How to Make Your Own Chicken Stock in an Instant Pot

It’s pretty well established that eating nutrient-rich food allows your body to function well, helps you feel better day-to-day, and even helps you avoid diseases. Cooking at home and being mindful about the ingredients you use are great ways to give your body the fuel it needs to feel your best.

Making chicken stock in your Instant Pot is a fast and super easy way to make a meal or have a homemade option on hand when your recipe calls for some type of stock or broth. Because it’s full of nutrients from chicken and vegetables, it’s also a healthy way to give your body many of the daily nutrients it needs.

Health Benefits of Chicken Stock

Chicken rice soup with vegetables in bowl and bread from above.

You know that chicken stock provides the savory foundation for soups and sauces. But did you also know that it contains a healthy amount of fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals, such as vitamin B6? As a result, moderate consumption of chicken stock has various health benefits.

Because stock contains gelatin, it can help increase collagen in the bones, ligaments, and cartilage, which protects the joints from wear and tear. The presence of the amino acid glycine can also improve sleep, while the amino acid glutamine can maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier, promoting gut health.

Adding other ingredients to your chicken stock can further boost its health benefits. For example, some people add ginger if they want a little bit of heat and brightness in flavor. And since ginger is known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, adding it to chicken stock increases its health benefits. It can ease nausea, boost the immune system, and improve heart health and digestion.

Lastly, soups are the best and quickest meal to serve on cold days or if any family member is not feeling well. A warm bowl of chicken broth can help make mucus thinner and ease a runny nose. And it doesn't have to be chicken stock. You can also use turkey bones to make soups or stews.

How To Make Chicken Stock in an Instant Pot

Making chicken stock at home gives you the freedom to choose healthier ingredients and avoid any allergens your family members may have. If you have an Instant Pot at home, you can conveniently create a big pot of homemade chicken stock and store smaller portions for future use.

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Ingredients to make around 3 quarts of chicken stock

Feel free to add your own favorite spices or vegetables or skip some on the list if you don’t have them handy:

3 lbs of chicken (including bones)
3 quarts of water
1 large carrot, peeled and halved
2 celery ribs, halved
1 large onion, quartered
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
5 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
3/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
1 piece ginger, unpeeled, halved (optional)

Step 2: Combine the Ingredients in the Instant Pot

Place all ingredients except water into an Instant Pot. Add the water, but make sure you don’t fill it above the “Max Fill” line.

Step 3: Select Cooking Settings

Securely lock the lid and adjust the pressure to high, with a set time of 45 minutes. Once done, naturally release pressure from the Instant Pot according to the manufacturer’s directions (usually about 20 to 30 minutes).

Step 4: Filter the Solids and Fats

Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl and discard the solid pieces. After letting it cool for a few minutes, skim and discard any remaining fat from the surface. If you don’t plan to immediately use the stock for soup, you can remove the fat by refrigerating it and scraping the solidified fat at the top of the container the next day.

Step 5: Store the Stock

Since many recipes may require using chicken stock, such as Hainanese chicken rice and chicken noodle soup, storing the liquid in airtight containers and refrigerating them allows you to use them for up to 3 days. You can also place them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Remember not to put steaming-hot stock in the fridge because that can create perfect conditions for bacteria to grow and spoil your chicken stock. Make sure that it’s cooled down to at least room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator.

What do you put in your chicken stock? Share your favorite stock recipes in the comments!