Turkey Bone Broth {How to Make Turkey Bone Broth}
Homemade Turkey Bone Broth is an amazing way to use up every last bit of your roasted turkey. Learning how to make turkey bone broth is a very simple, sustainable, and affordable process! This recipe includes tips for freezing your delicious stock.
Everyone knows that the best part of making an amazing turkey dinner is the delicious and nourishing bone broth you can make from leftovers. Because let’s face it…turkey on its own is kinda boring.
Use the meat for Leftover Turkey Casserole With Rice and Simple Shepherd’s Pie With Turkey (which also uses up leftover Fluffy Mashed Potatoes), but the rest of the turkey is about to be transformed into an incredible homemade turkey bone broth.
Made by you. Like you’re Martha freaking-Stewart or something.
Buying a whole turkey can be expensive, and making your own bone broth is a way to stretch your hard-earned cash even further. Not to mention using up every part of the bird is a sustainable practice that allows you to make multiple meals from just one thing.
It’s not hard to see why shelf-stable bone broth is a staple in our Pantry Essentials, and a few jars can always be found in our well-stocked freezer.
If you don’t have any turkey on hand, you’ll love my guide on How to Make Chicken Bone Broth. And if making your own turkey bone broth just isn’t your thing, check out this guide on where to buy bone broth. It includes a free printable guide that breaks down the costs per ounce, protein and sodium contents on the various brands. #nerdalert
Check out all my Instant Pot Soup recipes for more inspiration.
ARE Turkey BONE BROTH AND Turkey BROTH THE SAME THING?
Nope!
At its core, bone broth is what our grandparents called “stock”. Bone broth is stock with a better marketing team.
Bone broth has many of the same components as stock, but it’s been simmered a lot longer to extract even more nutrients and goodness from the bones.
- Basic broth is made by cooking meat (usually chicken, beef, or turkey), maybe some bones, aromatics, vegetables, and water.
- Basic stock involves using those same aromatics and vegetables but making sure there are bones being simmered as well.
- Bone broth takes it to the next level and cooks the veggies, aromatics, and bones for a long time. A really long time – like 18 to 24 hours!
It also tastes freaking amazing, but that’s an added bonus.
HOW TO Use Turkey BONE BROTH
Many people drink it in a mug with or for breakfast like coffee or tea. It’s wonderful in soups (as is everything) like Instant Pot Paleo French Onion Soup or Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana, for veggies, cooking grains, and roasting meats. Check out all of my soup recipes for more inspiration.
Can I Make Turkey Bone Broth in the Instant Pot?
Yes, but you’d have to have a large Instant Pot and a very small turkey (or you’ll need to break down the turkey carcass). If those two things are happening, add everything to the Instant Pot insert.
Fill with water to the “max fill” line. Flip the steam release handle to “sealing”.
Press manual>high pressure>120 minutes
When it has finished cooking allow it to do a natural release. Given the volume of the liquid in the pot, it may take 30-60 minutes to fully depressurize.
Any questions about this process? Check out this post on Instant Pot for beginners for all the tips and tricks on using your Instant Pot.
Do turkey bones have marrow?
Yes, they do! Turkey bones don’t have as much marrow as chicken or beef bones, but you’re still going to get a delicious and healthy bone broth from your leftover turkey.
Turkey Bone Broth Ingredients
The best part of making your own bone broth is that you can control all the ingredients! For this recipe, I used:
- Leftover turkey carcass
- Veggies – mix of carrots, celery, onions
- Herbs & seasonings – sage, rosemary, bay leaf, parsley, peppercorns
- Splash of apple cider vinegar
While doing my weekly easy healthy meal prep, I’m often chopping and prepping veggies for multiple dishes. When peeling carrots, chopping onions, or other veg, I save the “scraps” in freezer bags (I love these reusable silicone ones) for making stock.
Using all the scraps is why my husband hilariously calls bone broth “garbage water”. It is literally the parts of everything that was destined for the trash.
My most common veggie scraps are: carrot peels, celery tops and pieces, onion odds and ends. I avoid scraps from root vegetables like beets and potatoes as the flavors they add are not usually desirable.
If you’re making this turkey bone broth the day after Thanksgiving, add any leftover herb stems from other dishes.
