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

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

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

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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

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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.

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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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