How to Make homemade Chicken Broth in the Instant Pot
For as long as I can remember my mom used up her chicken and turkey carcasses to make homemade chicken or turkey broth. It was just what we did. So when I started my own home with my husband it was what I did also. I usually just threw things in a pot and let it simmer. Once I even looked up a recipe.
There is something comforting about a simmering pot of broth on the stove. Yet sometimes I don’t have time for an all day affair. Welcome Instant Pot!
The first time I made broth in my Instant Pot I thought, “You have got to be kidding! That was so easy!”
Why Make Your Own Chicken Broth?
There are so many good reasons to make your own broth. First, it makes your from-scratch recipes so much better tasting.
And so many from-scratch recipes use broth. From homemade cream of chicken soup to my cheesy chicken and rice dish.
It is healthier to make your own chicken broth than to buy it in the store. You know exactly what is in it and there are no preservatives.
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It also saves me a lot of money over having to buy broth at the store. Since I’ve already purchased the chicken to eat, simmering the bones with a few veggie scraps I have on hand doesn’t cost me anything extra.
I usually use the broth within the next few days or put it in the freezer in freezer safe containers to pull out the morning of or night before I need it. It is always there when I need it.
How to Make Chicken Broth in the Instant Pot
It really just takes a few simple steps and ingredients.
- Chicken bones
- Veggie scraps – I usually use onion/onion skins, carrots, celery, garlic (but really whatever you have on hand works) Last time I threw a whole zucchini in and it tasted great.
- Water
- Fresh or dried herbs (optional) I like oregano, parsley, bay leaf
- A few peppercorns or some sea salt (optional)
If you used your Instant pot to cook a whole chicken for dinner, you don’t even have to worry about cleaning it up before making your broth.
What I do is pick off the extra chicken from the carcass to keep for another recipe if there was enough. If there isn’t enough meat left, I just leave the little bits on the carcass. Also, I make sure to take off the skin and discard.
Directions for how to Make Chicken Broth in the instant pot
- Put the bones in the Instant pot along with whatever veggies you are using.
- Fill the pot to the top max line with water.
- If using any herbs, add now. Sometimes I will add peppercorns.
- Set the Instant Pot to Pressure cook and set the time for 2 hours.
- Let it naturally release the steam when done.
- You can let it cool a bit or strain right away. It is easier to handle if it cools a bit. I usually place a mesh strainer over a large measuring cup (8 cup) and work in batches to get out the bones and veggies to discard. Press out as much liquid as you can.
- Transfer the chicken broth to jars or freezer safe containers.
- Store in the fridge. You can transfer to the freezer for longer storage once it has cooled down.
Print the Recipe
Homemade Chicken Broth in the Instant Pot
Instructions
- Put the bones in the Instant pot along with whatever veggies you are using.
- Fill the put to the top max line with water.
- If using any herbs, add now. Sometimes I will add peppercorns.
- Set the Instant Pot to Pressure cook and set the time for 2 hours.
- Let it naturally release the steam when done.
- You can let it cool a bit or strain right away. I usually place a mesh strainer over a large (8 cup) measuring cup and work in batches to get out the bones and veggies to discard.
- Transfer the chicken broth to jars or freezer safe containers.
- Store in the fridge. You can transfer to the freezer for longer storage once it has cooled down.
I’ve done beef bones but I haven’t done chicken yet, but I’ll have to soon. Your pictures are so good!
I just actually tried beef stock recently. It was really easy to get the gel from those bones. Chicken stock is a little more tricky for that, but so nice to have around for cooking.
Had some chicken backs, etc, I’m a lover of making broth from veggies scraps and chicken or beef bones.