Bone broth is a traditional food loaded with health benefits and a great way to utilize all animal parts, reduce your waste, and save money! Find my favorite bone broth traditional recipe that you can conveniently make in your Instant Pot. Traditions made simple for our modern life.
What is bone broth?
Bone broth is a traditional food of many cultures around the world. It’s one of the ways to make use of animals’ bones and other inedible parts and nourish our bodies with all the nutrients they are rich in. Making bone broth is a great way to start your nose-to-tail eating journey!
Bone broth is made by simmering the bones and connective tissues of animals (chicken, beef, pork, turkey) in water for extended periods of time. The result is a golden, delicious liquid that is solid upon cooling. Yes, that’s right, a good bone broth must be solid when refrigerated! This is because of the high content of gelatin in bone broth. You can read all about the benefits of collagen and gelatin in this post!
Bone broth is different from regular broth or stock, which is made by boiling meat or meat and bones for a low or moderate amount of time. For example, if you simmer a whole chicken in water, you’ll have a broth that is much less gelatinous and nutrient-dense than bone broth.
Bone broth is a great warm beverage to sip on as a restorative food, a panacea to many seasonal illnesses, and a great base for soups, stews, gravies, sauces, and more.
What are the benefits of bone broth?
Bone broth is rich in collagen and other nutrients
Animal bones are so rich in nutrients and that’s why traditionally they were always utilized somehow in a nose-to-tail approach. Bones are a great source of collagen, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins that our bodies desperately need.
Bone broth is highly nutritious, refueling the body with minerals and vitamins, and representing an invaluable source of collagen and glycine (read more about all the benefits of collagen here). All these nutrients contribute to sustaining healthy bones, joints and skin, keeping the gut healthy and sustaining digestion, lowering inflammation and promoting detoxification. Bone broth can even help sleep better and improve our mood!
Bone broth is a great healing beverage for grown-ups and children, especially when fighting a cold or flu, or to rehydrate the body after having diarrhea.
You can even make healing bone broth popsicles, a great way to use the healing power of bone broth in the warmest summer months.
If you are looking to incorporate other collagen-rich foods into your diet, make sure to check out this post about How to Make Jello with Beef Gelatin (and 4 Recipes)!
Bone broth is affordable and zero-waste
Making homemade bone broth is an incredibly affordable — dare we say free — way to add more collagen and protein to your diet. Since it’s made from leftover bones you’d otherwise toss, it’s not only nourishing but also a great way to reduce kitchen waste.
And if you want to take it a step further, don’t throw those bones out just yet. Learn how to turn them into an easy bone meal fertilizer for your garden!
Why make bone broth in the Instant Pot?
Traditionally, bone broth is prepared by simmering bones and other ingredients of choice in water on the stove for up to 24 hours. The long simmering time allows to extract all the nutrients in the bones and break down all the collagen into gelatin. This is still a great way to make bone broth if you don’t have an Instant Pot.
But let me tell you why I prefer making bone broth in the Instant Pot.
Save energy
First of all, having a pot simmering on the stove for the entire day consumes energy. It’s certainly different if you have a wood stove where you can place your pot and let it simmer away. But if you use an electric or gas stove, having it on for that long every week will make a difference in your monthly bills.
Doesn’t take up space on your stove
Another problem I have encountered is that I don’t like having a big pot of simmering broth taking up space on my stove. I usually need all my burners to cook supper! I also don’t feel comfortable leaving the house having the stove on or overnight because of the possible fire hazard.
Avoid the smell
Besides the energy waste and practicality aspects, another thing I don’t like about making bone broth on the stove is the smell. Yes, bone broth smells! I’m not saying it’s a bad smell, but it’s a strong smell that will invade your whole house and persist for days. I’m quite particular about having a fresh house and strong food smells overwhelm me, especially when they invade my bedroom as I’m trying to sleep.
By making bone broth in the Instant Pot, you can save energy and time, and avoid a smelly house. Once the broth is ready, let the pressure release naturally (best option), or do a quick release placing the pot outside to avoid the smell getting in the house.
Another benefit of making bone broth in the Instant Pot? Reducing the simmering time also reduces how much histamine is released by the bones, which is beneficial for people that experience histamine sensitivity.
Some Great Ways to USe Bone Broth
Once you’ve made a batch of nourishing bone broth, the simplest (and maybe best!) way to enjoy it is by sipping it warm with a pinch of sea salt. It’s soothing, healing, and deeply comforting.
But bone broth really shines when you use it in everyday recipes. It adds rich flavor, improves texture, and boosts the nutritional value of your meals with protein, collagen, and amino acids like glycine. Swapping out water for bone broth in rice, noodles, soups, stews, and sauces is an easy way to stretch your meats further, make meals more filling, and even save money on groceries.
In my kitchen, I almost always keep a jar of bone broth in the fridge, ready to go. It finds its way into so many recipes on my blog, many of them nose-to-tail meals that also use organ meats and less common cuts for maximum nutrition.
Let’s start with soups, my favorite way to put bone broth to use. If you’re a waste-free gardener, you’ll love my carrot tops soup with bone broth and ginger. For something heartier, try this cozy leftover turkey soup with bone broth, perfect for chilly fall days.
