Instant Pot Bone Broth [Recipe] by Chartered Wellness (2024)

Bone broth is a staple in my house. I use it as a base for soups and stews, and to it replace water in pretty much any recipe I make (except for dessert, that would be extreme, even for me).

The health benefits are numerous - I actually wrote a whole post about it here - but as a quick summary, it’s excellent for healing the gut, joint health, contributing to healthy nails, hair, and skin, and supporting detoxification. In other words, it’s liquid gold.

You can buy it at the store, but it’s pretty expensive and making your own is surprisingly easy. This bone broth recipe is super quick to prep and then you just forget about it until it’s finished cooking.

You can make bone broth with many different types of bones. I’ve chosen chicken bones for this bone broth recipe because they’re easy to get and the broth is light and versatile enough to use in many ways.

How To Make Good Bone Broth

The most important thing when making bone broth is ensuring you get good-quality bones. Bones from pasture-raised animals who lived happy, healthy lives will be higher in nutrients and lower in potential toxins.

If you’re thinking that this sounds well and good, but you have no idea where you would actually find bones, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. A few options:

  • At your local farmer’s market. Ask around at stalls that sell grass-fed/pasture-raised meats, many of them will sell bones.
  • From a local butcher.
  • Save the leftover bones when you roast a whole chicken.
  • Online. There are companies that will ship pasture-raised bones to you like Primal Pastures or Healthy Traditions. You can also do an online search for farms in your area that will deliver bones to you.

If you’re making chicken broth, it’s best to use a mixture of bones, including backs, necks, feet. This will make sure the broth is rich in healing nutrients like collagen, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid.

The amount of bones you need per batch honestly depends on the size of your pot. Between 1-3 pounds is usually good, but again, feel free to fit as many bones in your pot as you can, and save the rest in the freezer for the next batch.

Another thing to note before diving into this bone broth recipe. The only things you really need for bone broth are bones and water. Everything else is just extra. I like to add herbs and vegetables for improved taste and added nutrients, but the recipe below is just a suggestion. Feel free to add whatever herbs and veggies you like. My only suggestion would be to avoid cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc) because they get really stinky when you cook them for a long time.

Instant Pot Bone Broth [Recipe] by Chartered Wellness (1)

Instant Pot Bone Broth [Recipe]

Created by Chartered Wellness

This delicious chicken bone broth recipe includes instructions for the Instant Pot, slow cooker, and stove top.

Bone broth is a nutrient goldmine and helpful for improving gut health, skin health, nails and hair, as well as supporting joint health.

It can be used as a base for soups or stews, cooking liquid for rice or grains, or as a replacement for water in most recipes.

Note: If you are following a low FODMAP diet, feel free to omit the garlic and onion. You can replace with the green part of a leek.

Ingredients:

Chicken bones (including 2-3 feet if desired for extra gelatin)
2-3 stalks of celery
1 large carrot
1 onion
½ head garlic
½ bunch parsley
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (helps pull minerals from the bones)
2 tsp sea salt
Filtered water
Optional: 1 sheet kombu (a tasteless seaweed that adds extra nutrients + minerals to the broth)

[Note: I recommend using organic ingredients if possible, here’s why]

Instructions:

Instant Pot

Rinse and chop vegetables into large chunks. No need to peel.

Starting with the bones, add all ingredients to Instant Pot. Cover with filtered water, making sure not to fill above “MAX” line on the pot liner.

Close lid, turn valve to “Sealing”. Turn instant pot on and press the “Manual” button. Set timer for 90 minutes.

When the broth has finished cooking, turn the pot completely off. Let the broth cool for 15-20 minutes, before quick releasing. If you have time to wait for natural release, even better.

Use a pair of tongs to take out as many of the solid, big pieces as possible. Discard the vegetables and bones. Then strain the broth (I usually do it through a cheesecloth). Now’s a good time to taste the broth and add extra salt to your taste.

Pour into glass jars and store in the fridge for 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.

Slow Cooker

Rinse and chop vegetables into large chunks. No need to peel.

Starting with the bones, add all the ingredients to the crockpot. Add filtered water until everything is covered (if a few bones are poking out of the water, that’s fine).

Set the crockpot on low and cook for 24 hours. This timing doesn’t have to be exact, so feel free to cook for a little longer or a little less time.

Turn off the pot, then use tongs to take out the bones and large pieces of vegetables.

Strain the broth (I usually do it through a cheesecloth). Now’s a good time to taste the broth and add extra salt to your taste.

Pour into glass jars and store in the fridge for 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 months

Stove Top

Rinse and chop vegetables into large chunks. No need to peel.

Starting with the bones, add all the ingredients to a large pot.

Add filtered water until the bones are completely covered (it’s ok if a few are poking out of the water).

Turn burner on high to bring the pot to a boil. Once the pot is boiling, reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook at a low simmer for around 24 hours. This timing is approximate so feel free to go for a little longer or a little less time.

Once the stove is turned off and the pot is cool enough to touch, strain the broth (I usually pour it through a cheesecloth). Now is a good time to taste it and add more salt to taste.

