This Instant Pot chicken bone broth is the easiest way to turn leftover chicken bones and kitchen scraps into rich, flavorful broth. It’s a no-waste, dump-and-go recipe that practically makes itself.
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This instant pot chicken bone broth is one of the easiest ways to turn leftovers into something genuinely useful. Chicken bones, veggie scraps, odds and ends—it all goes in, and the Instant Pot does the rest.
No long simmering, no babysitting a pot on the stove. Just a simple, dump-and-go method that gives you rich, flavorful broth in a fraction of the time.
It’s low effort, budget-friendly, and once you start making it, it’s hard to go back to store-bought.
Why This Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth Works
- Uses scraps and leftovers – Turn chicken bones and veggie scraps into something you’ll actually use.
- Dump-and-go easy – Add everything to the Instant Pot, press a button, and walk away.
- Rich flavor, fast – Pressure cooking pulls out deep flavor in a fraction of the time.
- Budget-friendly – Stretch one chicken into multiple meals and reduce food waste.
- Kitchen staple – Use it for soups, rice, sauces, or sip it on its own.
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What You'll Need & Why
For the most basic of Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth, you will need very little. Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:
- Chicken bones from 2 or 3 chickens: Rotisserie or roasted chicken bones work perfectly and give the broth deep, savory flavor.
- Celtic sea salt: Adds mineral-rich seasoning without overpowering the broth.
- Whole peppercorns: Provide gentle warmth and depth without making the broth spicy.
- Turmeric: Adds subtle earthiness and a boost of anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Water: Covers everything and transforms scraps into deeply nourishing broth.
How to Use Chicken Bone Broth
Once you have it on hand, Instant Pot chicken bone broth is one of the most useful ingredients in your kitchen.
- Sip it warm – Simple, comforting, and perfect on its own.
- Use it in soups and stews – Swap it in anywhere you’d normally use broth or stock for deeper flavor.
- Make sauces and gravies – Adds richness to pan sauces and quick gravies with no extra effort.
- Cook grains with it – Use it instead of water for rice, quinoa, or orzo to boost flavor.
Once you start cooking with it, you’ll reach for it all the time.
Swaps & Variations
This is a simple, neutral Instant Pot chicken bone broth you can use for just about anything—but it’s easy to adjust based on what you have.
- Keep it simple – The base recipe is intentionally neutral so it works in everything from soups to sauces.
- Use what scraps you have – Onion, carrot, celery, garlic, herbs—whatever’s in your fridge works here.
- Add extra herbs – A few sprigs of parsley, thyme, or rosemary add more flavor without extra effort.
- Make it more robust – Toss in a carrot or celery if you want a deeper, more classic broth flavor.
- Add a little heat or spice – A pinch of red pepper flakes or a piece of ginger can change the flavor depending on how you plan to use it.
Tips For The Best Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth
A few simple tips will help your chicken bone broth turn out perfectly every time.
- Save your scraps – Keep leftover chicken bones and carcasses in the freezer so you’re always ready to make broth.
- Freeze veggie trimmings – Onion ends, celery leaves, garlic skins, and herb stems all add flavor—just toss them in as you go.
- Don’t overfill the pot – Stay below the MAX line so the Instant Pot can properly come to pressure.
- Check the seal – Make sure the lid, ring, and valve are set correctly before starting.
- Release pressure carefully – Keep hands and face away from the valve when manually releasing steam.
- Skim the fat easily – Chill the broth overnight so the fat rises and can be removed in one layer.
Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth Recipe
Equipment
- large pot or container to store the broth after straining
Ingredients
- chicken bones from 2-3 chickens
- 1-2 tablespoon Celtic sea salt
- 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- water
Instructions
- Add the chicken bones, salt, peppercorns, and turmeric to the Instant Pot. Add water up to the MAX fill line.
- Secure the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on High Pressure for 1 hour. Allow the pressure to release naturally or carefully perform a manual release.
- Using tongs or a spider strainer, remove and discard the chicken bones and solids — they’ve done their job.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large container. Line with cheesecloth if desired, then carefully strain the broth.
- Transfer the strained broth to the refrigerator and chill overnight. This makes defatting and portioning much easier.
- Once chilled, skim off the solidified fat from the top and discard. The broth will be jiggly — that’s exactly what you want.
- Store the bone broth in airtight containers in the refrigerator or freezer.
Notes
Nutrition
Storage & Freezing
Proper storage makes it easy to keep homemade bone broth on hand whenever you need it.
- Refrigerator: Store cooled bone broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze bone broth in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Leave a little space at the top of each container to allow for expansion as it freezes.
- Portioning tip: Freezing in smaller containers or ice cube trays makes it easy to grab exactly what you need for soups, sauces, or cooking grains.
- Reheating: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or gently warm on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
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Buy Now → You Asked, I Answered
Do I need to add apple cider vinegar?
No—it’s optional. Chicken bones are more delicate than beef bones, and the Instant Pot extracts plenty of collagen without it. You can add a splash if you’d like, but it’s not necessary.
What parts of the chicken should I use?
Use everything—bones, skin, and any leftover juices. It all adds flavor and any pieces get strained out at the end.
Is this recipe gluten-free and dairy-free?
Yes! Chicken bone broth is naturally both gluten-free and dairy-free.
Can you cook the bone broth too long?
Yes. Cooking much longer than 2 hours can lead to a bitter flavor. About 1 hour on high pressure works best.
Why does my bone broth jiggle after chilling?
That’s a good sign. The gel texture means collagen has turned into gelatin during cooking. It will return to liquid when reheated.
Can I make this in a slow cooker instead?
Yes—cook on low for 24–36 hours for a rich broth.
Can I reuse the bones?
You can reuse them once, but the second batch will be lighter in flavor.
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- Chicken Pot Pie Soup: Creamy, hearty, and everything you love about pot pie without the crust.
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Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
Amanda says
I can’t believe how easy this was! I’ll be doing this again very soon! Thank you!
Rufus says
Yesssss! It's the only way I make chicken bone broth now!
Sara Menix says
Fast and delicious!
Rufus says
I'm so glad you liked it!