If stews are more your style, you’ll enjoy my slow-cooked beef heart stew or beef and kidney stew. For another nutrient-packed dish, check out my beef liver with sweet potatoes and onions, which also calls for bone broth.
Braised meals are another incredible way to feature broth. Try a braised whole chicken with low-carb veggies, or the melt-in-your-mouth braised goat shanks. For comfort food classics, make my Shepherd’s pie with mushrooms and squash or the rich steak and kidney pie with sweet potato topping.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, don’t miss my healing bone broth popsicles, a surprisingly refreshing remedy when you’re under the weather in summertime.
Simple Instant Pot bone broth ingredients
Bones and cartilage pieces. Use any bones you have on hand, but the best broths come from collagen-rich parts like joints, tendons, and ligaments. I like using a mix of chicken, beef, pork, and lamb bones. Chicken feet and heads are especially good for making broth extra gelatinous. You can often find these parts cheaply—or even for free—at a local butcher or farm.
A great way to save money is to keep all the bones and cartilage left from your weekly meals. I store them in a freezer bag and keep adding until I have enough for a batch of broth. That way, nothing goes to waste!
For richer flavor, roast any raw bones before simmering. Place them in the oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 30 minutes. If you’re using bones from cooked meats, you can skip this step since they’re already browned.
Filtered water. Always use good-quality water. If your tap water contains chlorine or fluoride, opt for filtered or well water to preserve the health benefits of your broth.
Apple cider vinegar (optional). A splash of apple cider vinegar helps draw minerals and collagen out of the bones, making your broth even more nutrient-rich and gelatinous.
Aromatics (optional). Vegetable scraps (like carrot peels or celery leaves) and herbs can add flavor, as can onion and garlic. Personally, I prefer to keep my broth plain since the long simmer can make vegetables taste off—I like to add aromatics later when I use the broth in soups and stews.
How to make this simple Instant Pot bone broth
Step 1: Place the bones and any cartilage-rich parts into your Instant Pot. Fill it about three-quarters full.
Step 2: Pour in filtered water until the bones are just covered, but no more than that.
Step 3: If using, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar along with a few herbs or vegetable scraps.
Step 4: Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and choose the Pressure Cook function on high. Set the timer for the maximum (4 hours). The pot will take about 15–20 minutes to come up to pressure. If desired, you can extend the cooking time later by adding another hour for an even richer broth.
Step 5: When the cycle finishes, let the pressure release naturally (about 45 minutes). Once the pin drops, turn off the Instant Pot and carefully remove the lid.
Step 6: Strain the broth through a stainless steel strainer to separate the bones and scraps from the liquid.
Step 7: Pour the broth into glass mason jars and let it cool slightly before refrigerating.
Step 8: Once chilled, the broth will firm up. If you used fatty cuts, you’ll notice a solid layer of fat on top. You skim it off with a spoon if you prefer a leaner broth.
Notes
Use a mix of bones and cartilage (chicken, beef, pork, lamb, or turkey) for the most nourishing broth.
A splash of apple cider vinegar helps draw out the collagen and minerals.
Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 6 months. If freezing, use wide-mouth jars and leave enough headspace at the top to prevent cracking.
If you try this Instant Pot bone broth recipe, let me know if you liked it and any ways you used it! Don’t forget to drop me a comment and leave me a 5-star review if you loved this recipe.
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Bone Broth Recipes From The Blog
Beef Tongue Stew in the Instant Pot Recipe
Beef Heart and Kidney Stew (Slow-Cooked in the Instant Pot)
Steak and Kidney Pie Easy Recipe (Grain-free, Gluten-free)
Slow-Cooked Beef Heart Stew in the Instant Pot
Carrot Tops Soup with Bone Broth and Ginger
Shepherd’s Pie with Mushrooms and Squash Recipe
One-Pot Braised Whole Chicken and Veggies Primal Recipe
Printable Recipe Card
Simple Instant Pot Bone Broth
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot pressure cooker
- 1 stainless steel strainer
Ingredients
- Animal bones and cartilage parts enough to fill the Instant Pot up to 3/4
- About 2 liters (filtered) water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar optional
- Vegetables scraps and herbs optional
Instructions
- Place the bones and any cartilage-rich parts into your Instant Pot. Fill it about three-quarters full.
- Pour in filtered water until the bones are just covered, but no more than that.
- If using, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar along with a few herbs or vegetable scraps.
- Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and choose the Pressure Cook function on high. Set the timer for the maximum (4 hours). The pot will take about 15–20 minutes to come up to pressure. If desired, you can extend the cooking time later by adding another hour for an even richer broth.
- When the cycle finishes, let the pressure release naturally (about 45 minutes). Once the pin drops, turn off the Instant Pot and carefully remove the lid.
- Strain the broth through a stainless steel strainer to separate the bones and scraps from the liquid.
- Pour the broth into glass mason jars and let it cool slightly before refrigerating.
- Once chilled, the broth will firm up. If you used fatty cuts, you’ll notice a solid layer of fat on top. You skim it off with a spoon if you prefer a leaner broth.