Pour into glass jars and store in the fridge for 5 days or the freezer for up to 6 months.

Pin this post for later:

Instant Pot Bone Broth [Recipe] by Chartered Wellness (2)

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @charteredwellness on Instagram and hashtag it #charteredwellness

dairy-free, gluten-free, gut health, Instant Pot, recipe

Instant Pot Bone Broth [Recipe] by Chartered Wellness (2024)

FAQs

Can you overcook bone broth in Instant Pot? ›

Also some prefer the flavor of slow cooked bone broth. Try and see! Can you overcook bone broth in a pressure cooker? Yes, just like with any other food, you can overcook bone broth and it may taste unpleasant.

Does pressure cooking destroy nutrients in bone broth? ›

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook bone broth? It is better to choose a technique that suits your life and goals. A pressure cooker will save you batch time and get you 75% of the nutrition benefits of bone broth.

Is bone broth in the Instant Pot as good? ›

Making bone broth in your Instant Pot is easy, economical, and healthy. It's a great way to stretch your food dollar and provide your body with a boost of nutrients and protein.

Is it better to make bone broth in a slow cooker or Instant Pot? ›

In conclusion, we enjoyed the flavor and the yield of the slow cooker the best! But, the Instant Pot version was the all-around best for time, taste, and yield. And stove top is a classic method which get's the best of both flavor and time.

Is bone broth better the longer you cook it? ›

Bone broth should simmer covered for at least 12 hours for the best flavor. Cooking it for 24 hours provides even deeper flavor and more nutrients as the bones slowly break apart.

Can you mix beef and chicken bones for bone broth? ›

Making broth at home doesn't just save you money, either. It also allows you to control the flavor and consistency of your broth. I, for one, don't like drinking straight beef broth. Instead, I prefer a mix of beef and chicken bones for a less meaty flavor.

What are the negatives of bone broth? ›

While bone broth is generally considered safe to consume, there are some potential risks to be aware of. Lead contamination. Some studies show elevated levels of lead in bone broths, which can be harmful to health if consumed in large amounts. Bacterial contamination.

Why should you not boil bone broth? ›

Just as when you're making stock for soups or stews, boiling will cause soluble proteins and rendered fat to emulsify into the cooking liquid. By simmering, you avoid emulsifying the fat and thus keep the stock clearer, and we found that the scum created simply settled to the bottom of the pot.

Does bone broth affect blood pressure? ›

Bone broth does not raise blood pressure. It actually lowers your blood pressure because of the natural collagen found in it. Collagen is shown to reduce your blood pressure according to a new review of a Japanese study.

Why add apple cider vinegar to bone broth? ›

Then add apple cider vinegar, which is added primarily because the acidity breaks down the collagen and makes it more abundant in the broth. You can also sub lemon juice, but we prefer apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover.

Which bone is better for bone broth? ›

The best bones for broth are full of connective tissue like joints or knuckle bones for beef and feet for chicken. Think about getting the big joints responsible for moving animals around. These are feet, hips and knees.

What happens if bone broth doesn't gel? ›

Remember: bone broth that doesn't gel is still good for you! It probably even has some gelatin in it, just not enough to give it that jiggly texture. But if you want broth you can cool and then cut with a knife, try: Adding more collagen-rich animal parts, like skin, feet, and joints.

Can you overcook bone broth? ›

Canora cautions against overcooking your bone broth, which can actually seriously hamper the flavor. Once you go past the 16-hour mark or so, “you start breaking down the bone itself and it starts infusing a bad flavor to your broth,” he explains.

How do you make instant bone broth taste better? ›

How do you make store bought bone broth taste better? You can make store bought bone broth taste better by doing any of the following: Add spices including curry powder and allspice. Add aromatics like onions, celery and carrots.

Is dried bone broth as good as liquid? ›

Bone broth powder is a convenient spin on traditional liquid versions that uses spray drying to dehydrate the liquid into a convenient high protein powder. If it is properly made, it offers the same health benefits and protein, all in a ready-to-drink form.

What happens if you cook bone broth too long? ›

There's a limit to how much flavor a given ingredient will impart—past that, extra time just turns everything to mush. Big beef or lamb bones can be cooked for up to eight hours, or overnight. Chicken bones are more like four to six. Veggies give up all their flavor in about an hour.

What happens if you overcook bone broth? ›

Canora cautions against overcooking your bone broth, which can actually seriously hamper the flavor. Once you go past the 16-hour mark or so, “you start breaking down the bone itself and it starts infusing a bad flavor to your broth,” he explains.

Can you overcook broth in pressure cooker? ›

So, just a heads up. It's absolutely possible to overcook Instant Pot bone broth. I don't say that to panic you – just to make you aware! Keep an eye on your cook time and especially your depressurizing time.

How long is too long to cook bone broth? ›

Typically, bone broth simmers for a surprisingly long period of time. Cooking it for 12 hours produces a deeply flavorful and excellent result, but it's not uncommon to let bone broth cook for 24 or even 36 hours—at which point the bones begin to crumble, and their nutrients and proteins seep into the broth.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 6319

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.