This comprehensive turkey bone broth recipe transforms your Thanksgiving leftovers into liquid gold. When the feast winds down and the last slices of turkey disappear, the real treasure remains hidden in plain sight—that meaty turkey carcass waiting to become rich, golden, collagen-packed broth. Instead of discarding those bones, this turkey bone broth recipe shows you how to transform them into a deeply flavorful, gut-nourishing broth that gels perfectly and elevates every soup, gravy, and weeknight meal.
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
This homemade turkey bone broth recipe delivers thickness, richness, and nutrition that boxed stocks can’t match. The extended cooking process extracts collagen, minerals, and amino acids from bones, cartilage, and connective tissues, creating a broth that transforms to a soft gel when chilled. This natural gelatin provides body to soups and may support gut health and joint comfort as part of a balanced diet, making this the perfect gut healthy turkey bone broth.
- It is incredibly versatile: Whether you choose the stovetop turkey bone broth for control, the slow cooker turkey bone broth for convenience, or the Instant Pot turkey bone broth for speed, you will get a delicious, easy turkey bone broth.
- It is a wellness ritual: Sipping on this gut healthy turkey bone broth is a comforting way to nourish your body, especially during the colder months, making it a powerful tool for turkey bone broth for immune support.
- It is the ultimate zero-waste project: Using your leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass is a budget-friendly, sustainable way to extract every last bit of value from your holiday bird.
Because it freezes beautifully, this post Thanksgiving turkey bone broth recipe ensures you have a flavorful base for cooking for months to come, making it the gift that keeps on giving.
Chef Peter’s Expert Tips for Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
Chef Peter, who spent years developing broth programs for Michelin-starred restaurants, shares his professional secrets for taking your turkey bone broth recipe from good to extraordinary:
- The Double Roast Method: “After your initial Thanksgiving roast, chop the carcass and roast it again at 425°F for 20 minutes. This second roast deepens the Maillard reaction, creating complex flavor compounds that translate into a richer, more robust broth.”
- Gelatin Boost Secret: “Add 2-3 chicken feet to your turkey bones. They’re packed with collagen and will guarantee your broth gels perfectly every time. Most butchers will give them to you for free if you ask.”
- The Aromatic Timing Rule: “Add delicate herbs like parsley and thyme in the last 30 minutes of cooking only. This preserves their volatile oils and fresh flavor, preventing the bitter notes that develop from prolonged cooking.”
Turkey Bone Broth vs Stock: What is the Difference?
While “stock” and “broth” are often used interchangeably, key distinctions matter for home cooks. A quick turkey stock from carcass is simmered for 2-4 hours for a lighter, cleaner flavor, perfect for delicate sauces. This turkey bone broth recipe, however, is simmered for 8-24 hours (or under high pressure) to fully break down collagen into gelatin, resulting in a thicker, richer, more nutrient-dense liquid that’s ideal for sipping and therapeutic diets.
Ingredients for the Best Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
The beauty of this turkey carcass broth recipe is its simplicity. You only need a few pantry staples and your leftover bird to create something extraordinary.
- 1 leftover turkey carcass (with some meat, skin, and cartilage attached)
- 12-16 cups cold water (about 3-4 quarts, enough to cover the bones)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (the acid helps draw minerals from the bones)
- 1-2 onions, roughly chopped (skins on for color)
- 2-3 carrots, chopped
- 2-3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2-4 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
- 2-3 bay leaves
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme or parsley
- 8-10 whole peppercorns
- Sea salt, to taste (always add at the end)
Pro Tip from Chef Peter: For the most flavorful turkey bone broth from roasted turkey, be sure to include any jelly-like drippings and browned bits from the bottom of your roasting pan. “Those concentrated fond particles are flavor gold—don’t let them go to waste!”
How to Make Turkey Bone Broth Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide
Learning how to make this easy turkey bone broth is more about patience than technique. The magic happens during the long, gentle cooking process that extracts all the goodness from the bones.
Step 1: Prep Your Turkey Carcass
Break or cut your leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass into several large pieces so it fits comfortably in your stockpot, slow cooker, or Instant Pot. This creates more surface area, helping to extract more collagen and flavor into your homemade turkey stock.
Step 2: Choose Your Cooking Method
Stovetop Turkey Bone Broth (The Classic Method)
This method offers the most control and is perfect for a weekend project.
- Place the turkey bones in a large stockpot and cover with cold water by 1-2 inches.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Bring to a very gentle boil, then immediately reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting. You want barely a tremble on the surface.
- Skim off any foam or scum that rises to the top in the first 45 minutes.
- After 6-8 hours, add your vegetables, garlic, and herbs.
- Continue to simmer gently for another 4-6 hours (8-12 hours total).
- Season with salt during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Slow Cooker Turkey Bone Broth (The Hands-Off Method)
Ideal for an overnight simmer or when you will be away from home.
- Place all ingredients (except salt) into a large slow cooker.
- Cover with water, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
- Cook on the LOW setting for 12 to 24 hours. The longer it cooks, the richer and more gelatinous your crockpot turkey bone broth recipe will become.
- Season with salt towards the end of the cooking time.
Instant Pot Turkey Bone Broth (The Fast & Rich Method)
Pressure cooking extracts deep flavor and maximum collagen in a fraction of the time.
- Place all ingredients (except salt) into the inner pot of your Instant Pot.
- Add water up to the max fill line (usually about 3 quarts).
