How to Make Chicken Stock In an Instant Pot | Super Easy Recipe! (2024)

Curious as to how to make stock in the Instant Pot? This post will guide you through how to make chicken stock in the Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Chicken Stock vs Chicken Broth

What is the difference between chicken stock and chicken broth? We tend to use the words stock and broth interchangeably but chicken stock is usually made more from the bones, connective tissue and joint material, of the chicken, whereas chicken broth is made with more of the meat of the chicken. Due to the gelatin released from the bones, you get a fuller mouth feel to the stock than the broth. Regardless, they are both wonderful to have in your kitchen!

Why Make An Instant Pot Chicken Stock

It’s up to you whether you want to make your own chicken stock for recipes or if you prefer to buy broth from the store. For myself, I will usually make stock at home when I’ve roasted a whole chicken at home. If I have a chicken carcass handy, I’ll gladly make my own stock but if I don’t, I’ll use store bought broth. I used to make chicken stock the old fashion way on the stove top and I’m not saying that using the Instant Pot is better but sometimes I just want a quick but flavourful stock without having to put in the hours haha.

How I Like to Make Homemade Stock

There is a lot of chatter online that making your own stock at home is a great way to save items destined for the compost bin. However, I’m not really a fan of that ideology. I like to make homemade stock because I like how it taste, not because I have frozen food scraps that I don’t want to toss. I know, but before you come for me, hear me out.

When I was taking cooking classes, the chef said something that really stuck with me, if you don’t think it’s fit to be eaten, why would you put it in your stock. While I’m not against freezing that random 1/4 onion in your fridge and leftover thyme for a chicken stock, I would not be saving or using anything that looks like it’s about to be go bad because I don’t want muddy tasting stock.

I also don’t keep my onion skins on – I find that there’s always some dirt in the onion skins and I can never seem to clean it all off so I just peel the skin off to make life easier for myself. You can always do as you wish!

What You Need to Make Chicken Stock in the Instant Pot

Keep in mind that there are so many other things you can put in your stock, this is just what I like to put in mine (aka I don’t fine celery adding much so I don’t bother adding it).

• chicken bones/carcass — I like to make my instant pot chicken stock from carcass. You can see how I cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot here. This way I can use up the meat in a meal prep and then make use of the carcass for the stock.
• onion
• shallots
• carrots
• leek
• green onions
• garlic
• mushrooms
• thyme
• bay leaves
• salt
• water

How To Make Chicken Stock in the Instant Pot

• To start making chicken stock in Instant Pot, put in the chicken bones inside your Instant Pot liner and place the rest of the ingredients around it and fill with 8 cups of water (note: I have a 6 qt Instant Pot).
• Close the lid, turn the knob to sealing, and set the pot to manual for 30 minutes. It will take 25-30 minutes to come up to pressure due to all the liquid.
• After the Instant Pot has come up to pressure and is finished its cycle, let the pot natural pressure release for 15 minutes until quick releasing the rest of the pressure.
• Place a fine wire mesh strainer over a large bowl or individual mason jars and using a ladle, transfer your stock over. This makes sure that your stock is 100% liquid gold ;)

How To Store or Freeze Homemade Chicken Stock

• You can store your chicken stock in a large airtight container or individual mason jars for easy portioning in the fridge for up to a week.
• If you plan on freezing it, you can freeze them in individual serving portions of your choosing for up to 3 months. If you are using glass mason jars, be sure to leave 1 inch of space in the top. Other methods for freezing including freezing them in an ice tray or in my case, souper cubes pictured below.

Tips and Notes on Making Homemade Instant Pot Chicken Stock

• If you have time, roasting the chicken carcass and the vegetables before adding to the Instant Pot can add a different depth of flavour to your chicken stock.
• Don’t feel the need to follow my recipe exactly! If there’s something you don’t like, omit it! The stock will take on the flavour of the vegetables you add so if you don’t like something, why have your stock taste of it!
• Be sure to let the stock cool before storing.
• For the best tasting stock, I try to stick with “fresh” vegetables. Like I mentioned earlier, if the vegetable “scrap” is looking like it’s about to brown any second now, I don’t use it for stock as I feel like the taste will reflect that.
• If you have a Large Mesh Steamer (from IP) you can place it in your liner first. That way, you can easily just lift it up and separate all the ingredients from the stock when it’s done pressure cooking.
• Need a chicken recipe so you’ll have some bones for the stock? Here’s a delicious way to make a whole chicken in a Dutch oven and here’s how to cook a whole chicken in an Instant Pot.
• Got leftover chicken? Here are three ways to use up the leftover chicken meat!

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