How to Make Turkey Bone Broth
(note: Instant Pot and slow cooker instructions are also included at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card)
Place all ingredients in the largest stockpot you have. You may need to break down the carcass to get everything to fit. Add your herbs and veggies and apple cider vinegar.
Slowly add water until it reaches about 2 inches from the top of your pot. Pro tip: the amount of water will vary depending on the size of your stockpot.
Bring it to a boil and immediately reduce to a simmer. Cover with the lid, but set it slightly ajar.
And now…you wait. Allow the bone broth to simmer for 12 to 24 hours. During that time it is going to break down all the amazing cartilage that will make your bone broth rich with collagen.
Let’s talk about leaving a pot on the stove for that long. If it worries you, see the slow cooker instructions in the recipe card below.
Strain the bone broth through a colander. I usually place it into a large bowl and slowly pour it in. Allow it to cool and skim any fat off the top (optional).
Using a canning funnel, fill the jars. I liked to use a fine mesh strainer to filter everything out.
If you’re planning to can it later, you can use either wide mouth or regular mouth canning jars. Leave 1 inch of headspace which is the space between the top of the bone broth and the top of the jar.
If you are going to freeze the broth, use only wide-mouth canning jars and leave 1 inch of headspace to allow for the liquid to expand while it freezes. To prevent cracking, make sure the broth has cooled before placing it in the freezer.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Bone broth that is cooked at too high of a temperature may produce a foam on the top. You can skim that off and discard it to produce a deeper and cleaner stock.
- The fat that you skim off the cooled bone broth can be used for cooking or roasting veggies. You can also discard it.
- Store for up to five days in the fridge or six months in the freezer.
More Amazing Recipes Like This
- Freezing Zucchini {How to Freeze Zucchini}
- Homemade Ramen Noodle Bowls
- Whole30 Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Tortilla Soup With Rice
Making this recipe or others?
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Homemade Turkey Bone Broth is an amazing way to use up every last bit of your turkey. Learning how to make turkey bone broth is a very simple process!
- 1 turkey carcass
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 3 bay leaves
- 5 cups veggie scraps carrots, onions, and celery (5 cups total, not of each veggie)
- water to cover
Place all ingredients in the largest stockpot you have. You may need to break down the carcass to get everything to fit. Add your herbs and veggies.
Slowly add water until it reaches about 2 inches from the top of your pot. Pro tip: the amount of water will vary depending on the size of your stockpot.
Bring it to a boil and immediately reduce to a simmer. Cover with the lid, but set it slightly ajar.
Allow the bone broth to simmer for 12 to 24 hours.
Strain the bone broth through a colander.
Using a canning funnel, fill jars or storage containers. Leave 1 inch of headspace which is the space between the top of the bone broth and the top of the jar.
Add everything to the Instant Pot insert.
Fill with water to the “max fill” line. Flip the steam release handle to “sealing”.
Press manual>high pressure>120 minutes
When it has finished cooking allow it to do a natural release. Given the volume of the liquid in the pot, it may take 30-60 minutes to fully depressurize.
Follow instructions 5-6 above.
Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. You may need to break down the carcass to get everything to fit. Add your herbs and veggies.
Slowly add water until it reaches about 2 inches from the top of your crock. Pro tip: the amount of water will vary depending on the size of your slow cooker.
Cover with the lid and cook on low for 12-18 hours.
Follow instructions 5-6 in Stovetop Turkey Bone Broth.
If you are going to freeze the broth, use only wide-mouth canning jars and leave 1 inch of headspace to allow for the liquid to expand while it freezes. To prevent cracking, make sure the broth has cooled before placing it in the freezer.
The fat that you skim off the cooled bone broth can be used for cooking or roasting veggies. You can also discard it.
Store for up to five days in the fridge or six months in the freezer.
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For years, I’ve put the turkey bones (along with veggies and herbs I put inside the turkey while it roasts) in my biggest stock pot right after the Thanksgiving dishes are done, and simmered it for hours. By the next morning, I have the stock for Italian Wedding Soup, which I serve at Christmas. I love your idea of saving scraps to add to the stock pot.
I would love to have your Italian Wedding soup recipe! Would you mind sharing it?