Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Chicken Broth

Making homemade chicken broth in your slow cooker or Instant Pot is super easy.

This recipe is for a chicken broth, not a chicken stock. Homemade chicken broth is made from chicken meat (usually on the bone) while chicken stock is from bones. Since I used a whole chicken, this is broth.

before

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For the record, I do not think there is anything wrong with store-bought, low-sodium chicken broth. I buy and use it all the time. BUT there’s also something to be said about the simplicity of making your own. Every time I make a batch of homemade chicken broth I ask myself why I continue to buy it.

after

I used a Pasturebird whole chicken that was a little under 4 pounds (I think). Toss everything in and let it cook. So easy. For my fresh herbs I like to use either parsley, rosemary, or thyme. Don’t forget to save the meat! When this is done, you’ll have a couple of pounds of cooked chicken ready to be used in other recipes.

Does your broth look like jello when it cools? Great! That’s not just normal, it’s actually a good thing. Chicken broth gels because of its gelatin. Gelatin is nothing more than cooked collagen which is found in bones, tendons, ligaments, etc.

Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Chicken Broth

• Author: Fit SlowCooker Queen
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 – 5 lb. whole chicken
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• Water (to cover)
• 2 tbsp fresh herbs

Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker including enough water to cover the ingredients.
2. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours, LOW 6-8.
3. Once cooled, strain broth into another container.

Instant Pot

1. Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot. Fill pot with water until it’s 2/3 full. Close and seal vent.
2. Select the Soup setting and set time for 30 minutes. Natural release.
3. Once cooled, strain broth into another container.

After you strain your broth, you can store the homemade chicken broth in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or you can freeze it.

ready for the freezer

If you refrigerate your broth, don’t be surprised to find a layer of fat has solidified on top. This is normal, just discard it.

You will need a large 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.

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