Instant Pot Turkey Broth

It is so easy to make homemade Turkey Broth in the Instant Pot with a leftover turkey.

Save the bones, scraps, dripping and any small pieces of meat left on the bones and turn it into liquid gold that you can use to make soups, stews, gravies and add a rich flavor to any recipe.

Jump to:

• Turkey or Chicken Broth
• What is the difference between a homemade stock and homemade broth
• How To Make Instant Pot Turkey Broth
• What can you use turkey broth for?
• What you will need to make Instant Pot Turkey Broth
• Equipment I am using
• Homemade turkey broth ingredients
• Step by step directions with photos
• Storing & Freezing Broth
• Turkey Stock Freezer Labels
• Instant Pot Turkey Broth
• Freezer Cooking for Real Life
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Here is your step by step guide with photos to making homemade turkey broth with a leftover roasted turkey. I'm going to show you how easy it is to make this pantry staple showing you each step from cooking it, to straining it into a clear golden flavorful broth.

I'll also show you how I stock my freezer with the perfectly portioned broth so I can use it as an ingredient for my favorite recipes that call for broth.

I use homemade broth when I make soups, stews, gravy and all my favorite recipes that call for a broth. You can use broth in place of water to add a richer flavor to many of your recipes.

Turkey or Chicken Broth

Homemade turkey broth can be used the same way as chicken broth. If you want to make chicken broth instead of turkey broth you can make homemade chicken broth following this recipe.

If you don't have enough leftover roasted chicken because you don't cook a large amount of chicken at one time you can put the chicken scraps in the freezer until you have enough to fill the Instant pot.

I also love to make Instant Pot Bone Broth the same way.

Broth Making Tips: I love to save my vegetable scraps in the freezer. Every time I peel an onion, peel and slice carrots or celery when I'm cooking I put the scraps in a freezer bag and freeze them until I'm ready to make homemade broth.

I also label all my freezer bags of homemade broth with my printable freezer labels so I know which is turkey or chicken broth because you can tell the difference once they are frozen.

What is the difference between a homemade stock and homemade broth

Stock is usually made from roasted bones, and cooked down for any where from two to six hours or more. Creating a collage rich liquid that is usually unseasoned except for salt & pepper. Most people heat up a cup and drink it. It can also be used in recipes you are cooking.

While broth is made from the meat, bones, and soup vegetables, with more seasonings added so it tastes good on its own it is usually used as an ingredient to make turkey soup, stews, gravies and sauces or anywhere you want to add a richer flavor. You can use it in place of chicken broth.

With that said the term stock and broth is both commonly used for either product. I've noticed it is a regional thing. And when I buy a carton labeled stock or labeled broth I have never noticed a difference in flavor.

So call it what you like. All I know is my homemade broths taste so much better than any store bought that I make it every chance I get.

How To Make Instant Pot Turkey Broth

Homemade turkey broth or stock is made by simmering the bones and scraps of a leftover roasted turkey in water with some vegetables, herbs and seasonings. You can if you need to just simmer the turkey in some water and still end up with usable broth. But by adding the vegetables and seasonings you take it to another level. Your stock will be rich, and packed full of flavor.

The holidays are the perfect time to turn what you would normally throw in the trash, a turkey carcass into a delicious homemade turkey broth. I am using my 8-quart Instant Pot for this recipe but you can also use a crock pot, large electric roaster or a very large stock pot on the stove.

You can do the same to make chicken stock with leftover roasted chicken bones or even raw uncooked chicken you have deboned at home.

What can you use turkey broth for?

I use my homemade broths to make soup most of the time. You can also use homemade Instant Pot Turkey Broth to make homemade gravy, or add it to rice, green beans and potatoes, mashed potatoes, or crock pot green beans to add flavor.

What you will need to make Instant Pot Turkey Broth

These are the ingredients and equipment that I used. Use whatever you have at home. If you don't have all of the same vegetables that is fine. Use what you have and don't worry about it. For the equipment make any substitutions you need to.

