Instant Pot Bone Broth

Bone broth has become a staple in my household, appearing in soups and stews on a weekly basis. It’s incredibly versatile, great for breaking cravings, and a go-to home remedy of mine for colds and stomach bugs. After researching the benefits of homemade broth, I was determined to create an easy Instant Pot Bone Broth recipe. Developing and figuring out exactly how I liked it was a bit of a process, but I finally nailed it down to a science.

I love that this bone broth recipe is flavorful, nutrient-dense, and budget-friendly. It helps me get the most out of all the ingredients and whole foods I have in my kitchen.

Health Benefits

Bone broth is a nutrient-packed powerhouse with its ability to improve digestion, support gut health, and strengthen immunity. As the bones and connective tissue slowly simmer, certain nutrients get released into the liquid. These include: 

• Collagen, which contains joint-supporting amino acids (e.g. glucosamine, chondroitin)
• Minerals (e.g. calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron)
• Vitamin A 
• Vitamin K2
• Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids 

It’s amazing to me that I can get all of these benefits from a simple homemade bone broth.

Ingredients To Make Bone Broth

• Bones from (1) 3-4 lb chicken: I often use the leftover bones from making Instant Pot Whole Chicken or leftover bones from a rotisserie chicken to make things easy. If I’ve just cooked an Instant Pot Whole Chicken, I add the skin, bones, cartilage, innards (e.g. gizzard, liver), and leftover cooking liquid and herbs to the Instant Pot. If I’m starting with leftover bones (from rotisserie chicken or frozen), I add them to the pot without thawing. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Vinegar is a key ingredient here, as it pulls the nutrients from the bones into the broth.
• Vegetables: While veggies are optional, I always like to add carrots, celery, parsnips, onion, and garlic (or scraps and peels of these veggies that I keep in the freezer). They add some great extra flavor and nutrients.
• Fresh Herbs: I use a mix of sage, rosemary, thyme, and/or parsley. Like the vegetables, these herbs are optional.
• Seasoning: I use salt, peppercorns, and a bay leaf to perfectly season the broth. 

Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.

How To Make Instant Pot Bone Broth

Making this bone broth is incredibly easy, which is one of the many reasons why I love it so much. To make it, I follow these steps:

1. Add the chicken bones: I place the chicken bones, skin, cartilage, any innards (e.g., heart, gizzard), and leftover cooking liquid and herbs into the Instant Pot if I have just made an Instant Pot Whole Chicken. If not, I just add the bones from a rotisserie chicken. 
2. Add vegetables and aromatics: While this step is technically optional, I always add vegetables and herbs to my pot. I’ll toss in carrots, celery, garlic, rosemary, a bay leaf, and more. 
3. Add in liquid: I’ll now add the apple cider to the pot, along with enough water to cover everything in the Instant Pot. I use about 4-5 cups of water, depending on how many bones I use. 
4. Cook the broth: I lock the lid in place and cook the broth for 120 minutes on high pressure.
5. Release the pressure: Once the timer sounds, I allow 20-30 minutes for the pressure inside the pot to naturally release. Then, I flip the vent valve to ‘Venting’ to release any residual pressure.
6. Finish it off: After the pressure has been released, I taste the broth and add salt until it has the exact flavor I want. I strain the broth into a bowl, then transfer it to jars (leaving the lids off until cooled – I usually let it cool for an hour or 2).

And just like that, I now have the best bone broth to add to recipes and enjoy! 

For serving size and the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories (kcals), protein, carbohydrates/carb, fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and more per serving.

Looking for a Stovetop Bone Broth Recipe? If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can still make healing bone broth using a pot on the stovetop.

Make It Gelatinous

To make my broth gelatinous, I run the 120-minute cycle a second time on ‘low-pressure’ this time. The bone broth then has to be cooled for it to gelatinize. Once it’s reheated, it will return to a liquid consistency. I’ve now got a broth that I know for a fact is rich in collagen. 

How To Serve

I use this bone broth in any recipe that calls for broth. Some of my favorite recipes for utilizing this chicken bone broth are:

• Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder
• Instant Pot Tortilla-less Soup
• Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
• Creamy Ham Soup Potato Soup
• Creamy Potato Leek Soup with Bacon (dairy-free)

I can also use bone broth in so many more ways than just as a standard broth replacement. I can:

• Sip bone broth warm in a mug (to replace my morning coffee or tea)
• Make a homemade gravy using bone broth
• Use bone broth in place of water to cook rice, quinoa, pasta, or grain
• Add it to a smoothie for a nutrition boost
• Use bone broth instead of water when making homemade BBQ Sauce
• Use bone broth to make perfect chicken breasts every time

How To Store

This broth can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. I typically store mine in mason jars. To make it last longer, I can also freeze or pressure can it. 

To freeze it, I simply:

1. Freeze the broth in silicone muffin cups or ice cube trays. 
2. Once the broth has frozen solid, I remove the bone broth “cubes” from the tray. A ziplock bag or other freezer-friendly sealed container works great.
3. Finally, when I’m ready to use the broth, I remove the amount I need and reheat the “cubes.” I do this on the stovetop or in the microwave.

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