- Secure the lid, set the valve to “Sealing,” and cook on High Pressure for 120 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 20-30 minutes.
- For an even more robust gel, you can run a second cycle for 60 minutes.
- Season with salt after the cooking is complete.
Step 3: Strain and Cool the Broth
Once your broth is finished, it is time to strain it. Place a fine-mesh strainer (lined with cheesecloth for extra clarity) over a large bowl. Carefully ladle the hot broth through the strainer, discarding the bones and vegetables. To cool it quickly and safely for storage, place the bowl of hot broth into an ice bath in your sink, stirring occasionally until it is no longer warm. Then, refrigerate it uncovered until completely cold. The fat will rise and solidify on top, and the broth beneath should have a jiggly, gelatinous consistency.
Chef Peter’s Pro Tip: “Never rush the cooling process. I use a technique called ‘ice wanding’—freeze water in sanitized plastic bottles and submerge them directly in the hot broth. It cools twice as fast while maintaining food safety standards we used in restaurant kitchens.”
How to Store and Freeze Your Broth
Knowing how to freeze turkey bone broth properly is key to enjoying it for months. Once cooled and skimmed, you can:
- Refrigerate: Store in airtight containers for 4-5 days.
- Freeze in jars: Use freezer-safe jars, leaving at least 1 inch of headspace for expansion. This leftover turkey bone broth will keep for 6+ months.
- Freeze in cubes: Pour broth into ice cube trays for easy portioning to add a splash of flavor to sauces, sautés, or grains.
Turkey Bone Broth Recipe Nutrition and Health Benefits
While exact turkey bone broth nutrition varies, this collagen rich turkey broth is typically low in calories but rich in protein, amino acids like glycine and proline, and minerals extracted from the bones. The natural gelatin is what gives the broth its signature silky mouthfeel and is the reason many people seek it out for turkey bone broth for gut health and joint comfort as part of a healthy lifestyle. For more on the benefits of collagen, check out our guide to the gelatin trick for weight loss.
Delicious Ways to Use Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
Your jar of golden broth is a secret weapon in the kitchen. Here are the best ways to use it:
- As a soup base: It is the ultimate foundation for turkey bone broth for soup like turkey noodle, wild rice, or vegetable. Try it in our hearty ground beef recipes for an extra flavor boost.
- For cooking grains: Use it instead of water to cook rice, quinoa, or farro for an instant flavor upgrade.
- In sauces and gravies: Create incredibly rich and flavorful turkey bone broth for gravy and pan sauces.
- As a comforting sip: Warm a mug with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon for a soothing, gut healthy turkey bone broth ritual.
Troubleshooting Common Broth Problems
| Problem | Likely Cause | Easy Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Broth is cloudy | Boiling too aggressively | Keep the heat at a bare simmer and skim foam early. |
| Broth did not gel | Not enough collagen-rich bones or insufficient cooking time | Use more wings/feet/knuckles next time and extend simmer time. |
| Flavor is weak | Too much water or not enough time | Let it reduce further on the stovetop or add less water next batch. |
| Broth is bitter | Overcooked vegetables | Add veggies in the last 2-4 hours of simmering, not at the start. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
What is the best way to make turkey bone broth?
The best way depends on your schedule. For the richest flavor and most gelatin, the stovetop method simmered for 8-12 hours is ideal. For convenience, the slow cooker turkey bone broth method is perfect. For speed without sacrificing quality, the Instant Pot turkey bone broth method delivers excellent results in about 2 hours.
How long should you simmer turkey bones for bone broth?
For stovetop broth, aim for 8-12 hours minimum. For slow cooker broth, 12-24 hours on low works best. For pressure cooker broth, 2 hours on high pressure is sufficient.
Can you make turkey bone broth from a cooked turkey carcass?
Absolutely! In fact, using a roasted leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass adds incredible depth of flavor and rich color to your broth from the caramelized bits and pan drippings.
Is turkey bone broth good for you?
When prepared properly, this gut healthy turkey bone broth is rich in nutrients. The collagen-rich turkey broth provides amino acids and minerals that can support overall wellness as part of a balanced diet.
What is the difference between turkey stock and turkey bone broth?
Turkey stock is typically simmered for 2-4 hours for a lighter flavor, while turkey bone broth simmers for 8+ hours to extract more collagen, resulting in a thicker, more nutrient-dense liquid.
How long does homemade turkey bone broth last?
Properly refrigerated, it lasts 4-5 days. Frozen, it maintains quality for about 6 months. Always follow proper food safety guidelines from official sources like the USDA when storing homemade broths.
Final Pro Tips for the Perfect Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
- Patience is key: The longer and slower the simmer, the richer the flavor and more gelatinous the texture in your turkey bone broth recipe.
- Season at the end: Always add salt towards the end of cooking. As the broth reduces, the salt concentrates, and you can avoid an over-seasoned broth.
- Cool it quickly: For food safety, cool the broth rapidly in an ice bath before refrigerating to prevent bacterial growth.
- Embrace the fat cap: The solid fat layer that forms on top of chilled broth acts as a natural seal, preserving freshness. Just skim it off before using.
This zero waste turkey bone broth is more than a recipe; it is a tradition that honors the food we eat and maximizes its value. So, the next time you have a leftover turkey carcass, do not see it as an end, but as the beautiful beginning of your next culinary masterpiece using this essential turkey bone broth recipe.