You can check out my Walmart Partner Storefront if you need any of the supplies. I will earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

Equipment I am using

• Instant Pot: I used an 8 Quart Instant Pot Duo. The Instant Pot is my favorite appliance to use when I am making homemade broth or stock. It only takes about 2 hours from start to finish to cook the turkey bones down into a flavorful liquid you can use for other recipes.
• Large fine mesh strainer: I have a metal one and a plastic one. I've noticed the metal one works better. You can pick one up for just a few dollars.
• 2 Large bowls: to strain the cooked broth into to remove all the solids.
• Large ladle: to transfer the broth to the strainer to drain.
• Cheesecloth or coffee filters: optional but helps remove any solids. Cheesecloth works much better but if all you have is a coffee filter it will get the job done but take much longer. It may seem like filtering the broth twice is extra work but it is an important step I wouldn't skip. See the photo below which shows how a tiny bone managed to slip through on the first straining.
• Mason jars, freezer bags or silicone freezer blocks: you will need a vessel for storage. Since I am freezing the broth to use later I am using freezer blocks, and vacuum sealing bags for long term storage. If you will be using the broth within a week mason jars or a large bowl will work fine to refrigerate the broth until you use it.

Homemade turkey broth ingredients

The ingredients needed are so flexible that you can literally use any combination you have on hand. Don't worry if you do not have the exact amounts of vegetables or seasonings that I used.

For example if you don't have any garlic cloves on hand you can use jarred garlic or garlic powder instead. You could make homemade broth with just the roasted turkey scraps, salt and black pepper if that's all you have on hand.

• Turkey: leftover roasted turkey bones and scraps. I use the skin and all pan drippings.
• Soup vegetables: carrot, onion, celery, and garlic (i like to save my vegetable scraps in the freezer and use them to make broth. I will just dump the bags in until I feel like it is enough.
• Soup seasonings: salt, black pepper, dried bay leaves, dried or fresh parsley and thyme.
• Water: You will need enough water to cover the ingredients. It will vary.

Step by step directions with photos

I am using an 8-quart Instant pot. You can follow the directions using a slow cooker, large electric roasting pan or a very large stock pot on the stove.

• Step 1: Break up the roasted turkey carcass so it will fit into the Instant Pot, roaster, slow cooker or stock pot. Include all the scraps from the bottom of the roasting pan.

• Step 2: Add the vegetables, seasonings and herbs.

• Step 3: Pour enough water in to cover the ingredients. Do not fill the Instant Pot past the maximum fill line.

• Step 4: Twist the lid on and position the valve to the sealing position. Press the manual button and set the timer for 90 minutes. If using the slow cooker, roasting pan or stock pot place the lid on and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Crock pot and large electric roasting pan you will simmer for 6 to 8 hours. On the stove usually 3 to 4 hours will do it.

• Step 5: Once the timer has beeped that the pressure cooking is finished hit the cancel button to turn it off and allow the pressure to naturally release. Once done push the valve to the open position to release any remaining steam

• Step 6: Twist off the lid carefully away from your face.

• Step 7: Allow to cool completely for an hour or longer.

• Step 8: Once cool place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Transfer the bones, vegetables and broth to the strainer allowing all of the liquid to drain into the bowl. Press down on the bones to release any broth. Once you've strained as much broth as possible discard the contents of the strainer in the trash and repeat until you have strained all the broth into the bowl.

Step 9: You'll need a second bowl for this step. Rinse any debris from the fine mesh strainer. Place it over the second bowl. Line it with cheesecloth. Ladle the broth into the strainer to strain any remaining solids from the broth. Don't skip the second straining or you may end up with a small bone in your broth.

Step 10: Once the broth has been double strained transfer it to your preferred containers for storage or freezing.

Storing & Freezing Broth

• Refrigerate for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
• If using vacuum sealed bags to freeze the broth it will keep for 1 year in the deep freezer.

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