Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth Recipe

Looking for a quick and easy bone broth recipe? You’ve come to the right place, because we’re sharing our tried and true Instant Pot chicken bone broth recipe. This recipe is so simple that we made it in the office during lunch. We broke out the camera and captured it in this short two minute video to show you just how easy making bone broth can be.

What is bone broth?

Unfamiliar or confused by bone broth? Not to worry, you’re not alone. With its rapid rise to fame, bone broth has become a pillar of confusion among the healthiest health nuts and foodies around the world.

Bone broth is a savory and nutrient-dense liquid made by simmering collagen-rich animal bones and joint materials (typically beef, chicken, pork, or fish) in water for up to 24 hours. Low heat is used to gently extract special compounds with powerful growth-promoting properties. Fresh vegetables, herbs, spices and aromatics are added for flavor and additional plant-based nutrients. The finished broth is great for sipping on just like you would tea or coffee, or as a replacement for water, stock or broth in savory recipes.

As a chef, I was trained to make classic French cooking stock. If you’ve ever made a classic stock at home, you would probably agree with me when I say that bone broth is stock. However, not all stock would qualify as bone broth. Bone broth contains a high amount of protein, collagen, amino acids, and other minerals essential to human health. The basic difference between bone broth and stock is the presence of collagen. The nutritional benefits of bone broth come from simmering the bones and connective tissue for a long period of time to gently extract the collagen into the broth. Making bone broth the classic way, in a stockpot over an open flame is a bit daunting for even the most seasoned home cook. You can speed this process up drastically and get a similar result when using a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot.

The Health Benefits of Bone Broth

When made properly, bone broth can boast numerous nutritional compounds to support overall health and wellness. Most notable are collagen and gelatin. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and makes up the building blocks for our skin, tendons and bones. 28 different types of collagen have been identified, with the 5 most common types being type I, II, III, IV and V: each serving a different function in the body. Chicken bone broth is rich in Type I and Type III Collagen, whereas beef bone broth is rich in Type II collagen. These types of collagen comprise over 90% of the collagen found in the body, and are found in our cell surfaces, hair, skin, nails, bones, and cartilage. Collagen is rich in the amino acid hydroxyproline, which plays an essential role in boosting production of new collagen in the body.

In a recent bone broth study, researchers found that the natural amino acids and peptides released from ham bones as they break down could contribute to a positive impact on cardiovascular health. Slow simmering bones and cartilage will gently extract amino acids and collagen into the liquid, yielding a heart-healthy elixir that can be sipped like tea or coffee.

Homemade vs. Store bought bone broth

Many boxed stock and bone broths found in your grocery store is produced by diluting stock concentrates with water to the point that they have very little protein or nourishment. These concentrates are made by flash-boiling bones and meat with water at extremely high temperatures. This liquid is then passed through an evaporator that rapidly evaporates the water, leaving an extremely bitter-tasting concentrate. To mask this bitterness, the concentrate must be heavily diluted with water and other flavorings like salt, yeast extract, and even sugar to make it edible. The end result is a liquid that is high in sodium, low in protein and collagen, and contains no gelatin or minerals.

Making bone broth at home is hands down the most affordable way to get this superfood into your life. Besides the savings, there’s something about making your own food that’s just downright good for the soul. Making bone broth is a ritual many have come to enjoy, similar to making kombucha or baking bread. When it comes to buying versus making bone broth, we’re partial to making it at home for the reasons above. However, if you’re short on time and looking looking for homemade quality and flavor, check out our scratch-made bone broth. 

Making Bone Broth At Home

Making bone broth at home is simple enough, but learning how to make bone broth you love, consistently, takes time, patience, and a good bit of experimentation. Because there are several ways to make bone broth you will first need to pick your method. There are three methods for making bone broth that we recommend, each having their own pros and cons. The easiest method for making bone broth at home is the pressure cooker. Medium difficulty would be a slow cooker, with the hardest method being a stock pot.

To make bone broth in a pressure cooker, you will need to get a pressure cooker (we recommend using the Instant Pot brand). You will also need a knife, cutting board, fine mesh strainer, and containers to store your finished bone broth. 

Where do I buy bones?

The best place to find bones is your local butcher, farmers market, or rancher. Quality is important, so always look for non-GMO grass-fed, and free-range bones when possible. Ask for chicken feet and any other parts of the animal that have connective tissue, as this will yield the most collagen and gelatin. There are some online sources for quality bones, like Primal Pastures and White Oak Pastures. Another option is to use the leftover bones from rotisserie chickens. This option can really stretch your dollars, since you can use the meat for meals and turn the bones into broth.

Without further ado, here’s our Instant Pot chicken bone broth recipe, and if you’d prefer to make beef, we have an instant pot beef bone broth recipe coming soon.