chickens to slow-simmered soups that fill the house with childhood memories, here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy chicken on the bone in all its delicious, skin-on glory.

And of course, don’t miss out on my complete chicken bone broth playlist curated just for you!

Nourishing You From The Inside Out

Eating chicken cooked on the bone nourishes you from the inside out. This simple, old-fashioned way of cooking delivers natural hyaluronic acid, collagen, gelatin, healthy fats, and gentle trace minerals that help to support skin, joints, gut health, immunity, and overall vitality.

Chicken cooked with the bone—and the skin—offers deep comfort, rich flavor, lasting satisfaction, and a heartfelt connection to the timeless wisdom of traditional cooking.

I’d Love to Hear from You!

Let me know in the comments below if you have cooked chicken on the bone or plan to. And be sure to check out my video all about how to make Old Hen Broth with a whole stewing hen.

Get Bone In Meats from Shirttail Creek Farm

• Shirttail Creek Farms is offering my sweet friends $10 off any order over $100 with this link and discount code MARYSNEST

In addition to Pastured Stewing Hens, you can find lots of nutritious meats and products to help you make the most healthy and gelatinous beef bone broth:

• Grassfed Beef Broth Bones (Knuckles)
• Pastured Chicken Feet
• Grassfed Beef Shanks (Osso Bucco)

Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

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Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

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I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

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